OKM3D Forges Strategic Alliances: Expanding European Reach in Advanced 3D Printing and Scanning
OKM3D, a prominent German leader in additive manufacturing distribution, is significantly bolstering its market presence and technological portfolio across Europe through two landmark distribution agreements. These strategic partnerships underscore OKM3D’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions to industrial clients and researchers continent-wide. The first agreement establishes OKM3D as a pan-European distributor for Anisoprint, a pioneer in continuous fiber 3D printing. The second partnership sees OKM3D represent Shining 3D’s comprehensive range of scanning technologies in key regions including France, Benelux, and England. These collaborations are poised to enrich OKM3D’s offering with advanced machines capable of processing high-performance continuous fiber composite materials, renowned for their superior strength-to-weight ratio compared to traditional plastics and even certain metals, alongside a sophisticated suite of 3D scanning solutions.
As one of Europe’s largest and most experienced distributors, OKM3D has cultivated a deep mastery of diverse additive manufacturing technologies. With strategic offices located in both Germany and France, complemented by an extensive logistical infrastructure encompassing three centers with a combined storage area of 10,000 m², OKM3D has developed unparalleled logistical expertise. This robust foundation supports a formidable network of specialized resellers, meticulously designed to cater to the multifaceted requirements of professional customers throughout Europe. Building upon an already strong and successful partnership with Raise3D, OKM3D continues its trajectory of aggressive growth and market leadership by formalizing these pivotal distribution agreements. The inclusion of Russian manufacturer Anisoprint’s advanced composite 3D printers and Chinese innovator Shining 3D’s state-of-the-art 3D scanner portfolio significantly diversifies OKM3D’s capabilities and reinforces its position as a one-stop-shop for advanced manufacturing solutions.
Photo Credits: Anisoprint
Democratizing Continuous Fiber 3D Printing Across Europe
The realm of composite additive manufacturing presents transformative advantages for industrial manufacturers, particularly in its capacity to produce exceptionally strong, lightweight, and geometrically complex parts. This technology is revolutionizing how industries approach part design, performance, and weight reduction. While the field of continuous fiber 3D printing is relatively nascent, a select group of innovators has developed specialized solutions to precisely deposit reinforcing fibers within a polymer matrix, ensuring that strength is concentrated exactly where a part experiences the highest stress or requires enhanced structural integrity. Anisoprint stands at the forefront of this innovation, offering a groundbreaking range of desktop 3D printers that are making this advanced technology more accessible. Their flagship models, the Composer A4 and A3, exemplify Anisoprint’s commitment to bringing industrial-grade composite printing to a wider audience, enabling engineers and designers to leverage the power of continuous fibers in their projects.
Anisoprint’s machines are expertly engineered to print robust, carbon fiber-reinforced, nylon-filled parts. These innovative composites boast an astounding resistance, being up to 30 times stronger than standard unreinforced plastics. Furthermore, they offer a significant weight advantage, being approximately twice as light as aluminum, making them ideal for applications where weight reduction is critical without compromising structural integrity. A distinguishing feature of Anisoprint’s Composer series is its open system architecture. This flexibility allows users to employ a variety of thermoplastics beyond nylon, such as PETG, ASA, or TPU, and even integrate different types of reinforcing fibers, including basalt, to tailor material properties to specific application needs. This open approach empowers users with unprecedented control and versatility. Looking to the future, Anisoprint is also actively developing the Prom IS 500, a high-performance industrial machine designed for compatibility with even more demanding materials like PEEK or PEI reinforced with carbon fiber, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in high-temperature and high-strength additive manufacturing.
