In February, Ultimaker, a Netherlands-based manufacturer of 3D printers and software, appointed Miguel Calvo as its chief technology officer and senior vice president of printers and peripherals. Calvo will oversee research and development of the company’s three types of 3D printers, software and materials.
“In my role, I will collaborate closely with Ultimaker’s key industry partners to ensure seamless integration of Ultimaker’s 3D printing platform into existing workflows. I will ensure our roadmap stays aligned with the growing applications for the technology in industry,” said Calvo.
Before coming to Ultimaker, Calvo was development director at UK-based Linx Printing Technologies. While there, Calvo led the development of Linx’s compact industrial continuous inkjet printer. Calvo has held numerous R&D leadership positions across multiple industries, including aerospace, clean power generation, and material handling. He started his career in the automotive industry, designing and developing fuel injection equipment for vehicle OEMs.
Jürgen Von Hollen, CEO of Ultimaker, said Calvo was “a great addition for the company.
“His extensive experience in a diverse range of high-tech industries, both hands-on in R&D and in several leadership roles, makes him the right person to further drive the development of our 3D printing platform that enables sustainable manufacturing. He has an impressive track record of building and leading strong organisations,” said Von Hollen.
The COVID-19 Pandemic Increased the Need for 3D Printing
The pandemic has greatly disrupted global supply chains, causing parts to be less available. 3D printing has become a way to handle the rise in demand. Companies were looking to localize manufacturing, reduce downtime, and reduce costs.
In the first half of 2020, Ultimaker experienced double-digit growth year-over-year globally. It saw over 30 percent growth in the U.S. alone.
“In the U.S., we saw annual revenue growth of over 16 percent. For 2021, we expect this growth to continue. A key trend supporting this is the rise of digital libraries where functional designs are centrally stored, ready to be locally produced. Ensuring your parts are stored digitally is more relevant than ever to stay productive and flexible,” said Calvo.
Calvo said Ultimaker Cura, the software associated with the company’s 3D printers, remains the most popular slicing software. Slicing software creates a path for a 3D printer to follow while it is printing.
How Ultimaker Printers Helped with PPE Production
The COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in the production of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Erik Cederberg, co-owner and CTO of 3DVerkstan, a 3D printing knowledge center and solutions provider in Stockholm, set a model for other leaders in PPE production.
“Cederberg designed an easily reproducible face shield using a 3D printed headband and transparencies with holes created by regular office hole punches. From the beginning, the face shield was intended to be printed with Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) technology. The design was highly optimized for efficient production in terms of printing time and material consumption, while keeping failure rate low,” said Calvo.
Cederberg worked on the project with local health providers. It inspired 3D printer operators around the world.
“With their support, the heavily iterated design was submitted to the scrutiny of medical policy and safety reviewers. In several regions and countries, it was selected as an authorized medical solution,” said Calvo.
3D Printing Is Changing Business Practices
3D printing’s advantages include the potential to develop new applications through rapid prototyping. The process also helps companies realize new business opportunities.
“Customers like Gerhard Schubert GmbH, a German producer of large packaging machines, have already seen success with a digital warehouse. They’re able to print parts, tools, jigs and fixtures for their packaging machines on demand,” said Calvo.
Calvo said Ultimaker is well poised to assist its clients worldwide.
“We are the largest player in the professional 3D printing market and continue to grow. Ultimaker onboarded six new resellers in the Americas in 2020 and implemented a new distribution model in the Asia-Pacific region to support a go-to-market strategy. Ultimaker’s leadership position is attributed to a customer-centric approach. We are committed to maintaining transparent relationships with business partners and end users,” said Calvo.
Calvo added that Ultimaker is a leader in the field because it enables its ecosystem of products to work together.
“For a 3D print to succeed, the 3D printer should work. But there is more, since the materials, the slicing software and parameters, the environment, must all work together with the 3D printer. If a 3D printer only has a slightly better resolution or a higher speed or thermal range, this will not automatically result in a successful print job. That is exactly where Ultimaker stands out,” said Calvo.
Calvo explained that Ultimaker “covers it all,” offering a fully integrated solution that truly provides its customers with a hassle-free 3D print experience.
“We will continue to do so in the most innovative ways,” said Calvo.