Anzu is acquiring voxeljet’s operating business with a strong commitment to voxeljet’s existing customers, suppliers, and employees. Anzu’s managing partner, Whitney Haring-Smith, will be the chair of the Board of Directors of the future business after closing, and current CEO, Rudolf Franz, will lead the post-transaction business. In this transaction, the business has a strong partner to support further growth and financing of the business.

“voxeljet’s technology fundamentally enables scaled additive manufacturing, supporting projects clients with decades of decided service and support. We believe that its technology advantage – from building the largest 3D printers in the world to features that enable fine details – is a decisive factor in its success in the market,” said Whitney Haring-Smith, Managing Partner at Anzu Partners. “On the key challenges we face today – from localizing supply chains to supporting a circular economy – voxeljet is a leader and driver of the future that we want to deliver.”

“For more than 25 years our incredibly talented teams have created some of the most powerful industrial 3D-printers,” said Rudolf Franz, CEO, voxeljet AG. “The combination of voxeljet’s world-class talent and extraordinary franchises with Anzu’s technology network, access to talent, ambitious vision and shared commitment to investing in the next generation of breakthroughs will help ensure our continued success in an increasingly competitive industry.

The agreed purchase price is based on an enterprise value of approximately EUR 20,033,000. The purchase price will be paid through the assumption of voxeljet’s liabilities and the payment of a cash component of approximately EUR 1.7m. The purchase price is subject to customary adjustments as of the closing date.

The purchase agreement provides for a “go-shop” period that will expire at the lapse of January 12, 2025, which permits voxeljet to actively initiate, solicit and consider alternative acquisition proposals from third parties. In the event of a superior proposal, voxeljet has the right to terminate the purchase agreement to enter into the superior proposal in accordance with the conditions set out in the purchase agreement. voxeljet will solicit third-parties and any third-parties interested in acquiring voxeljet may contact the company using the contact details provided below.

Subject to the review of offers from other potential interested parties during the agreed go-shop period, the management board and supervisory board of voxeljet intend to propose to the shareholders that they approve the transaction. Simultaneously with the resolution on the transaction voxeljet’s shareholders shall also decide on the liquidation of the company which shall occur following the successful closing of the transaction.

About Anzu Partners

Anzu Partners is an investment firm that focuses on clean tech, industrial and life science technology companies with the potential to transform their industries. Anzu works with entrepreneurs to develop and commercialize technological innovations by providing capital alongside deep expertise in business development, market positioning, global connectivity, and operations. As of 2024, Anzu Partners managed assets of approximately $1 billion with a team of over fifty professionals in offices across Atlanta, Boston, San Diego, Tampa, and Washington DC. For more information, please visit anzupartners.com.

Augsburg, November 18^th, 2024 – voxeljet AG announced the expansion of its High Speed Sintering (HSS) network with the addition of a new production partner, FKM Sintertechnik GmbH, located north of Frankfurt. As part of the beta program, the two companies are working closely together to further optimize the process parameters of the VX1000 HSS, the largest ink-based polymer 3D printer on the market. The goal is to increase the efficiency and quality of the printing process. The VX1000 HSS at FKM, one of Germany’s leading 3D printing service providers, meets the requirements of industrial applications, including mechanical strength, homogeneity of the build field, and reproducibility of results.

Following the announcement of the cooperation in November 2023, the VX1000 HSS has undergone significant improvements. In addition to optimizing mechanical part specifications, there has been a successful effort to homogenize part properties and quality across the entire building platform. With a print volume of 1,000 x 540 x 180 mm (for PA12), the VX1000 HSS is one of the largest and most powerful 3D printers for polymers on the market. The powder and ink-based HSS process requires consistent and highly precise temperature management to achieve the desired part properties. The VX1000 HSS demonstrates clear advantages in terms of production speed, quality, dimensional accuracy, and unit costs, particularly in comparison to SLS systems, even for large components.

