BCN3D, a leading manufacturer of 3D printing solutions, has secured a pivotal investment round to fuel its growth in the light industrial additive manufacturing (AM) market. The funding aligns with BCN3D’s recent move to a state-of-the-art production facility, which is now fully operational after a successful ramp-up phase. This announcement also celebrates the first anniversary of BCN3D’s flagship industrial FFF printer, the Omega I60, renowned for its capability to produce large, durable prototypes and end-use parts like tooling, jigs, and fixtures. The Omega I60’s latest advancements will be showcased at BCN3D’s booth at Formnext 2024.
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“This investment marks a bold commitment to our future and signals our readiness to take the lead in the light industrial market,” said Xavi M. Faneca, CEO of BCN3D. “Our new facility, located in a European technology hotspot, confirms our dedication to producing high-quality 3D printers and provides our team with an environment primed for advanced quality production and continuous innovation.” This investment, backed by established Spanish firms from traditional industrial sectors, reflects confidence in both BCN3D’s innovative technology and the dedicated team driving BCN3D forward.
Celebrating One Year of the Omega I60
This announcement also coincides with the one-year anniversary of the BCN3D Omega I60, which has quickly become the go-to choice for users looking to scale up from one-off models to consistent production parts, as well as for those seeking to add a nimble layer of light industrial 3D printing to their established manufacturing fleets. The Omega I60 minimizes long-term expenses and eliminates the hidden costs often associated with traditional industrial machines, particularly concerning maintenance contracts and the high costs of filaments and consumables.
During its first year, the BCN3D Omega I60 has been widely adopted by companies across key sectors worldwide, especially in the manufacturing and engineering industries. This adoption is focused on applications in tooling and functional prototyping, directly aligning with BCN3D’s go-to-market strategy for the Omega I60. This approach leverages the printer’s unique features—such as its heated chamber for processing technical materials, an advanced materials operation system for humidity control and spool recovery, and a large 60-liter print volume—to meet the specific demands of these applications and industries.
BCN3D highlights the success of clients like Wisconsin Precision Casting and Camper, whose use of the Omega I60 exemplifies the printer’s performance in action. Wisconsin Precision Casting is an investment casting foundry based in the United States that supplies low to medium volume castings to various sectors. They integrated FFF 3D printing technology into their operations in 2019 to complement the traditional lost wax casting process, particularly for low-quantity batches. Machining wax injection dies can take weeks and be cost-prohibitive for small orders. Since adopting 3D printing, they now operate a fleet of nine FFF 3D printers, including the Omega I60, to produce plastic patterns using 3D printing casting filament to create molds around them. The Omega I60 has proven extremely useful thanks to its capacity to print many parts in one go at speeds of up to 150 mm/s, significantly reducing production times.
Camper, a renowned global footwear brand, is likewise benefiting from the Omega I60’s versatility and speed. By complementing their prototyping capabilities with the Omega I60, Camper has accelerated the design and launch process for new collections. With the ability to print in-house prototypes at speeds of up to 150 mm/s with Omega Proto filament, Camper has improved both the quality and lead time of their prototypes, enabling their teams to iterate and refine designs rapidly and effectively.
Recalibrating Offerings to Meet Evolving Industry Needs
BCN3D’s recent recalibration of its product lineup reflects a strategic response to customer feedback and evolving industry trends. The Epsilon Series is now dedicated to clients who need the flexibility to produce technical, one-off models, while the Omega I60 is designed for users transitioning from one-off prototypes to consistent production runs. It also seamlessly integrates into the workflows of established 3D printing labs that are looking for agile solutions within their production fleets.
“Our ambitions have always been bold, but we recognize that a focused approach is essential to deliver outstanding results for our customers,” said Pol Domenech, General Manager of BCN3D. “By concentrating on light industrial additive manufacturing, we can allocate resources where they drive the greatest impact. Supported by our new facility and recent investment, this strategic direction positions BCN3D to meet the evolving needs of the 3D printing market and drive innovation forward.”
Formnext 2024
BCN3D will be exhibiting at Formnext 2024, Europe’s leading additive manufacturing tradeshow. The company will showcase its full product lineup, including customer applications and the new Omega Impact ABS material for the Omega I60. Visitors will have the opportunity to request one-on-one demonstrations of the Omega I60 with BCN3D’s applications engineers.
