PostProcess Technologies

PostProcess Technologies
Name	PostProcess Technologies
Type	Private
Founded	2014
Founders	Louis-Philippe Gagnon, Nicolas Tourigny, Olivier Valiquette
Headquarters	Quebec City
Industry	Additive manufacturing
Products	Automated post-printing systems

PostProcess Technologies PostProcess Technologies is a company that develops automated post-processing solutions for additive manufacturing workflows, focusing on cleaning, surface finishing, and support removal for 3D printing outputs. The company positions itself at the intersection of industrial manufacturing adopters and service bureaus, aiming to reduce manual labor and cycle time through chemistry, mechanical engineering, and software-enabled automation. PostProcess collaborates with a range of original equipment manufacturers, service providers, and standards bodies to integrate post-printing systems into production lines.

History

PostProcess Technologies was founded in 2014 by Louis-Philippe Gagnon, Nicolas Tourigny, and Olivier Valiquette in Quebec City. Early development drew attention from incubators and investors involved with Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and regional innovation hubs; the firm later expanded operations to the United States, Germany, and China. Strategic milestones included partnerships with Stratasys, 3D Systems, and EOS GmbH and participation in industry events such as Formnext, IMTS, and Rapid + TCT. The company has engaged with standards organizations such as ASTM International and ISO committees addressing additive manufacturing qualification.

Technology and Products

PostProcess's technology suite combines chemical, thermal, and mechanical methods to automate post-print tasks for technologies like stereolithography, selective laser sintering, fused deposition modeling, and binder jetting. Flagship products include automated support removal systems, vapor smoothing units, and surface finishing platforms that incorporate proprietary chemistries and robotics. The firm integrates sensors, machine vision from suppliers similar to Cognex Corporation, and control software compatible with MES platforms from vendors like Siemens PLM Software and PTC (company). PostProcess also works with materials companies such as BASF, Covestro, SABIC, HP Inc., and Evonik Industries to validate processes for thermoplastics, photopolymers, and composites.

Business Model and Partnerships

The company's business model blends direct sales, channel partnerships, and consumables revenue through proprietary chemicals and service contracts. Channel partners and resellers have included Hexagon AB-aligned distributors, regional integrators connected to GE Additive, and authorized service bureaus like Shapeways and Materialise. Strategic OEM integrations have been announced in conjunction with platforms from Markforged, Ultimaker, and Prusa Research-adjacent ecosystems. PostProcess has also pursued collaborations with aerospace and defense contractors such as Boeing, Airbus, and Lockheed Martin for qualification programs, as well as automotive suppliers working with Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and BMW.

Applications and Industry Adoption

Adoption spans aerospace, automotive, healthcare, dental, and consumer electronics. In aerospace, firms similar to Rolls-Royce and Safran evaluate automated post-processing to qualify additively manufactured flight components; in healthcare, medical device companies like Stryker Corporation and Zimmer Biomet assess surface finish consistency for implants. Dental laboratories using systems from Dentsply Sirona and Align Technology benefit from reduced manual polishing. Industrial service bureaus such as Protolabs and Xometry incorporate PostProcess-style automation to increase throughput for prototyping and low-volume production. Research collaborations have been conducted with universities including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Sheffield, and ETH Zurich.

Funding and Corporate Structure

PostProcess has raised venture capital and strategic investments from a mix of industrial investors, venture firms, and corporate partners. Early-stage backers included regional angel groups and venture firms with portfolios spanning 3D Systems adjacencies and industrial automation. Later funding rounds involved participation from strategic investors aligned with GE Ventures-type corporate venture arms and private equity firms active in advanced manufacturing. Corporate governance includes a board with executives experienced at firms like Honeywell International, ABB Group, and Siemens AG, and the company maintains R&D centers in North America and Europe.

Controversies and Challenges

Challenges for PostProcess reflect broader additive manufacturing issues: qualification and certification hurdles with regulators such as Federal Aviation Administration and European Union Aviation Safety Agency, supply-chain constraints similar to those experienced by Tesla, Inc. and Apple Inc. suppliers, and competition from incumbents like Stratasys and 3D Systems. Environmental and safety concerns around proprietary chemistries prompt scrutiny from NGOs and standards bodies analogous to Greenpeace-style advocacy and regulatory agencies such as Environmental Protection Agency and Health Canada. Market adoption faces price sensitivity in manufacturing segments dominated by legacy processes used by firms like Siemens Energy and Caterpillar Inc., while intellectual property disputes and patent portfolios in additive finishing have surfaced in industry litigation examples that echo high-profile cases from Oracle Corporation and Apple Inc..

Category:Additive manufacturing companies