Looking Back on 2018

As the year draws to a close, it’s nice to look back on the year that’s been. From tripling in size to releasing H13 Tool Steel, there’s a lot to be proud of. We’ve shipped the Metal X to countless countries around the world. We were listed in Forbes’ next billion-dollar startups write-up. We were named #10 on Deloitte’s Fastest 500 list. But 2018 wasn’t just about us. Our customers achieved incredible things too. ‍

Markforged users continued to innovate‍

In April 2018, we started shipping the Metal X, capable of printing in 17-4 PH Stainless Steel. And by November 2018, over 100 Metal X printers had been shipped around the world. Since shipping, we’ve seen companies such as Scotland-based Angus 3D use its Metal X to reduce waste, Stanley Black and Decker save 48% in manufacturing costs, and Dixon Valve utilize metal printing for end-of-arm tooling. With the introduction of H13 Tool Steel and plenty of new metal materials coming soon, there are so many more applications to come.

November saw the launch of Customer Part of the Month, where our customers were invited to share the most interesting part they had made so far. We were overjoyed to see how innovative you all were with your submissions, and congratulate Hunter College High School on winning the first-ever competition!

We’ve also seen some unbelievable applications. We’ve seen press brake punches in South Carolina. We’ve seen soft jaws in Canada. We’ve seen completely printed robotic arms in Vegas. And we’ve seen 3D printed grippers from Sweden that made us say “woah”. We’re so impressed with the wide range of applications you have all designed, and can’t wait to see what 2019 brings!‍

From Boston’s Seaport to Frankfurt for TCT‍

We celebrated our fifth anniversary in June by hosting an event for our customers in Boston’s Seaport district. We were delighted to hear from some of our Markforged customers about the ways in which they’ve changed standard production processes. But it didn’t stop there. From TCT in Germany to IMTS in Chicago, we’ve been fortunate enough to meet so many of you. You have always been excited to show us your prints. You’ve asked us for design help when you’ve needed it, and have shown off your incredible prototypes, tools and fixtures, and end-use parts. ‍

What’s next?‍

2019 starts in only a matter of days, and we have big plans for the coming year. We’ll be heading to CES in Las Vegas in early January, where we will be showcasing our printers and some new and exciting demo parts. We’ll also be introducing new materials in the next few months, giving you even more opportunities to change the way you work. Thanks to our customers for a great 2018, and here’s to an even better year ahead!

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