On-demand digital manufacturing providerProtolabs已经获得了在线制造平台3D集线器总共拥有2.8亿美元，此举将创建公司声称是“世界上最全面”的定制零件数字制造商品。
通过收购，Protolabs将访问3D中心的240个制造合作伙伴的全球网络，从而在其当前范围之外实现更广泛的功能，定价和交货时间选择。
“The addition of 3D Hubs provides Protolabs a platform to evolve our service model to provide unprecedented manufacturing flexibility to our customers,” said Rob Bodor, incoming President and CEO of Protolabs. “Our combined organizations will provide the market an industry-leading digital manufacturing solution to serve their needs from idea to prototype to full end-use production.
“我们可以共同满足整个产品生命周期中几乎所有定制的制造需求。”
3D枢纽的演变
3D Hubs最初成立于2013年，是针对拥有3D打印机为他人制作事物的P2P平台，此后，3D Hubs获得了更多的财务雷电竞app下载支持，以重新定位为B2B服务。在将CNC加工，注塑成型和金属制造制造产品添加到其3D打印功能中后，该公司正式将其重新品牌为“交钥匙制造平台”在2018年。
此后，3D枢纽推出了new business entity based in the USnamed 3D Hubs Manufacturing LLC, in order to implement the firm’s “Fulfilled by 3D Hubs” service in the region. In 2019, the company标志着它进入法国市场随着在巴黎开设新办事处，并得到投资公司Future Shape的支持。
目前，3D中心的平台包含来自全球20个国家 /地区的240个经过审查的制造合作伙伴，并促进了超过600万个定制零件和产品的生产。自2017年以来，该公司在2020年，以复合年增长率（CAGR）的复合年增长率（CAGR）产生了2500万美元的收入。
3D Hubs联合创始人兼首席执行官Bram de Zwart表示：“整个3D枢纽团队都很高兴加入Protolabs并通过创新彻底改变制造业。”“在3D枢纽，我们的目标是通过供应链效率和可靠性来赋予公司创造革命性产品的能力。我们有信心与Protolabs合作将有助于我们促进该任务。”
protolabs-3D中心的详细信息获取
Protolabs对3D枢纽的获取是由Bodor驱动和执行的，以便为Protolabs提供两个重要的好处。扩展的制造合作伙伴网络，以及更广泛的制造能力，定价和交货时间选择。此次收购还加快了Protolabs增长战略中的三个关键要素，该公司希望在该战略中获得10亿美元的收入。
根据Protolabs的说法，此举将使公司能够获得新客户并在其现有客户群中增加销售，这将在地理上扩展。此次收购还将扩大Protolabs的部分信封，以提供更大的零件尺寸，并增加复杂性和新材料。此外，将促进新的制造服务，流程，次要操作和检查报告。
In terms of the acquisition agreement, Protolabs will acquire 3D Hubs for a total of $280 million, of which $130 million will be funded with cash and the remaining $150 million in Protolabs common stock. An additional $50 million of contingent consideration is also payable subject to performance-based targets over the next two years. Protolabs has also initiated an employee incentive fund payable to 3D Hubs employees based on financial performance and employee retention targets.
“The acquisition of 3D Hubs is part of the continued evolution of Protolabs as the digital manufacturing leader, serving more and more of our customers’ needs,” added Vicki Holt, Protolabs CEO. “Protolabs’ leading in-house technology-enabled manufacturing services combined with 3D Hubs’ global network of premium manufacturing partners will yield the greatest value to our customers for years to come.”
向投资者解释这笔交易
2.8亿美元的购买价格又有5000万美元的征收收入和收益目标，目标是2020年收入超过13倍的收入。考虑到2017年3D中心收入仅为100万美元，这是令人印象深刻的。今天的宣布的根源可以追溯到同年，当时3D枢纽采用了针对B2B市场的新战略。在2017年之前，许多人似乎主要是一个由消费者用户组成的网络，而当时100万美元收入的一半来自专业用户。这些业务用户通常无法从非企业中心订购。
3D集线器now has 240 vetted manufacturing partners, with approximately $15 million in revenue from CNC Services and $7 million from 3D printing. On a call with investors today attention was drawn to the quality assessment process of vetting these partners and monitoring the quality of parts produced. Upfront audits and ongoing evaluations of performance are done through the 3D Hubs platform and coupled with human oversight. Key metrics include low customer complaints and orders arriving on time together with reliability. The expertise of partners is vital to ensure orders are routed to the correct partner. Protolabs is proud of how it has automated much of thedigital manufacturing workflow在3D枢纽中，该公司找到了一个志趣相投的合作伙伴，质量管理流程主要由3D集线器平台处理。
那么，为什么潜在的客户会选择3D枢纽，而不是原贴枢纽，而收购会看到销售的一些危险呢？“There are times when customers don’t need the part that fast and they are interested in a different lead-time and at a competitive price for that lead time,” says incoming CEO Robert Bodor. Furthermore, additional secondary processes can be offered.
Protolabs认为“增加我们很重要fering with the opportunity for outsourcing”. Suggesting that legacy overheads may mean that it may make business sense to use the 3D Hubs network of manufacturing partners rather than in-house Protolabs equipment. This would also avoid leaving cash on the table for orders that Protolabs may have previously rejected and opens the door to such a customer utilizing Protolabs’ wider services down the road. Analysts drew attention to the acquisition as a defensive play, which is another way to view the strategy.
该交易的讨论始于夏天，Vicki Holt表示，由于B2B电子商务的加速，现在交易的时机是完美的。首席执行官说：“我们希望处于最强大的位置”，以“在ECOM B2B向工业客户供应的ECOM B2B供应中保持领导地位。”霍尔特补充说：“我们将事物带入数字平台以加速我们的路线图的正常方法还不够快，无法在今天的ECOM中发生变化的速度。”
通过收购加速，这种加速带来了以当前3D枢纽员工和执行团队的形式的大量专业知识。随着3D印刷行业的不断发展，人们普遍认为，为人才而战是真实的。将这样的团队添加到现有的ProtolAbs人数肯定是有利的，必须采取措施确保保留关键人员。正如霍尔特（Holt）所说：“ 3D枢纽拥有一支强大的才华横溢的团队，这将真正适合原始映射的文化”。
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Featured image shows a Protolabs CNC machining facility. Photo via Protolabs.
