3D Printing Giant Formlabs Announces Layoffs Affecting a Limited Number of Employees

On Thursday, Formlabs announced it has downsized its workforce by a “small fraction,” a development first reported exclusively by TechCrunch. The 3D printing company clarified that the reduction involved fewer than 40 individuals from its nearly 750-strong staff.

These job cuts were executed in several phases throughout the past two years, including some that took place in recent weeks. A representative from Formlabs confirmed these reductions, explaining to TechCrunch:

Our organizational structure is consistently evaluated to ensure alignment with our customer support and product delivery goals. Concurrently, we are actively recruiting for new positions across various departments and locations, with significant investments in research and development. Despite our revenue growth and leadership in the additive manufacturing sphere, we sometimes face the tough choice of parting with employees in areas not meeting our efficiency standards or whose roles no longer fit.

As an offspring of MIT, Formlabs has distinguished itself in the realm of 3D printing by being the pioneer of high-precision SLA (stereolithography) desktop printing. This was a significant shift from the market’s previous dominance by FDM (fused deposition modeling) printers, which build objects layer by layer from melted plastic. In contrast, SLA technology employs light to transform resin into intricate, solid structures.

Surviving the deflation of the initial desktop 3D printing hype, which saw many of its competitors folding, Formlabs stood strong. Some, like MakerBot, found survival through acquisition. Formlabs dodged the broader economic challenges that weakened many of its peers.

Expanding its technological reach, Formlabs has ventured into SLS (selective laser sintering) with its Fuse product. This technique involves lasers to sinter powder into solid objects. A recent statement from the company’s chief product officer reveals that Formlabs now accounts for over half of the global SLS unit shipments, following its acquisition of the SLS startup Micronics.

Despite the industry’s efforts to broaden the appeal of 3D printing by making the technology more scalable for manufacturing uses, Formlabs has found its niche. The company has developed a unique solution for high-volume production involving an array of printers, yet its core remains in serving medical and dental fields with highly customized products like orthodontic aligners.