HOPE FOR THE SUB-5,000 3D PRINTER

The latest word on Desktop Factory is that the company's buyer is 3D Systems, "the leadership brand in the Additive Manufacturing industry, which means that they have the resources and desire to deliver on the promise of a truly low cost, easy to use 3-D printer."

3D Systems has acquired Desktop Factory's key assets--meaning intellectual property, know-how, tools, and even the core team of remaining Desktop Factory employees.

Abe Reichental, CEO of 3D Systems, says:

Until recently, cost and complexity have confined 3-D Printers to the shops and design departments of major corporations and premier design firms. The growing success and acceptance of V-Flash®, our first sub-$10,000 compact desktop 3-D Printer, reaffirms our commitment to one day make 3-D Printing as common in offices, factories, schools and homes as 2-D printers are today. We believe that the technology already developed by Desktop Factory in combination with our extensive technology portfolio should lead to a new generation of fast, simple and affordable 3-D Printers capable of making durable plastic parts.

We want to keep this exciting conversation going. The ability to design, create and produce models and prototypes — on your desktop, within a few hours — should be available to all. Our global economy runs on innovation, and we intend to provide the necessary 3-D printing tools to help you succeed independent of the size of your company and budget or your design challenges. You can count on our commitment to affordable 3-D printers — starting with V-Flash® today and even more affordable 3-D printers in the future.

In the coming weeks we will announce our formal communication strategy and invite you to participate with us as we seek your input and ongoing support. We are very excited about the potential before us and look forward to delivering an even wider choice of affordable, accessible 3-D printing technologies.

So don't give up hope. Affordable consumer-grade 3D printing is still on track.