3D Printing equipment manufacturing start-ups using crowdfunding

“Crowdfunding”, an interesting way to start a business using OPM (other people’s money).

A quick 10 minute check on Kickstarter, which, apparently, is the world’s leading crowdfunding web-site, revealed three companies that have successfully raised funds for their 3D printing equipment manufacturing businesses.  There are bound to be lots of others; these are just the first three I found.

FORM 1: An affordable, professional 3D printer

by Formlabs

Funded! This project was successfully funded on Oct 26, 2012.

2,068 backers

$2,945,885 pledged of $100,000 goal

The Peachy Printer - The First $100 3D Printer & Scanner!

by Rinnovated Design

Funded! This project was successfully funded on Oct 20.

4,420 backers

$651,091 pledged of $50,000 goal

The Buccaneer® - The 3D Printer that Everyone can use!

by Pirate3D Inc

Funded! This project was successfully funded on Jun 29, 2013.

3,520 backers

$1,438,765 pledged of $100,000 goal

Comment on Autodesk's recent financial results

A brief note from one of the analysts at Morningstar about Autodesk’s recent financial results:

“ Autodesk ADSK reported fiscal 2014 results that were slightly ahead of our expectations, as the company had a strong fourth quarter. The company's cloud-based offerings such as BIM 360, PLM 360, and Fusion 360 resonated well with the market, and Autodesk was able to attract a number of significant new clients. As the company transitions through a business model change in which it will provide more desktop subscription, cloud subscription, and flexible licensing arrangements, revenue and earnings will be affected in the short term. Nevertheless, given the better long-term economics of subscription, we expect significant financial benefits starting in fiscal 2016. Therefore, in addition to accounting for cash earned over the past year, we are in the process o f quantifying the long-term benefit from the business model transition. We have placed our fair value estimate under review but maintain our wide economic moat rating. Revenue for the quarter fell 3% to $587 million, but on a normalized basis rose 2% year over year. Strength in the architecture, engineering, and construction suites was a highlight, growing 32% on a normalized basis over the year-ago period. In the AEC industry, collaboration and mobility are driving good growth for Autodesk's cloud-based BIM 360 software as clients increasingly need in-the-field access to information. PLM 360 and Fusion 360 are benefiting from the same shift in the market and will also drive future growth for Autodesk.”

Congratulations to Bob Christy, Gary Wilbur and Bob Roperti

Roperti, Wilbur, and Christy Named 2014 Bukovsky Honorees

Bob Roperti, Gary Wilbur, and Bob Christy have been awarded the 2014 George K. Bukovsky Award from IRgA. The Bukovsky Award recognizes individuals who have made significant, long-term contributions to the reprographics industry.

At the upcoming IRgA / ERA convention, Paul Doherty to reveal the keys to future success for Reprographers

From the IRgA Group on Linked in, I’ve copied off a message – to all reprographers - from the President of the IRgA (Kimberly Long, CEO at Reprodux Copy Centres):

“The joint ERA/IRgA convention this year is really shaping up to be the reprographic industry’s must attend event!”

“The conference will feature the return of the Bukovsky award, recognizing leaders in the Reprographic industry, as well a renowned keynote speaker Paul Doherty from the AIA. Paul will enlighten us on how the reprographics industry has been entrusted with the “digital DNA” of the built environment, and is poised to play a vital role in the dramatic changes now reshaping the AEC industry.
Please join us in Baltimore on April 3-5 to learn more!”

And, this next message is one that appears on the IRgA Today web-site, it is a message to you from Paul Doherty and from Ed Avis, Managing Director of the IRgA, about the presentation Paul Doherty will be giving at the upcoming convention in Baltimore:

            “Core competencies of document management, project lifecycle, document/data processing and delivery, communication equipment, and traditional printing can be leveraged to meet the AEC market demands while providing valued services that can increase [the reprographic industry’s] bottom line,” Doherty says.

            Doherty is the president and CEO of the digit group, inc., a global leader of cloud-based solutions for the built environment. His current work is implementing Smart City solutions throughout the world. He is the co-founder of the critically acclaimed AEC Hackathon, which launched at Facebook headquarters in Silicon Valley in November 2013.

            Doherty will explain essential advances in AEC – such as big data, data visualization, smart buildings, and smart cities – and how the reprographics industry can contribute. He will include case studies of projects from around the world.

            “The reprographics industry is challenged to control, manage, and lead these new transformative processes or relegate itself as just another commoditized service in the AEC market,” Doherty says.

            The ERA/IRgA convention will include a full day of educational programming designed to help reprographics businesses capitalize on these developments.

     For more information about the convention, click here.

 Blog Publisher’s Comments:

If, as the lead-in to Paul Doherty implies, Paul is going to reveal the key services that Reprographers must offer in the future to remain relevant to the A/E/C industry and to increase revenues and profits, why would any Reprographer not want to attend?!!!!

Helsinki reprographics business acquired by Finland's second largest reprographics company

On February 6^th, Valopaino Oy, a reprographics company in Helsinki, Finland, was purchased by Multiprint Oy, the second largest reprographics company in Finland.  Multiprint Oy has around 300 employees, and its offices are mainly along the west coast of Finland and in Estonia.