BROOKLYN, NY & STUTTGART, Germany, Aug 4, 2014 – MakerBot, a global leader in the desktop 3D printing industry, announced the expansion of its international operations with the launch of MakerBot Europe. This is a major step in leading the desktop 3D printing industry not only in the United States, but in practically every major European country. As part of this expansion effort, MakerBot is acquiring certain assets of its Germany-based partner, HAFNER’S BÜRO, which has been a MakerBot reseller in Germany for several years. Effective immediately, MakerBot Europe will continue to manage the large network of MakerBot resellers throughout Central and Eastern Europe. MakerBot’s current resellers will transition into working with MakerBot Europe, and the new organization will be led by Alexander Hafner, who will be general manager of the new division. Hafner has been owner and president of HAFNER’S BÜRO 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,” noted Jenny Lawton, president of MakerBot. “Alexander Hafner and HAFNER’S BÜRO 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 BÜRO has managed and sold MakerBot products for several years and has extensive relationships with key MakerBot customers, resellers and events throughout Europe. Frank Alfano, chief revenue officer at MakerBot, noted, “The creation of a MakerBot Europe office demonstrates MakerBot’s commitment to the European market and helps align our overall business growth strategy in the region. Germany has also long been the European hub for 3D printing as overall interest in 3D printing has grown throughout Europe. We have confidence that the area will continue to grow in dominance in the 3D printing arena.”
Alexander Hafner, general manager of the new MakerBot Europe office (Photo: Business Wire)
“MakerBot Europe is committing itself to Europe as one of MakerBot’s most important markets for 3D printing. We are very proud to be MakerBot’s partner of choice for this exciting step. I think it is a unique opportunity in both of our companies’ histories. We are excited to be able to take our 3D printing experience and years of working with MakerBot to expand that knowledge throughout Europe,” said Alexander Hafner, general manager of the new MakerBot Europe office. “We are firm believers in MakerBot desktop 3D printing and scanning technology and look forward to working with the extensive network of MakerBot resellers in Europe.”
The acquisition of certain assets of HAFNER’S BÜRO is a major step in securing a strong foothold in the European market for MakerBot. While the European market has always been robust for MakerBot, and MakerBot is a global leader in the desktop 3D printing industry, the company has traditionally focused its sales and marketing efforts in the United States. Now, with the creation of MakerBot Europe, it will be able to expand its reach in many countries.
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. Existing MakerBot distributors and resellers will continue to run their businesses as usual and are expected to start to be assimilated into MakerBot Europe’s sales and marketing organization within a six-month time frame. During that time, MakerBot Europe will also be expanding the company’s reach and looking for additional strategic partnerships with resellers and key retailers that can help expand MakerBot’s penetration in the European market.
“HAFNER’S BÜRO in Stuttgart was chosen as the hub for MakerBot Europe due to their excellent performance record, enthusiasm for 3D printing and MakerBot products, and central location,” noted Frank Alfano. “We are excited to expand our reach and our mission to Europe to put a MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printer on the desk of every engineer, architect and educator, and in every school and home.”
About MakerBot
MakerBot, a subsidiary of Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq: SSYS), is leading the Next Industrial Revolution by setting the standards in reliable and affordable desktop 3D printing. Founded in 2009, MakerBot sells desktop 3D printers to innovative and industry-leading customers worldwide, including engineers, architects, designers, educators and consumers. To learn more about MakerBot, visit makerbot.com.
