Voxeljet

Voxeljet is a German industrial additive-manufacturing company headquartered in Friedberg, Bavaria, near Augsburg. It develops, builds, sells, and services large-format 3D-printing systems, with a particular focus on binder jetting for sand molds, cores, models, and other tooling used in metal casting. The company also operates service centers that manufacture molds, cores, models, prototypes, and other parts on demand for customers that do not need to own a printer or require production capacity beyond their internal capabilities. The company’s roots reach back to research at the Technical University of Munich during the 1990s. Early work focused on dispensing ultraviolet-curable adhesives and producing three-dimensional structures from digital data. In 1998, the founders produced their first sand molds, and Generis GmbH was established in 1999 as the predecessor to today’s voxeljet AG. The business initially developed generative manufacturing processes for cast and plastic components and later moved from university premises into commercial facilities in the Augsburg region. Voxeljet’s core process deposits a liquid binder selectively onto successive layers of powder. Depending on the application, the powder may be sand, ceramic-like mineral material, or polymer. The unbound powder supports the printed geometry during production, allowing the creation of complex cavities, internal channels, cores, and large forms without conventional tooling. This is particularly useful in foundries, where the company’s systems can produce sand molds and cores directly from 3D CAD data and thereby reduce the time and cost associated with patterns, tooling, and manual moldmaking. The company expanded its industrial portfolio during the 2000s and early 2010s with systems including the VX800, VX500, VX4000, VX1000, VX200, and the continuous VXC800 platform. These machines addressed different combinations of build volume, throughput, resolution, and operational complexity. Voxeljet also developed plastic-model materials and later introduced High Speed Sintering, a powder-based process for producing functional polymer parts from materials including PA12 and TPU. Its customer and application base has included automotive and aerospace manufacturers, foundries, research institutions, architecture and design practices, medical users, and the film and entertainment sector. Large-format systems are suited to casting patterns and molds, architectural forms, and industrial components, while service operations can support prototypes, short runs, replacement parts, investment-casting patterns, and specialized production work. The company’s acquisition of British model maker Propshop broadened its exposure to film, entertainment, and visual-effects production. Voxeljet became a publicly traded company through a 2013 initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange. It subsequently expanded its international footprint through operations in the United States, China, India, and the United Kingdom. Its American Depositary Shares later traded on Nasdaq, but the company delisted from Nasdaq in April 2024 and thereafter traded on the over-the-counter market. Voxeljet remains focused on industrial 3D printing, foundry digitization, on-demand manufacturing, and the development of scalable additive-production systems.

Voxeljet developed from additive-manufacturing research conducted at the Technical University of Munich in the 1990s. The early research program explored the controlled deposition of adhesives and the creation of three-dimensional structures from digital models. In 1995, researchers achieved an early successful drop-dosing of ultraviolet adhesives. In 1996, Ingo Ederer and Rainer Höchsmann entered a Munich business-plan competition, and the group received a patent in 1998. That year also saw the first successful production of sand molds using the developing process. Generis GmbH, the predecessor of voxeljet AG, was founded on 5 May 1999 by Ingo Ederer, Rainer Höchsmann, and Joachim Heinzl. Initially operating with four employees at the university, the company developed generative processes for producing cast and plastic components. It soon moved into commercial premises in the Augsburg area. In 2002, it completed early orders for sand-based printers supplied to BMW and Daimler. The following year, it opened a service center in Augsburg and attracted additional shareholders, including Bayern Kapital, Startkapital Fonds Augsburg, and Franz Industriebeteiligungen. Commercial system development accelerated in the mid-2000s. The first VX800 was sold to Alphaform in 2005, followed by a VX500 sale to the University of Rostock in 2007. The company received recognition in the Bavarian Innovation Prize program in 2008 and moved into new administrative and production facilities in Friedberg in 2010. That year it was also included among Germany’s Top 100 innovators. Voxeljet broadened its platform range in 2011. The VX4000 targeted very large objects, with a build envelope of approximately four by two by one meters. The VXC800, introduced at the GIFA foundry trade fair, used a continuous architecture in which building and unpacking could proceed in parallel. The VX1000 was presented later that year as a high-performance system with a large build space. Voxeljet also introduced Polypor C, a material system intended for detailed white plastic models and applications requiring useful surface and burnout characteristics. In 2012, a VX1000 was sold to Propshop in the United Kingdom. This relationship opened a significant application area in film and entertainment, where large digitally produced props and models can reduce the need for conventional patternmaking. The company also launched the compact VX200, which used the same general printing principle as its larger systems while offering a smaller and more accessible format. Voxeljet converted its technology business into voxeljet AG and completed an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in October 2013. The offering consisted of American Depositary Shares and provided capital for further expansion. In 2014, the company acquired Propshop and established its first wholly owned operating presence outside Germany. It then expanded service activities in North America, opening a Canton, Michigan, center in January 2015. Voxeljet also established an Indian subsidiary and entered a cooperation with Suzhou Meimai Fast Manufacturing Technology in China, leading to the creation of voxeljet China Ltd. The company continued to develop beyond conventional binder jetting. In 2017, it introduced High Speed Sintering, a polymer-powder process that selectively applies infrared-absorbing ink before fusing the treated areas with infrared radiation. The process can produce functional polymer components in materials such as PA12 and TPU, while unused powder provides support during construction. In 2019, voxeljet and LORAMENDI launched the Industrialization of Core Printing project with BMW’s Landshut light-metal foundry. The objective was to make serial additive production of water-jacket cores practical for automotive casting. The project was completed in 2023. Separately, voxeljet, GE Renewable Energy, and Fraunhofer IGCV worked on a large-format printer for sand molds used in casting parts for offshore wind and water turbines. That project received U.S. Department of Energy support in 2023. Voxeljet’s securities moved from the NYSE to Nasdaq before the company delisted from Nasdaq in April 2024. Trading subsequently continued over the counter. Its business remains centered on industrial printing equipment, materials, service-center production, and the digitization of foundry and tooling workflows.

