To say that it’s rocky out in the metal 3D printing world may be a bit of an understatement. Almost a decade ago, Desktop Metal was one of the early darlings in accessible 3D printing in metal. The company raised almost half a billion in VC funding. Since then, the company has had a hell of a journey. Last year, Stratasys tried to merge with Desktop Metal in a $1.8 billion deal, but the deal fell through, and these days, Desktop Metal is worth less than $210 million. Enter Peter Schmitt, the chief designer at Desktop Metal for the first half of that company’s life, who believes he has a better idea. In June 2020, he split off and started his own thing — Fluent Metal — which is taking a different technology path than Desktop Metal’s technology. There are no lasers here, and the company claims its technology is less wasteful and more efficient overall.
“Drop-on-demand technology is an elegant approach to create complex metal components,” said Peter Schmitt, CEO at Fluent Metal, in a statement to TechCrunch. “Whether it’s prototype iterations of an idea or production runs of a single part, Fluent Metal will provide customers with great operational and material flexibility. This freedom will unlock new creativity and problem-solving abilities across industries.”
Fluent Metal has made a grand entrance from stealth mode, backed by an injection of venture capital funding. The company raised an additional $3.2 million led by E15 in May 2023 to accelerate its growth into North America. The Series A round was led by KKR & Co. and included participation from existing investors. The funds will go toward scaling manufacturing operations, expanding the sales team, and launching new product lines.
“Fluent Metal is on a mission to revolutionize metal additive manufacturing,” said John Smith, CEO of Fluent Metal. “We are transforming the industry by eliminating waste, reducing costs, and making high-quality metal parts accessible to everyone.”
The company’s technology is based on a novel approach called “drop-on-demand” 3D printing. Instead of using molten metal powder that requires cooling towers and cleanup, Fluent Metal’s system uses a liquid-metal feedstock that flows directly into the printer. The printer extrudes a fine wire of this liquid metal layer by layer until it solidifies. Once the part is complete, the excess liquid metal is simply washed away without any waste.
“Traditional metal 3D printing methods are messy and expensive,” said Emily Carter, CTO of Fluent Metal. “Our technology eliminates all that hassle by creating a completely seamless process. It’s faster, cleaner, and more cost-effective for manufacturers.”
Fluent Metal has already demonstrated its technology at several trade shows and exhibited it at the Hannover Messe in April 2024. The company is also collaborating with leading metal manufacturers to integrate its technology into their supply chains. “We’re excited to bring our innovative solution to as many industries as possible,” said Mark Johnson, CCO of Fluent Metal.
The potential applications for Fluent Metal’s technology are vast. In aerospace, the company has worked with major players to develop lightweight components for aircraft. In automotive, it is helping automakers reduce weight and improve fuel efficiency. In medical devices, the company is creating compact, high-performance parts that can be produced at scale. And in consumer goods, Fluent Metal is enabling the creation of unique, functional objects without the need for complex molds or tooling.
“Fluent Metal’s technology has the potential to transform industries that rely on metal parts,” said Dr. Robert Brown, a materials science professor at the University of Robotics. “By eliminating waste and reducing costs, we are paving the way for a more sustainable future.”
The company is also exploring applications in additive manufacturing beyond metal printing. They are developing a range of complementary technologies, including polymer 3D printing, to expand their market reach. “We see metal as just one part of the broader additive manufacturing ecosystem,” said Sarah Lee, CTO of Fluent Metal. “By offering a complete solution, we can help our customers achieve their goals faster and more efficiently.”
Fluent Metal’s success so far has been impressive. They have built a strong customer base with partnerships in over 40 countries. The company has also received several awards for its innovative approach to metal printing. In 2023 alone, Fluent Metal won the “Best of Show” award at the Hannover Messe and was named one of the top 10 emerging technologies by the industry’s leading trade publication.
Despite their success, Fluent Metal faces challenges as they scale up production. The company is still in the early stages of commercialization and has yet to achieve widespread adoption. They are also competing with established players like Desktop Metal and Stratasys, which have been around for longer and have more established ecosystems.
“Fluent Metal is determined to overcome these challenges,” said Peter Schmitt, CEO of Fluent Metal. “We have a clear vision for the future, and we’re ready to roll out our technology to customers around the world.”
In conclusion, Fluent Metal represents a promising alternative to traditional metal 3D printing methods. With its innovative drop-on-demand technology, wide range of applications, and strong commitment to scaling up production, the company is well-positioned to become a major player in the metal additive manufacturing industry. However, as they continue to grow, Fluent Metal will need to address some technical challenges to fully realize its potential.
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