Photo Credits: Anisoprint
Through this pivotal new distribution agreement, OKM3D is poised to significantly accelerate the adoption and democratization of continuous fiber composite 3D printing technology across Europe. This partnership directly addresses the evolving challenges and diverse needs of manufacturers seeking to innovate and optimize their production processes. Fedor Antonov, CEO of Anisoprint Sarl, enthusiastically elaborates on the importance of this collaboration: “Our advanced solutions are instrumental in resolving critical supply chain issues, substantially reducing costs, and drastically cutting lead times for hundreds of customers globally. While our reach is worldwide, Europe remains our most vital home market. Partnering with OKM3D allows us to dramatically expand our footprint and market penetration within the EU. With OKM3D’s unparalleled expertise in distribution, comprehensive support, and top-tier service capabilities, combined with their extensive network of customers and resellers, we are confident we can bring our transformative solutions to every corner of Europe. This will empower industrial customers and researchers to efficiently tackle their complex engineering problems and drive innovation.” This synergy between Anisoprint’s pioneering technology and OKM3D’s robust distribution network is set to unlock new possibilities for manufacturing across the continent, from aerospace to medical devices, and automotive to custom tooling.
Shining 3D Strengthens European Footprint with OKM3D
In a parallel move to expand its market presence and enhance accessibility to its leading-edge solutions, the renowned Chinese manufacturer Shining 3D has also strategically partnered with OKM3D. This collaboration leverages OKM3D’s extensive expertise and established distribution channels to solidify Shining 3D’s position in key European markets, specifically France, Benelux, and England. Shining 3D is celebrated for its comprehensive and innovative product portfolio, which spans the entire digital workflow from high-precision 3D scanners to advanced DLP printers and dedicated 3D software solutions. Their offerings are designed to empower users across various industries with reliable and accurate tools for reverse engineering, quality inspection, product design, and rapid prototyping, making them a crucial player in the digital manufacturing ecosystem.
Niels Stenzel, Regional Sales Manager EMEA at SHINING 3D, expressed his enthusiasm for the new alliance: “SHINING 3D is delighted to announce a new partnership with the esteemed distributor OKM3D in France, Benelux, and the UK. OKM3D is widely recognized as one of Europe’s leading distributors of 3D printers and additive manufacturing solutions. Their seasoned team of experts will be invaluable in supporting our existing resellers and fostering significant growth opportunities within these critical regions. We are incredibly pleased to be able to expand our sales network with such a highly skilled, experienced, and reliable partner. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in making our advanced 3D scanning and printing technologies more readily available and supported for our European customers, ensuring they receive the best possible products and service.” This partnership ensures that customers in these regions will benefit from localized support, faster delivery, and expert technical assistance, enhancing the overall user experience and promoting broader adoption of Shining 3D’s technologies.
OKM3D’s overarching objective with this expansion is not only to broaden its portfolio but specifically to enhance its offering in professional 3D scanners. By integrating Shining 3D’s advanced scanning solutions, OKM3D now offers a more complete and interconnected ecosystem that spans the entire value chain of additive manufacturing. This holistic approach, from initial 3D scanning for reverse engineering or quality control to advanced composite 3D printing and conventional polymer printing, enables the development of high value-added applications across diverse sectors. Whether it’s for creating accurate digital models, ensuring precise quality assurance, or designing innovative lightweight components, OKM3D now provides an end-to-end solution. This strategic growth underscores OKM3D’s commitment to empowering businesses with the tools they need to embrace digital transformation and excel in advanced manufacturing. You can explore the full range of OKM3D’s expanded offerings and detailed product specifications by visiting their official website HERE.
These significant distribution agreements represent a major milestone for OKM3D, reinforcing its position as a central player in the European additive manufacturing landscape. By bringing together Anisoprint’s revolutionary continuous fiber technology and Shining 3D’s advanced scanning solutions, OKM3D is not just distributing products; it is cultivating an environment where innovation thrives, and manufacturers can access the tools necessary to push the boundaries of design, functionality, and performance. The commitment to providing comprehensive solutions, from robust materials to precise digital capture, illustrates a forward-thinking approach to the future of industrial production. What are your thoughts on these two new European distribution agreements and their potential impact on the additive manufacturing industry? We invite you to share your insights in a comment below or join the conversation on our Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages! Don’t miss out on the latest advancements and news in 3D printing—sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here to have the freshest updates delivered straight to your inbox!