I would like to continue a series of articles about financial results of leading companies from 3D printing industry for the Q1 2016. I described 3D Systems, Stratasys, Materialise and the biggest Polish company manufacturing 3D printers – Zortrax. Now it is time for one of the leaders of professional 3D printers to print from metal – SLM Solutions.
SLM Solutions is a German company, which has developed SLM technology (selective laser melting) since, so 3D print from powdered metal. The roots of the company go back to the XIX century, however as far ad quick prototyping and professional 3D printing are considered, SLM Solutions has worked for some years and it is to say, that its achievements are really impressive.
In 2011 the company sold 7 machines, one year later 21, in 2014 49 and last year 102! These amounts maybe won’t bring toy to your knees, but you have to be aware, that these are extremely expensive and complicated industrial devices. The key clients of SLM Solutions are companies from aircraft, automotive (f.e.: Audi/VW and Toyota Central R&D Labs), energy production (Siemens P&W) or medicine (SLS France). In 2015 the turnover of the company amounted 66 mln €, what was a record in its history. Was an interest in machines from SLM Solutions that big in the Q1 2016?
It turned out, that yes. And when the company will maintain the current level of sales, it has a chance to break the record. In the Q! 2016 SLM Solutions received orders for 25 machines, so for 8 more than one year ago. An income increased by 63% – in the Q1 the company gained 13,8 mln €, so 5 mln € more than one year ago. 11,8 mln € from this amount comes from sales of the machines.
In the Q1 2016 the company made also two crucial decisions. The first was starting on the market of materials for 3D printing, so powdered metals. The second was establishing cooperation with Austrian CADS GmbH – a producer of engineering software. Both of them may have a positive influence on the general income in 2016.
These information urged the board of the company to increase financial forecasts for this year. SLM Solutions is going to earn about 85-90 mln €.
Source: www.3dprintignindustry.com / www.slm-solutions.com
