This is news that will make a lot of noise: the German manufacturer Arburg has just announced that it will be withdrawing from the additive manufacturing market at the end of the year. The company, known for its Freeformer pellet machines, cites the difficult economic environment and the instability they are experiencing. They announced their decision to focus primarily on their injection molding business. It’s obviously a surprise and not a very good one, to be honest. It’s another sign that the industry is struggling to recover, and one wonders who will be next.
If you’ve ever been to Formnext, it was hard to miss Arburg’s booth. Very often, the group invested in dozens of square meters with many machines on display, a bar/café corner, and visitors rushing to see the wide range of applications presented. Its machines offered broad material compatibility, and the addition of innovatiQ to its portfolio made it possible to expand into silicone printing. The future seemed promising, and the company appeared dynamic within the market.
Arburg’s Booth at Formnext 2024
Clients and Employees of the Group
The press release is clear: customers and users of the Freeformer will continue to receive direct support from Arburg. They can rely on comprehensive service from the company’s teams as well as access to spare parts whenever needed. The only clarification is that Arburg will no longer participate in any additive manufacturing events. Understandably, for Freeformer owners, this raises questions about the future. Only time will tell how things unfold.
On the employee side, the company states that the 40 staff members dedicated to the additive manufacturing business will be integrated into Arburg’s other divisions, allowing them to continue contributing their expertise more broadly to the manufacturing industry.
The announcement concludes with comments from Dr. Armin Schmiedeberg, Chairman of Arburg’s Advisory Board: “This business decision was taken after careful evaluation and consideration of the current market situation and the current economic parameters. It has not been possible to realise the economic targets for this business area in the long term, nor has the global 3D printing market as a whole developed in line with expectations.” It is a decision that was surely not taken lightly, and one that underscores the challenges facing the market and its players today. Still, given that the pellet-based machine segment has never been the most competitive, it inevitably raises questions about the outlook for other manufacturers as well.
The group will focus on its injection molding business.
Arburg’s withdrawal will take effect on December 31, 2025. Over the next three months, the company will focus on ensuring the smoothest possible transition and providing reassurance to users of its technology. In the meantime, you can find all the information about the group’s 3D printing division and its recent changes HERE.
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All Photo Credits: Arburg