1. 2024Nasdaq delisting

   Voxeljet delisted from Nasdaq and moved to over-the-counter trading.

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2. 2017High Speed Sintering introduced

   Voxeljet announced its powder-based High Speed Sintering process for functional polymer parts.

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3. 2014Propshop acquired

   The company acquired British model maker Propshop as a wholly owned subsidiary.

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4. 2013Initial public offering

   Voxeljet AG completed its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange.

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5. 2011Large-format and continuous systems introduced

   The VX4000, VXC800, and VX1000 expanded the company’s large-format and industrial system portfolio.

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6. 2003Augsburg service center opens

   Voxeljet opened a service center for on-demand production of molds and models.

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7. 2002Early industrial printer orders

   The company completed early orders for sand-based printers supplied to BMW and Daimler.

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8. 1999Generis GmbH founded

   Generis GmbH, the predecessor to voxeljet AG, was founded at the Technical University of Munich.

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9. 1998First sand molds and patent

   The founders obtained an early patent and produced the first sand molds using the developing generative process.

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10. 1995Early adhesive-deposition research

    Research associated with the company’s later technology achieved early successful dispensing of ultraviolet-curable adhesives.

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Industrial additive-manufacturing partner for large-format printing, foundry tooling, digital mold production, and specialized on-demand parts.

• VX4000Large-format binder-jetting printer2011

  The VX4000 is a large-format industrial binder-jetting system designed for the production of substantial sand molds, cores, and models. Its large build envelope is intended for foundry and other applications in which conventional tooling would be expensive or slow to produce.

• VX1000Industrial binder-jetting printer2011

  The VX1000 combines a comparatively large build space with industrial printing performance. It has been used for foundry tooling, models, prototypes, and specialized applications including film and entertainment production.

• VX200Compact binder-jetting printer2012

  The VX200 is a smaller-format system based on the same general binder-jetting method as voxeljet’s larger machines. Its compact form and simpler operation make it suitable for users needing an entry-level or lower-volume industrial platform.

• VXC800Continuous binder-jetting printer2011

  The VXC800 was designed around a continuous production concept. Building and unpacking can occur in parallel, reducing interruptions between jobs and targeting more industrialized production of molds and models.

• High Speed SinteringPowder-based polymer 3D printing2017

  Voxeljet’s High Speed Sintering process spreads polymer powder, selectively applies an infrared-absorbing fluid, and fuses the treated regions with infrared energy. It is intended for functional parts and can use polymers including PA12, polypropylene, TPU, PEBA, and EVA.

• Polypor material systems3D-printing materials2011

  Polypor B and Polypor C are PMMA-based plastic material systems using different binders. Polypor B emphasizes detail, edge definition, resolution, and green strength, while Polypor C is suited to applications where simplified burnout and architectural-model characteristics are important.

• 2024Delisting from NasdaqStrategy

  Voxeljet had previously traded on the Nasdaq after moving from its original NYSE listing.

  What changed. The company delisted from Nasdaq in April 2024 and continued trading over the counter.

  Aftermath. The company’s securities ceased to trade on Nasdaq and became available through the over-the-counter market.

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• 2017Launch of High Speed SinteringProduct launch

  Voxeljet sought to extend its powder-based additive-manufacturing capabilities beyond molds and models into functional polymer components.

  What changed. The company introduced High Speed Sintering, using selective fluid deposition and infrared fusion of polymer powder.

  Aftermath. The technology broadened the company’s addressable applications to direct production of functional plastic parts.

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• 2014Acquisition of PropshopM&A

  Propshop had already used a voxeljet VX1000 and served film and entertainment customers.

  What changed. Voxeljet acquired Propshop (Model Makers) Ltd. and made it a wholly owned subsidiary.

  Aftermath. The transaction established a direct British operating location and expanded voxeljet’s exposure to digitally produced film props and models.

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• 2013Initial public offering on the NYSEOther

  Voxeljet sought capital to support the expansion of its industrial printing systems and international operations.

  What changed. Voxeljet AG completed an IPO of American Depositary Shares on the New York Stock Exchange in October 2013.

  Aftermath. The company became publicly traded and later used the public markets while expanding service centers and international subsidiaries.

  IPO proceeds after discounts and issuance costs. US$64.5 million (2013 IPO)

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• 2024Voxeljet completes delisting from Nasdaq

  Voxeljet left the Nasdaq market in April 2024 and its securities subsequently traded over the counter.

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• 2023Industrialization of Core Printing project completed

  Voxeljet and LORAMENDI completed a project intended to industrialize additive production of water-jacket cores for automotive casting at BMW’s Landshut foundry.

  Product generationOther
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• 2023U.S. Department of Energy supports turbine-mold project

  A collaborative project involving voxeljet, GE Renewable Energy, and Fraunhofer IGCV received U.S. Department of Energy funding for 3D-printed sand molds for turbine components.

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• 2017Voxeljet introduces High Speed Sintering

  The company presented a powder-based process for producing functional plastic parts by selectively applying infrared-absorbing ink and fusing treated powder with infrared energy.

  Product launch
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• 2015Voxeljet opens U.S. service center

  The company began operating an on-demand mold and model production center in Canton, Michigan.

  Other
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• 2014Voxeljet acquires Propshop

  The British model-making company Propshop became a wholly owned voxeljet subsidiary, strengthening the group’s presence in film and entertainment production.

  M&A
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1. Voxeljet
2. Voxeljet official website