# Shapeways

> Shapeways is an Eindhoven-based 3D printing and digital manufacturing company that lets individuals and businesses upload 3D files and receive custom parts made through additive manufacturing, CNC machining and injection molding. Founded in 2007 inside Royal Philips, it pioneered a public 3D printing service and marketplace, went public via SPAC in 2021, filed for bankruptcy in 2024, and was relaunched in December 2024 by its original founders and the profitable Eindhoven factory team with a renewed focus on B2B customers, sustainability and operational stability.

- **Founded:** 2007
- **Headquarters:** Eindhoven, Netherlands
- **Founders:** Marleen Vogelaar (Co-founder; returned as CEO (2024)), Peter Weijmarshausen (Co-founder; former CEO), Robert Schouwenburg (Co-founder; returned as CTO (2024))
- **Team size:** ~97 employees
- **Products:** On-demand 3D printing service, FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling), Digital manufacturing / B2B platform, Thangs (creator marketplace), Marketplace & maker shops
- **Notable:** One of the first companies to offer 3D printing as a public consumer service (2008)., Built a global marketplace hosting thousands of designer-run shops., Raised roughly $107M+ in venture funding from Index Ventures, Union Square Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz and Lux Capital.

## Products & services

- **On-demand 3D printing service** — Upload a 3D file and receive a finished part; Shapeways handles file validation, production, quality inspection and global delivery across 55+ materials and finishes and 8 additive processes (SLS, MJF, SLA, SLM, binder jetting, FDM and more).
- **FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling)** — Added in 2025 alongside additional materials, aimed at low-volume production-grade parts, functional prototypes and end-use components requested by industrial customers.
- **Digital manufacturing / B2B platform** — End-to-end manufacturing for businesses including additive manufacturing, CNC machining and injection molding, with no minimum order quantities and scaling from single prototypes to 10,000+ parts.
- **Thangs (creator marketplace)** — A 3D-model sharing and discovery community in which Shapeways acquired a majority stake; now the consumer-facing brand where creators sell digital designs and print-on-demand products manufactured by Shapeways.
- **Marketplace & maker shops** — The original consumer marketplace let designers host shops and sell 3D-printed products; closed during the 2024 bankruptcy and being rebuilt via Thangs and a print-on-demand feature launched in early 2025.

## Achievements

- One of the first companies to offer 3D printing as a public consumer service (2008).
- Built a global marketplace hosting thousands of designer-run shops.
- Raised roughly $107M+ in venture funding from Index Ventures, Union Square Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz and Lux Capital.
- Went public via SPAC in 2021.
- Original founders reacquired the assets and relaunched the brand from Eindhoven in December 2024.
- Expanded to 8 additive processes and 55+ materials, adding FDM in 2025.

## Latest updates

- **2024-07** — Shapeways Inc. files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy; Dutch assets acquired by Eindhoven entity Manuevo B.V. on July 29, 2024.
- **2024-12** — Original founders and Eindhoven team complete purchase of Dutch and American assets and relaunch the Shapeways brand on December 3, 2024; majority stake taken in Thangs.
- **2025-01** — Print-on-demand feature launched via Thangs for creators.
- **2025-06** — Signed a lease for a new facility in Eindhoven's Strijp-T TX Building to expand production capacity, with relocation planned for Q2 2026.
- **2025-01** — Expanded 3D printing portfolio with FDM and additional materials, reaching 8 additive processes and 55+ materials.

## Links

- Website: https://shapeways.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shapeways
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/shapeways
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Shapeways
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shapeways/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/Shapeways/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/shapeways
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-18