Formlabs

Formlabs. The company is a leading manufacturer of professional stereolithography and selective laser sintering 3D printers, known for bringing high-resolution, accessible additive manufacturing technology to a broad market. Founded by a team from the MIT Media Lab, it has grown into a significant player in the desktop 3D printing industry, serving sectors from dentistry to engineering. Its product ecosystem includes printers, a wide array of proprietary photopolymer resins, and integrated software tools for the complete digital workflow.

History

Formlabs was launched in September 2011 by Maxim Lobovsky, Natan Linder, and David Cranor, who were students at the MIT Media Lab. The company gained early prominence and funding through a highly successful Kickstarter campaign in 2012 for its first product, the Form 1 printer, which raised nearly $3 million. This campaign was a landmark event in the consumer 3D printing boom of the early 2010s, demonstrating significant demand for professional-grade, affordable SLA printing. Following this success, the company established its headquarters in Somerville, Massachusetts, and has since expanded its global operations, opening facilities in Berlin, Tokyo, and Singapore. Key milestones include the acquisition of Spectra, a 3D printing materials company, in 2018 and the launch of its fused deposition modeling printer line in 2021, marking a strategic expansion into new printing technologies.

Products

The company's core product lines are built around its stereolithography printers, including the Form 3, Form 3L, and Form 3BL models, which utilize its proprietary Low Force Stereolithography technology. It also manufactures the Fuse 1, a benchtop selective laser sintering system for nylon powder printing, and the Form 4, representing its latest advancement in rapid prototyping speed. Complementing its hardware is a vast library of specialized engineering resins, dental resins, and castable wax resins, alongside the Form 3B printer tailored for biocompatible applications. The ecosystem is completed by the Form Wash and Form Cure post-processing stations and the Form 3L, a large-format printer developed in partnership with 3D Systems co-founder Chuck Hull, the inventor of stereolithography.

Technology

A cornerstone of the company's innovation is its Low Force Stereolithography process, which employs a flexible membrane and a linear laser to significantly reduce peel forces during printing, enabling high detail and reliable performance. For its SLS printers, it developed a compact, sealed printing chamber and integrated bead blasting station to make industrial powder bed fusion technology more accessible. Its printers are driven by advanced galvanometer systems and proprietary optical engines for precise laser control. The material science division, bolstered by the acquisition of Spectra, develops specialized photopolymer formulations for applications requiring specific mechanical, thermal, or optical properties, such as those certified for use under the FDA and CE marking regulations.

Applications

The company's technology is widely adopted in professional and industrial settings, with a particularly strong presence in the dental industry for producing surgical guides, dental models, and clear aligner molds. In jewelry making, its high-detail castable resins are used for investment casting patterns. Engineers and designers utilize its systems for functional prototyping, jigs and fixtures, and low-volume end-use parts manufacturing across the automotive industry and consumer electronics sectors. In the medical field, applications extend to anatomical models for surgical planning and custom prosthetics, while researchers employ the technology in bioengineering and microfluidics.

Company and operations

Headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts, the company maintains a global footprint with offices and research facilities in Berlin, Tokyo, and Singapore. It operates a direct sales model alongside a network of authorized resellers and partners worldwide. The leadership team, including CEO Maxim Lobovsky, has guided the company through multiple rounds of venture capital funding from firms like Foundry Group and DFJ Growth. It fosters a strong community through user summits and extensive online resources, while its products are used by major organizations including Google, NASA, and the Mayo Clinic. The company actively participates in industry events like the International Manufacturing Technology Show and collaborates with academic institutions such as the MIT Media Lab to advance additive manufacturing research.

Category:3D printing companies Category:Companies based in Somerville, Massachusetts Category:Manufacturing companies established in 2011