Xometry, a leading provider of 3D printing services and a wide range of other manufacturing methods, has acquired Thomas, a leader in product sourcing, supplier selection and digital marketing solutions. The $ 300 million deal will close later this month.
The history of the company Thomas dates back to the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, when it operated as a publisher of books on products and services for industrial producers. The first was Hardware and Kindred Trades, published in 1898, which later became the Thomas Register of American Manufacturers – a 34-volume, three-part purchasing guide containing specifications and manufacturing data for thousands of companies.
Thomas has evolved over time, selling paper and CD-ROM guides with information on local OEMs, distributors, maintenance, repair and overhaul services, broken down into 19 regional releases throughout the United States.
The Thomas acquisition will rapidly expand Xometry’s customer base, and the company also intends to leverage marketing and data services. Xometry connects corporate buyers from industries such as aerospace, consumer products, defense, industry, automotive, medicine, energy, robotics, green technology, and more with custom parts sellers around the world. At the end of Q3 2021, Xometry had 26,187 active buyers, including nearly 30% of the Fortune 500. Utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning technology, Xometry solutions provide immediate pricing, real-time delivery and quality assurance in a highly fragmented environment. It also offers a package of financial products that enable manufacturers to grow their businesses.
Thomas has relationships with highly skilled buyers and engineers for businesses. Thomasnet.com has more than 1.3 million registered users (including 93% of Fortune 1000 companies) and more than 500,000 commercial and industrial resellers, including 45,000 certified sellers. Each year, more than 20 million sourcing sessions are initiated on Thomasnet.com, generating extensive data on the intentions of buyers from many sectors.