DDD and SSYS both developed the printers/ machines that make the models
Shapeways: The Future of 3D Printing
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By Scott Jenkins01/17/13 - 08:35 AM EST
Stock quotes in this article: DDD, SSYS, AAPL, AMZN, EBAY
NEW YORK (TheStreet) - Some of the hottest items on Wall Street right now are 3D printing stocks. Two of the most notable public players are 3D Systems ( DDD) and Stratasys (SSYS_). Both stocks have performed incredibly in the last 12 months, with 3D Systems up around 266% and Stratasys up 132%. While both of these appear to be great stock picks for getting into the 3D printing space, I would like to shift attention to a lesser-known player.
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The firm I'd like to showcase is privately-held Shapeways, a 3D printing service. The company's business model and the services it offers will most certainly change the world as we know it. The Shapeways business model is even reminiscent of eBay (EBAY_) and Amazon (AMZN_) when they were just beginning. Shapeways has set up a marketplace that lets anyone with some creative intent bring ideas to the masses in an efficient and seamless manner.
In a recent interview with me, Shapeways' Social Media Manager Elisa Richardson shared some amazing stats about the company's business. Shapeways spun out of the lifestyle incubator of Royal Philips Electronics in 2010 and has printed over a million 3D products. There are over 7,000 Shapeways stores where people have set up shop to sell their ideas using the Shapeway conduit. These products can be built from more than 30 materials, ranging from silver to stainless steel, ceramics, sandstone, and many variations of plastic.
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