Porsche has made two venture investments in 3D printing (additive manufacturing) companies acquiring a single-digit stake in each company. This includes the US company Markforged Inc as well as another 3D printing specialist that is not yet publicly disclosed. The combined investment amounts to a single-digit million euro figure.
“Start-ups are an important source of innovations. In order to advance and capitalise on such innovations, we have to invest in technologies at an early stage. Both investments are perfect examples of this approach. Start-ups have the potential to massively change different segments along the automotive value chain, for example R&D and production as well as the role of a vehicle in the broader mobility ecosystem,” Philipp von Hagen, member of the executive board of Porsche SE responsible for investment management, said. Additive manufacturing is one of the highly promising technologies we have identified, von Hagen added.
Founded in 2013 and based in Watertown/Massachusetts, Markforged Inc designs and sells end-to-end 3D print solutions. The company is the only industrial 3D printing platform that produces strong parts out of the entire range of materials from carbon fibre to metal. Earlier this year, the company launched its first 3D metal printer for industrial applications. With around 100 employees, several thousand companies worldwide use Markforged technology.