The additive manufacturing market is constantly changing. This can be shown by the fact that one of the most prominent trends in recent years includes the merging of organizations and the signing of collaboration agreements and even the purchase of certain companies. For example, just a few weeks ago, Spanish company Print&Go announced the acquisition of Astroprint, a cloud-based 3D printing platform known for its open-source nature and ease of use. This merger of two pioneering companies dedicated to fostering innovation is expected to be a turning point in the industry. In fact, they even hope to keep the service free, enhancing the user experience and expanding the accessibility of 3D printing technologies to a global audience.
Based in Lleida, Print&Go is a young company dedicated to the development of multi-brand and multi-device solutions focused on monitoring and optimizing the 3D printing flow. Its software facilitates production planning by analyzing manufacturing costs and traceability, in addition to inventory control, optimizing the use of materials and production times. For its part, the accessible and open Astroprint platform is designed to help with the management of 3D printers and additive manufacturing jobs. With this acquisition, the companies promise to meet the diverse needs of 3D printing users. These range from solo creators and hobbyists to large-scale printer farms and industrial companies.
Print&Go’s booth at Formnext 2022
What to Expect From the Merger of Print&Go and Astroprint?
The main objective of this partnership is not only to preserve Astroprint, but also to help the platform grow, prosper and evolve in the coming years. Both organizations have already started preparing new and exciting features that will be introduced in the coming months. Thanks to this, users can expect performance improvements, bug fixes, increased support for verified 3D printers and cutting engine updates. All of this is aimed at improving the overall user experience. Among the changes that will be noticeable in the coming months are:
- Server optimizations to improve performance
- Bug fixes to resolve outstanding issues
- Possibility to connect more 3D printer models to Astroprint
- Exclusive material offers for Premium, Pledge and Kickstarter users
- An upgrade of Slicer engines to new versions with new functionalities
- An update of Astroprint mobile app to make it compatible with the latest versions of Android and iOS
With this acquisition, Print&Go is strengthening its position in the 3D printing industry by integrating advanced features designed to optimize production workflows and management systems. Print&Go’s innovative software, recognized for its professional-grade functionality and AI-based error detection, enables companies to streamline their additive manufacturing processes and achieve superior quality with minimal effort. Whether for individual creators or large-scale printing operations, Print&Go’s customized solutions provide significant efficiency gains, making it the preferred choice for companies looking to harness the full potential of 3D printing technology.
The Print&Go team expands, “Bringing Astroprint into the Print&Go family means we’re combining the best of both worlds: Astroprint’s simplicity and community spirit with Print&Go’s powerful professional tools and AI-driven features.”
Astroprint’s roadmap
Regarding the cost, the company has stated that its platform will continue to offer the basic services free of charge, with no interruptions or unexpected changes. The Astroprint community can follow updates on the integration process and upcoming enhancements by joining the conversation on the Astroprint Forum. In addition, open communication channels are available to share feedback, concerns and ideas with the team.
Both supporters of both platforms and the 3D printing community at large are invited to the presentation event centered on the collaboration. It will take place at booth G01, hall 12.1 during Formnext in Frankfurt (November 19-22, 2024).
What do you think of Print&Go’s acquisition of Astroprint? Let us know in a comment below or on our LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly newsletter here for the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.
*All photo credits: Print&Go / Astroprint