“From the outset, our collaboration with FKM was focused on optimizing the quality of components across the expansive building platform,” states Dr. Alfred Grießer, Director of Research and Development at voxeljet. “FKM has been a trusted supplier to a range of industries for decades, including aerospace, automotive, and special plant engineering. By combining our development with FKM’s expertise as a powder bed specialist, we have been able to ensure that our VX1000 HSS meets the high standards of these industries.”

VX1000 HSS has now been successfully installed, and FKM has joined voxeljet’s HSS Polymer Network as a production partner. The network operates on an interdisciplinary and collaborative basis, with the objective of generating knowledge about 3D printable materials and their sintering strategy for the HSS process, as well as qualifying new materials. Having originally concentrated on R&D, the network is now being expanded with its first production partner. This collaboration provides customers with an end-to-end solution, from materials research to parts production.

“FKM has consistently positioned itself as a leader in the introduction of advanced technologies,” states Jürgen Blöcher, Managing Director of FKM Sintertechnik GmbH. “The HSS technology from voxeljet unites the benefits of two distinct approaches: the precision and productivity of SLS as well as the reproducibility and speed of binder jetting. The investment in the VX1000 HSS 3D printer allows us to further advance our proven FKM principle: to produce large components rapidly and/or numerous small components in a short time.”

With the installation of one of the last VX1000 HSS Beta systems, future system orders will already deliver the series standard. It is now possible to order PA12 components via FKM.

November 13th, 2024 – Friedberg near Munich, Germany – voxeljet AG, Dressler Group GmbH, and Fraunhofer IPA have announced the successful completion of a material study for waste PA12 powder from laser-based 3D printing systems. In the study, waste powder from Selective Laser Sintering systems was successfully recycled by Dressler Group and 3D printed by Fraunhofer IPA at the University of Bayreuth, using a VX200 HSS platform from voxeljet. The initial results demonstrate that reconditioned PA12 waste powder can be processed effectively using ink- and printhead-based High Speed Sintering (HSS) technology enabling sustainable and cost-efficient production. The preliminary test results indicate that the material properties are equal or may even exceed those of comparable prints with fresh powder.

In SLS systems, unprinted PA12 powder loses its ability to be reused due to high temperature exposure in the build area, which causes the polyamide chains to lengthen after condensation, negatively affecting powder flowability and melt viscosity. This makes the material difficult to process again via laser-based technologies, as the energy input from lasers is too short to process longer molecule chains accordingly. Therefore, comparably high powder refresh rates are necessary, accumulating waste and associated high disposal costs.

The collaborative study aimed to reclaim this used powder by processing it through voxeljet’s VX200 HSS platform. HSS technology, using an inkjet-based printhead and infrared (IR) heating, offers selective and thermally gentler energy input, allowing the polyamide to sinter gradually, enabling the reuse of this powder. This means a real tribute to circular economy in Additive Manufacturing.

Dressler Group, experts in powder design and manufacturing, processed the used PA12 powder to homogenize and recover key powder properties such as flowability and moisture, making it suitable for reuse in HSS.

“Recycling used PA12 powder can effectively reduce costs and support sustainability efforts in AM.” says Dr. Ing. Holger Leonards, Head of R&D at Dressler Group. “Our expertise in regenerating powder properties and handling of large powder volumes enables companies to reclaim this valuable material.”

“The VX200 HSS technology is an open-source system, allowing us to quickly change and adapt process parameters to any powder.” says Jan Kemnitzer, Research Team Lead at Fraunhofer IPA and adds “We were therefore able to quickly adapt the 3D printer to the material with consistent or improved results in part properties.”

“The results of this study are especially interesting for ink and printhead based technologies such as the HSS technology. The future possibility of processing this recycled powder on production platforms like the VX1000HSS will bring immense cost savings.” says Tobias Grün, Global Product Management at voxeljet. “Typically, 50 % of the running costs are attributable to powder costs. Thus, this development provides a huge effect on cost effectiveness while boosting a circular material flow, reducing waste.”

This study highlights the growing issue of excess PA12 waste powder within the additive manufacturing industry. By reclaiming this material for use in voxeljet’s HSS technology, companies can reduce waste, lower operational costs, and improve sustainability in their additive manufacturing processes.

