The Eindhoven 3D printing service Shapeways is undergoing a new beginning as announced by the appointed curator. The company will continue operations in a streamlined manner with only the Dutch production facility remaining operational.
Despite the parent company being based in the United States at the time of bankruptcy, only the Dutch operations will be retained in the relaunch. Curator Jeroen Tulfer confirmed this decision, which will preserve 30 out of the 53 jobs. The local management has established a new entity called Manuevo for the restart, and for the time being, the Dutch branch of Shapeways will operate under this name.
Tulfer informed the Eindhovens Dagblad that in recent weeks, 'several parties' had expressed interest in a relaunch, and multiple offers were received. However, the restart plan initiated by the Dutch management, with factory director Jules Witte's involvement, emerged as the most viable option. The 3D printing company will maintain its current location on Kanaaldijk-Zuid in Eindhoven.
Shapeways was founded in 2007 as a spin-off from Philips. The company allows customers to design and upload their own 3D files, following which Shapeways can print the desired objects. It later expanded to the US and was listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange in 2021.
Initial projections anticipated sales reaching $250 million by 2024, but the actual figures were disappointing. In 2023, the company reported revenues of $34.5 million, with a net loss of $43.9 million, compared to a loss of $20.2 million in 2022. On July 2, Shapeways filed for bankruptcy in the US, leading to the resignation of the American management, including CEO Greg Kress. The following day, the company was declared bankrupt in the Netherlands.
English (US)