Carbon (company)

Carbon (company)
Name	Carbon
Type	Private
Industry	Additive manufacturing
Founded	2013
Founders	Joseph DeSimone, Philip DeSimone, Alex Ershaw, Edward Samulski, Steve DeSimone
Headquarters	Redwood City, California
Key people	Joseph DeSimone (CEO), Alec Erwin (COO)
Products	3D printers, resins, software

Carbon (company) is an American additive manufacturing firm known for developing digital light synthesis technology and producing polymer parts for industries ranging from automotive industry to medical device. The company was founded in 2013 and gained prominence through partnerships with major corporations and by promoting a production-oriented approach to 3D printing that contrasts with traditional Fused deposition modeling and Selective laser sintering methods. Carbon's leadership includes scientists and executives with backgrounds at institutions like University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and companies such as DuPont and 3M.

History

Carbon was established in 2013 by a group including Joseph DeSimone, a chemist and entrepreneur affiliated with Stanford University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, alongside colleagues from academic and industrial backgrounds. Early milestones included the unveiling of prototype systems at TED events and demonstrations to partners such as Adidas, General Electric, and Ford Motor Company. In 2015 Carbon announced the commercialization of its first printer, attracting investments from venture capital firms like Sequoia Capital and strategic investors including Google Ventures (now GV). Subsequent years saw collaborations with Stryker Corporation, Whirlpool Corporation, and Roche as Carbon expanded into healthcare and consumer goods. The company pivoted from selling individual machines to offering a combination of hardware, materials, and software services, aligning with trends in manufacturing exemplified by firms like Siemens and Honeywell International Inc..

Technology and Products

Carbon developed Digital Light Synthesis (DLS), a vat photopolymerization process related to technologies such as Stereolithography and Continuous Liquid Interface Production. DLS uses programmable light and oxygen-permeable optics to cure high-performance resins into parts with isotropic mechanical properties, competing with materials used in injection molding and thermoplastic production. Carbon's product portfolio has included the M-Series printers, the L1 system, the M2, and a suite of proprietary resins formulated for applications in medical device manufacturing, automotive industry prototyping, and consumer electronics. Software offerings integrate with Computer-aided design tools from vendors like Autodesk and PTC (company), while post-processing and quality-control workflows reference standards from organizations such as ISO and ASTM International. Carbon also developed elastomeric and rigid materials to meet certifications required by regulators like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for certain orthopedic and dental devices.

Business Model and Partnerships

Carbon shifted to a vertically integrated model combining printers, resins, and subscription services, echoing models used by companies like HP Inc. in additive sectors. Major partnerships have included long-term agreements with Adidas for lattice-structured midsoles, with Roche for diagnostic components, and with Stryker for orthopedic implants and surgical guides. Carbon established digital manufacturing partnerships with Ford Motor Company and General Electric to produce end-use parts and spare components. Strategic investment and procurement relationships involved firms such as Sequoia Capital, GV, Oak HC/FT, and corporate venture arms of Nokia and BMW. The company also participated in consortia and procurement programs with industrial organizations like Boeing and Lockheed Martin for aerospace prototyping and tooling.

Manufacturing and Facilities

Carbon's headquarters and primary development facilities are located in Redwood City, California, with additional manufacturing and service centers established to serve customers in Europe and Asia, similar to footprints maintained by GE Additive and Stratasys. The company scaled production to support on-demand manufacturing, utilizing regional hubs and partnerships with contract manufacturers such as Jabil and Flex Ltd. to deliver parts at volume. Carbon invested in cleanroom-compatible processes and quality systems to enable production of medical-grade components under frameworks akin to ISO 13485 and supplier expectations from multinational firms like Johnson & Johnson.

Funding and Financial Performance

Carbon raised multiple funding rounds, attracting venture capital from firms including Sequoia Capital, Google Ventures, and Oak HC/FT as well as strategic corporate investors. Notable financing events included a significant growth round that valued the company in the multibillion-dollar range and follow-on investments tied to large supply agreements with partners like Adidas and 3M. Carbon pursued revenue through hardware sales, materials subscriptions, and contracted manufacturing services, reporting growth tied to adoption in medical device and automotive industry supply chains. Financial comparisons and market positioning often referenced public companies in additive manufacturing such as 3D Systems and Stratasys.

Criticism and Controversies

Carbon faced scrutiny over claims regarding production scalability and material longevity, drawing comparisons with established injection molding suppliers and additive competitors like EOS GmbH and SLM Solutions. Some customers and industry analysts questioned unit costs and total cost of ownership relative to traditional manufacturing for high-volume parts, similar to debates that involved companies such as Markforged and Formlabs. Intellectual property disputes and patent portfolios in photopolymerization occasionally intersected with patent holders and academic institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University, sparking dialogue about licensing and material formulations. Additionally, regulatory clearances for medical applications prompted examination by stakeholders including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and various national health agencies regarding validation, biocompatibility, and sterilization processes.

Category:Additive manufacturing companies Category:Companies based in Redwood City, California