{"id":43562,"date":"2025-08-07T07:06:49","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T11:06:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/?p=43562"},"modified":"2025-08-07T07:16:05","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T11:16:05","slug":"a-year-of-progress-a-purpose-refined","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/a-year-of-progress-a-purpose-refined","title":{"rendered":"A year of progress, a purpose refined"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>One year after helping to bring Shapeways home, our CEO Marleen reflects on what&#8217;s changed and why our B2B manufacturing model is more focused than ever on helping the next generation of device-makers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Twelve months ago, we returned to a new management team including two of our original founders. This wasn\u2019t in order to turn back the clock, but to reorientate toward the future. While we have long supported B2B manufacturing needs, the relaunch sharpened our focus: helping <strong>digital-native hardware teams bring next-generation devices to market, without the friction and limitations of traditional manufacturing<\/strong>. These teams are often rich in ideas, software talent and drive but light on production expertise. In this situation, we offer more than parts. We\u2019re a partner in design, prototyping, production and lifecycle management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"12 months under new management: what&#039;s next for Shapeways?\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/m60Dmy-oR74?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-year-of-focused-progress\"><strong>A year of focused progress<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the past year, we\u2019ve executed on a bold, founder-driven plan, starting with buying back the company\u2019s Dutch and US assets. The job of rebuilding from bankruptcy and adding the Thangs platform to our family of companies came next. Each step was intentional and pre-planned, undertaken not just to restore what existed, but to build something more fit for purpose and resilient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With that foundation in place, we now operate as a focused B2B partner, while Thangs serves a separate but connected purpose: empowering creators to share, sell and manufacture their 3D designs in the consumer space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-built-for-fast-moving-teams\"><strong>Built for fast-moving teams<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u2018new\u2019 Shapeways isn\u2019t a departure from our roots but rather it\u2019s a doubling down on what we do best. We\u2019re now purpose-built to support fast-moving, innovation-focused teams building devices that don\u2019t fit traditional manufacturing playbooks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These are teams building all conceivable types of devices designed for real-world impact in niche, fast-growing markets. The products are often part of a software\/hardware bundle where the teams are digital natives, with deep UX and product-market fit expertise, but little or no in-house manufacturing experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their challenges are consistent:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They need fast, iterative prototyping.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They need short-run production without high MOQs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They need finishing and light assembly that meets final-use standards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They need support throughout the lifecycle \u2014 including spare parts and digital inventory.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s where we come in, providing high-quality, small-batch manufacturing with design input, finishing options and digital tools to keep pace with the product\u2019s evolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-from-prototype-to-product-and-beyond\"><strong>From prototype to product and beyond<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For the teams we now support, the product lifecycle doesn\u2019t look like it used to. Devices ship faster, iterate more often and scale differently. There\u2019s no capacity to build tooling for a first-gen product that may be updated in six months. And spare parts need to be on-demand, accurate to spec and available years later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our platform is designed around those realities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Digital warehousing and lifecycle tools \u2013 keeping track of every product version, so customers get the right spare parts, every time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prototyping and design feedback \u2013 to get to manufacturable, testable parts faster.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Short-run production \u2013 batch sizes from 10 to 5,000, with finishing options like spray painting, vapor smoothing, heat inserts, and light assembly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-s-next-in-the-plan\"><strong>What\u2019s next in the plan?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As demand grows, so does our ambition. Over the next year, we plan to expand both our digital toolset and our production capabilities. That includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>New digital solutions for file management, collaboration, and lifecycle tracking.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Additional on-demand production technologies, beyond 3D printing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>More post-processing and value-added services, including light electronics integration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The goal is clear: to reduce friction at every stage of hardware development \u2014 from early design to last-mile delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ready-to-build\"><strong>Ready to build?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For any team building a next-gen product and struggling to find a manufacturing partner that moves as fast as they do, we\u2019re ready. Whether you\u2019re scaling production or just trying to get your first working prototype in hand, our team is here to help.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One year after helping to bring Shapeways home, our CEO Marleen reflects on what&#8217;s changed and why our B2B manufacturing&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":208,"featured_media":43563,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[510,481],"tags":[2576,1759],"class_list":["post-43562","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-3d-printing-industry","category-shapeways","tag-on-demand-manufacturing","tag-shape-ways"],"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Heading.png","yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.9 (Yoast SEO v23.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>A year of progress, a purpose refined - 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