Amsterdam, 14 April 2021 – DOEN Participaties, PDENH and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) invest 2,25 million euro in Robotic 3D metal printing scale-up MX3D. The funds will be used to launch the M1, a complete robotic metal AM system, including a welding robot, software and control system to 3D print metal parts in-house. Additionally, the investments will speed up development of MetalXL, a solution including software and a control system, that turn existing welding robots into industrial grade 3D metal printers.

Robotic 3D metal printing company MX3D, known for the 3D printed stainless steel bridge in Amsterdam, is widely recognized as a key pioneer in the robotic wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) industry. As one of the market leaders in this new promising field of 3D printing, the MX3D technology opens the doors to the advantages of additive manufacturing for high impact industries like Oil & Gas, Maritime and Tooling.

MX3D’s software and control system, MetalXL, turns existing welding robots into an industrial metal AM system and allows users to manage the whole process from design to print in one go. Since its first investment, MX3D has successfully introduced MetalXL with a large group of launching customers. The current investment will be used for the commercial rollout.

Simultaneously, the company launches its M1 metal AM system: a full solution for a customer to start printing, including a welding robot, software and control system.“Our Metal XL Software and Control System enables companies to turn their welding robot into a high end 3D metal printer, in the course of one day”, says Gijs van der Velden, CEO of MX3D. “Since the launch of MetalXL we have received many customer requests whether we could supply them with a complete solution. The M1 metal AM System is the answer to this call. Now customers without a welding robot can quickly and affordably start printing large metal parts.”

Development and Commercialisation
MX3D moves forward with the development of MetalXL, a product which connects multiple brands of robots, power sources and sensors. “Our goal is to connect several more robot brands, which allows us to service more than 80 percent of the world wide robotic market,” says Van der Velden.

DOEN en PDENH
“DOEN Participates has supported MX3D for a long time and with this new investment we show that we have a lot of faith in the new M1 metal AM System and the future of MX3D. The innovative MX3D solution enables companies to improve their production methods and significantly reduce the need for transport and material. This can have a significant positive impact towards a more sustainable future”, says Merijn ten Thije, Impact Investment Manager at DOEN Participaties. Joost de Waard, Investment Manager for PDENH: “We strongly believe in the technological lead and worldwide potential of MX3D and gladly help to realize the growth plans of the ambitious MX3D team.”

On MX3D
The Amsterdam based company MX3D has been developing robotic 3D metal printing technology since 2015. The technology allows more flexibility and optimization on the design. It also saves on material, lead time and cost across a number of industries including maritime and construction. The company has become renowned for the 3D printed stainless steel bridge in the city center of Amsterdam. In 2018 MX3D won the STARTS prize, a prestigious EU Commission award for the most innovative Creative Tech project. In the same year the bridge was awarded 2 Dutch Design Awards and the 3D Printing Challenge award. In the following years the company was elected as one of the most innovative companies by the Dutch Chamber of Commerce and the EU robotics program. The company collaborates with several companies like Autodesk, the Lloyds Register Foundation, Takenaka Corporation, TU Delft, ArcelorMIttal, ABB, The Alan Turing Institute, Bologna University, Imperial College London and Lenovo. For more information visit: www.mx3d.com

On DOEN Participations
DOEN Participaties (DOEN Ventures) has the ambition to make the world greener and more social. That is why impact is central to all investments. Over the past 25 years DOEN Participaties has become the largest impact investor in sustainable and social start-ups in the Netherlands. DOEN Participaties invests in the early phase of companies and dares to take risks. DOEN Participaties is fully owned and managed by DOEN Foundation. The DOEN Foundation was set up by the Dutch Charity Lotteries. For more information www.doenparticipaties.nl

Source: MX3D