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MakerBot expands European operations

MakerBot has launched MakerBot Europe in order to pave the way for desktop 3D printing beyond the United States.
Written by Charlie Osborne, Contributing Writer
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Credit: MakerBot

MakerBot is planning to capitalize on the European market for desktop 3D printing with the launch of MakerBot Europe.

Announced on Friday, MakerBot -- a developer of desktop 3D printers and a subsidiary of Stratasys -- is taking over assets of HAFNER'S BURO, a German partner with connections to MakerBot resellers across Europe.

The Stuttgart-based company's networks will become the property of MakerBot Europe, and the 3D printer manufacturer will manage the large network of MakerBot resellers throughout Central and Eastern Europe. MakerBot's current resellers will transition into working with MakerBot Europe over the next six months, and the new organization will be led by Alexander Hafner, the owner and president of HAFNER'S BURO since its founding in 1988.

"We are so excited to officially launch MakerBot Europe and expand MakerBot's global reach with the creation of MakerBot Europe," commented Jenny Lawton, president of MakerBot. "Alexander Hafner and HAFNER'S BURO are longtime MakerBot partners and have extensive knowledge of our products, 3D printing and design solutions, and the European market. We are thrilled that they will play a larger role in the MakerBot family and will represent the company with our European distributors and resellers."

HAFNER'S BURO has managed and sold MakerBot printers for several years. By taking over the valuable business network the German firm has created, MakerBot is already set with connections to push 3D desktop printing across Europe, going beyond its traditional sales focus in the United States.

MakerBot Europe will encompass Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and other European countries.

Stratasys acquired MakerBot last year. While Stratasys traditionally focuses on industrial printing, MakerBot is more suited to the consumer sphere, which gives the company an opportunity not just to offer B2B services, but tap into the consumer market with affordable, desktop printers, apps and printing services.

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