Stratasys

Stratasys
Name	Stratasys
Type	Public
Industry	Additive manufacturing
Founded	1989
Founders	Scott Crump, Lisa Crump
Headquarters	Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Products	3D printers, materials, software, services
Revenue	(see Corporate Governance and Financials)

Stratasys Stratasys is a manufacturer in additive manufacturing and 3D printing known for fused deposition modeling and polyjet technologies. The company supplies industrial, medical, aerospace, automotive, and consumer markets through commercial hardware, materials, software, and services. Stratasys operates alongside global firms and research institutions in developing manufacturing workflows, certification programs, and production-grade rapid prototyping.

History

Stratasys was founded in 1989 by Scott Crump and Lisa Crump, emerging during the expansion of rapid prototyping alongside Stereolithography pioneers and contemporaries from institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology and firms like 3D Systems. Early growth paralleled developments in United States intellectual property law and venture capital activity in Silicon Valley, while partnerships and litigation connected the company to companies including Objet, Fortus, and later consolidation events involving Objet Ltd. and other Israeli and American firms. The company’s timeline intersects with major industry moments such as the rise of industrial additive manufacturing suppliers, mergers typical of NASDAQ-listed technology companies, and strategic alliances with original equipment manufacturers in Israel and Minnesota.

Products and Technology

Stratasys produces systems based on fused deposition modeling and photopolymer jetting, competing with technologies like Selective laser sintering and Electron beam melting used by manufacturers including EOS GmbH and SLM Solutions. Hardware ranges from desktop units to production-grade systems used by aerospace companies such as Boeing and Airbus, as well as medical device firms like Stryker and Medtronic. Materials offered include proprietary thermoplastics and photopolymers that interface with standards from organizations like ASTM International and certification regimes followed by Federal Aviation Administration suppliers. Software ecosystems integrate with platforms from firms such as Siemens, Autodesk, PTC (company), and Dassault Systèmes, enabling workflows for design, simulation, and additive manufacturing certification used by research centers including Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Business and Operations

Stratasys runs manufacturing and service operations across multiple countries, interacting with supply chains that include partners in China, Israel, Germany, and United States. Commercial channels include direct sales, value-added resellers, and service bureaus analogous to business models used by Shapeways and Materialise. The company’s customer base spans sectors represented by corporations like Ford Motor Company, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, and medical institutions such as Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic. Operational considerations mirror global trade and regulatory frameworks shaped by entities like World Trade Organization and export controls connected to dual-use manufacturing equipment.

Research and Development

Stratasys invests in material science, process control, and application development, collaborating with universities and national laboratories such as Carnegie Mellon University, University of Minnesota, National Institutes of Health, and Sandia National Laboratories. R&D efforts often intersect with industry research consortia and standards bodies including ISO committees on additive manufacturing and consortia inspired by collaborations like those at America Makes. Intellectual property strategy reflects patent activity similar to other technology firms such as Google and IBM, while product roadmaps respond to advances in multi-material printing, high-performance polymers, and post-processing automation used by Toyota and Roche in prototyping and production.

Market Position and Competitors

Stratasys competes with established and emerging additive manufacturing companies including 3D Systems, HP Inc., EOS GmbH, SLM Solutions, Desktop Metal, and Carbon (company). Market position depends on product segments—industrial prototyping, serial production, and healthcare additive manufacturing—where competitors such as GE Additive and startups backed by investors like Sequoia Capital and Khosla Ventures pursue alternative technologies. The company’s strategic moves respond to consolidation trends in the sector, similar to mergers and acquisitions activity involving firms like Hexagon AB and Renishaw.

Corporate Governance and Financials

Stratasys is governed by a board of directors and executive officers consistent with practices for publicly traded technology companies listed on exchanges such as NASDAQ and subject to reporting standards enforced by regulators like the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Financial results, capital allocation, and shareholder relations reflect interactions with institutional investors including pension funds, mutual funds, and asset managers similar to BlackRock and Vanguard. The company’s strategic financial activities—fundraising, stock issuance, and acquisitions—mirror corporate finance actions taken by peers such as Autodesk and Intuit while responding to macroeconomic conditions tracked by organizations like the Federal Reserve.

Category:Additive manufacturing companies Category:Companies established in 1989