Aussie distie brings in 3D print giant MakerBot

MakerBot, one of the world's leading 3D printer manufacturers, has signed its first Australian distribution partner, Melbourne-based Alloys.

The milestone deal will give MakerBot access to more than 1,000 resellers and four showrooms throughout the country.

Prior to Alloys, MakerBot was working directly with resellers Bilby3D, Thinglab and Re-engineering Australia. All three resellers will continued to offer MakerBot 3D printers in Australia, a MakerBot spokesperson told CRN.

Alloys got the nod in part to its close connections to the education, design and engineering vertical markets, said Mark Schulze, MakerBot's general manager of the Americas and emerging markets.

“This approach is exactly the kind of mindset we were looking for to help us make further headway into the Australian market,” Schulze said.

Alloys already works with resellers in traditional and large-format printer channels for design and engineering customers, an area Alloys chief executive officer Paul Harman described as a “sweet spot” for MakerBot.

Harman argued MakerBot was more accessible than other 3D printer brands, which he said was a key selling point for resellers.

Alloys will distribute MakerBot Replicator 3D Printers, which include the MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printer, the MakerBot Replicator Mini Compact 3D Printer, the MakerBot Replicator Z18 3D Printer and the MakerBot Replicator 2X Experimental 3D Printer.

Alloys will also offer the MakerBot Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanner, MakerBot PLA and ABS Filaments, and other MakerBot 3D printing accessories. The distributor will also provide product training and support.

Synnex is also pushing 3D printing in Australia, announcing a partnership in May last year to offer 3D Systems’ printer. Last year Leading Edge Computers also became a MakerBot reseller via Freedspace Thinglab.

Meanwhile HP last year outlined its intention to release its own 3D printing product in 2016.