Stratasys to Acquire MakerBot

#1

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20130619-711821.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Stratasys Ltd. (SSYS) unveiled plans to buy privately held MakerBot in a stock-for-stock transaction valued at $403 million, a deal that expands Stratasys’ position in the three-dimensional printer market. Stratasys said the merger is poised to drive faster adoption of 3D printing for multiple applications and industries. After the deal closes, which is expected to occur in the third quarter, MakerBot will operate as a separate subsidiary of Stratasys. MakerBot Chief Executive and co-founder Bre Pettis will continue to lead the business, Stratasys said.

Good or bad??

#2

They come from very different angles at this. Stratasys is known for very closed and agressive IP/patent policies, while Makerbot once was a cornerstone of open hardware development.
Personaly i think this was a move of Stratasys to get in on a possible competitor early on.

#3

It’s bad, they’ve been the one to try and prevent innovation in 3D printing so they can keep the costs high. You don’t want them owning any of the patents that Makerbot has.

#4

http://techcrunch.com/2013/06/19/why-makerbot-is-like-apple/

Many will say that MakerBot sold out. Many will complain that the company lost open-source roots. Many will claim that there are better printers out there. None of these claims are absolutely false, to be clear, but things are not as cut and dried as we like to think. MakerBot took something simple and made it amazing. They sold when they had to, especially considering issues with quality control and support, and I trust Pettis will bring the open-source ethos to Stratasys headquarters and tell them it’s off limits. 3D printing isn’t new, just as computing wasn’t new when Apple hit the scene. MakerBot, like Apple, made it accessible.

#5

CEO Bre Pettis: MakerBot isn’t selling out — it’s building its future

http://venturebeat.com/2013/06/19/makerbot-isnt-selling-out/

#6

And I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn that I’d like to sell.

Nice spin, but I don’t believe it.

Cheers,

J

#7

Neither do i. But i hope other alternatives show up.

#8

Here’s a $350 3d printer on kickstarter:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pirate3d/the-buccaneer-the-3d-printer-that-everyone-can-use

The goal was $100,000. They are close to a million with 9 days to go.

#9

Please don’t post press releases in the CG News forum.

#10

Hmmm… On 3dtotal, they mentioned that Amazon was now going to be selling MakerBot Replicator 2s. Ship time is now reduced to within one week of ordering!

I’m going to wait until Siggraph before I make my investment decision…

#11

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