3D Printing Firm Carbon Secures $260 Million at $2.4 Billion Valuation
Carbon raises a massive $260 million Series E round to expand its 3D printing manufacturing partnerships with major brands like Adidas and Ford. The funding signals a strong recovery for the 3D printing industry as the company focuses on industrial-scale production.
Carbon raises $260 million in a Series E round that values the 3D printing company at $2.4 billion. This latest investment brings the Bay Area-based startup's total funding to $680 million as it builds on high-profile manufacturing partnerships with brands like Adidas, Ford, and Riddell. CEO Joseph DeSimone notes that the company's revenue grows nicely, though Carbon does not currently announce a specific timeline for an IPO.
The massive funding round highlights a major shift in the 3D printing industry away from hobbyist democratization and toward industrial-scale additive manufacturing. Carbon leads this charge by positioning its technology as a direct alternative to traditional methods like injection molding. This approach proves highly successful through large-scale corporate partnerships rather than consumer desktop printers.
Adidas stands out as Carbon's most prominent partner, currently producing 100,000 pairs of $300 printed shoes with plans to multiply that number tenfold by the end of 2019. Ford integrates Carbon's printed parts into its GT Mustang and F-150 trucks, while Riddell uses the technology to create customized football helmets. Carbon plans to expand this customized safety equipment approach to other sports like hockey and baseball.