First parts of this collaboration will be shown at the formnext trade show in Frankfurt, Germany from November 19^th to 22^nd   and can be seen at the voxeljet booth E08 or the Fraunhofer booth C71 in hall 12.1.

Augsburg, June 19, 2024 – Following the de-listing from NASDAQ and de-registration in the second quarter of this year, the management of voxeljet AG is repositioning itself and initiating a generational change.

Dr. Ingo Ederer, founder of the company, will complete his contract as CEO and member of the Management Board as of June 30, 2024. Dr. Ingo Ederer will continue to be available to the company in an advisory capacity to ensure a smooth transition.

“I look back proudly on the last 25 years, during which voxeljet has celebrated numerous successes,” explains Dr. Ederer. “The past year has been the most successful in the history of our company, and this would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of our entire team. I am now looking forward to supporting my colleagues as they continue the company’s growth journey.”

Rudolf Franz, who was previously the Chief Financial Officer, will serve as CEO and lead the company together with the extended management team. “I would like to thank Ingo for the trusting cooperation over the past 20 years and look forward to his support in the future,” explains Rudolf Franz.

The Supervisory Board would like to thank Dr. Ederer for his many years of tireless commitment to developing voxeljet into a leading provider of 3D printing technologies. The Supervisory Board commends Rudolf Franz at his selection as the next CEO of voxeljet, where he will contribute his extensive knowledge of all aspects of voxeljet, including the companies technologies, markets and strategic roadmap to grow voxeljet’s global business.

Friedberg near Munich, January 31^st, 2024 – In an initial proof of concept, voxeljet AG and Parastruct GmbH have successfully tested the 3D printing of recyclable residual materials from the construction industry. For this purpose, voxeljet’s Binder Jetting 3D printing technology was used. The material tested was the Ecomould material set from Parastruct GmbH. A material set consisting of biogenic production residues from the construction industry and a mineral binder, which was developed by the Austrian start-up. Using binder jetting, Ecomould can be used to produce molded parts that are suitable for the cold casting of concrete and ceramics for interior design objects or for laminating processes. The Ecomould material was tested on a VX200 from voxeljet – a 3D printing system specially developed for research and development purposes.

Parastruct GmbH is an Austrian company that offers a sustainable solution for recyclable mold making using their developed technology and Ecomould material set. The market for excess material recycling is expected to grow at an annual rate of 7-9% until 2025[1]. Increasing legal obligations and customer requirements as part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies are driving interest and demand for sustainable value-added solutions. Parastruct utilizes 3D printing to reintroduce unused mineral materials, such as production waste from the construction industry, and biogenic resources, such as wood flour or sawdust, back into the value creation process.

Companies can make potential savings by eliminating disposal costs, which can be as high as €75-100/t for construction waste and €70-180/t for wood, and by reducing resource expenditures to optimize overall profitability. Ecomould can assist in achieving sustainability goals, particularly in light of stricter guidelines like the EU Green Deal. Ecomould has a significantly lower CO² footprint than conventionally manufactured sand-phenolic resin molds, emitting -108.3 kg CO² per 1m² of mold surface*.

Ecomould-produced molds can be shredded and reused as particle material in 3D printing. A plastic coating can be applied as a finish, which is removable at the end of its service life. This second use of Ecomould material reduces the carbon footprint even further.

voxeljet’s binder jetting 3D printing technology is ideal for processing Ecomould due to the fact that voxeljet 3D printers are open-source systems whose printing parameters can be flexibly adapted to different material sets. Additionally, voxeljet offers a wide range of printers, currently in sizes up to 4 x 2 x 1 m, which promises easy scaling of the Ecomould results to larger, more productive 3D printers.

Interested parties are being sought to jointly advance the transformation of a more sustainable construction industry in a possible funding project.

[1] Kai-Stefan Schober (2021): https://www.rolandberger.com/en/Insights/Publications/It%E2%80%99s-time-for-construction-to-embrace-the-circular-economy.html (abgerufen am 18.01.2024)

* Parastruct GmbH used the Impact Forecast Tool to determine and certify the carbon footprint.