Quickparts acquired by 3D Systems

Quickparts has served the product development market since 1999, growing its capabilities and providing a wide range of services including SLA, FDM, SLS, cast urethane, Poly-Jet, rapid injection molds and parts, and proto-production (prototype to production) tooling; machined plastic prototypes (MPP), and more. The company also developed its patented QuickQuote instant quoting technology, which has allowed Quickparts to serve more than 14,000 customers and assist in the development of thousands of new products, according to 3D Systems information.

“We are very pleased to add a true leader and innovator of Quickparts’ reputation and scale to our rapidly growing global network of custom manufacturing services,” commented Abe Reichental, president and CEO of 3D Systems. “With Quickparts, under the capable leadership of Ron Hollis, we intend to democratize access to all our 3D content-to-print solutions and accelerate adoption for the benefit of our growing customer base.”

3D Systems has been on a buying spree of service providers over the past 18 months, with acquisitions of Acu-Cast Technologies, AdvaTech Manufacturing, Moeller Design, Design Prototyping Technologies Inc., Express Pattern, and Provel Srl (Turin, Italy). The companies are a part of 3D Systems’ 3Dproparts operations, a rapid prototyping and manufacturing parts service, started in October 2009.

Reichental noted in previous releases that 3D Systems plans to continue the expansion of its 3Dproparts service offerings domestically and internationally through organic growth and strategic acquisitions.

According to its press release, 3D Systems paid $15.9 million net in cash and recorded a deferred payment of $7.2 million due six months after closing. 3D Systems plans to integrate its own parts fulfillment capabilities with Quickparts and expand the use of Quickparts’ proprietary e-commerce sourcing and delivery platform to benefit its growing global network of custom parts services. The company plans to operate its Quickparts and 3Dproparts as independent brands within its growing custom additive and subtractive parts services portfolio.

Ron Hollis, president and CEO of Quickparts, stated: “Over the past decade, Quickparts pioneered the way product development and manufacturing professionals outsource custom parts. We plan to leverage our proprietary e-commerce capabilities for the benefit of the entire 3D Systems product portfolio. Our mission has always been to make it easy for our customers to buy custom parts and with this acquisition our customers will benefit even more.” —Clare Goldsberry