3D Systems Provides Update on Software Strategy
3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) announced a strategic shift in its software development focus, emphasizing its proprietary polymer solution 3D Sprint® while divesting its printer-agnostic platforms. The company will sell its Oqton® Manufacturing Operating System (MOS) and 3DXpert® metal printing platforms to Hubb Global Holdings.
The transaction, expected to close in Q4 2025, aims to accelerate industry-wide adoption of metal 3D printing through standardization. 3D Systems will leverage AI and machine learning to enhance 3D Sprint® capabilities, utilizing data from the industry's largest installed base of production printers. The company will maintain a strategic relationship with Hubb Global Holdings to support its metal printing solutions using 3DXpert® software.
3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) ha annunciato una modifica strategica nell’orientamento dello sviluppo software, privilegiando la soluzione proprietaria 3D Sprint® per stampaggio e stampanti, mentre viene dismessa la family di piattaforme indipendenti dal vendor. L’azienda venderà Oqton® Manufacturing Operating System (MOS) e le piattaforme di stampa metallica 3DXpert® a Hubb Global Holdings.
L’operazione, prevista per concludersi nel Q4 2025, punta ad accelerare l’adozione della stampa 3D metallica su scala industriale tramite standardizzazione. 3D Systems sfrutterà intelligenza artificiale e machine learning per potenziare le funzionalità di 3D Sprint®, utilizzando dati dal più ampio parco installato di stampanti industriali. L’azienda manterrà una relazione strategica con Hubb Global Holdings per supportare le soluzioni di stampa metallica tramite il software 3DXpert®.
3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) anunció un cambio estratégico en el enfoque de desarrollo de software, priorizando su solución propietaria 3D Sprint® y desinvirtiendo sus plataformas de impresión no dependientes del fabricante. La compañía venderá Oqton® Manufacturing Operating System (MOS) y las plataformas de impresión de metal 3DXpert® a Hubb Global Holdings.
La transacción, que se espera cierre en Q4 2025, tiene como objetivo acelerar la adopción de la impresión 3D de metal a nivel industrial mediante la estandarización. 3D Systems aprovechará la IA y el aprendizaje automático para mejorar las capacidades de 3D Sprint®, utilizando datos de la base instalada más grande de impresoras de producción del sector. La empresa mantendrá una relación estratégica con Hubb Global Holdings para apoyar sus soluciones de impresión de metal usando el software 3DXpert®.
3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) 은 소프트웨어 개발의 전략적 초점을 재편하고 독점 솔루션인 3D Sprint®를 강조하며 벤더 종속형 프린터가 아닌 플랫폼을 매각합니다. 회사는 Oqton® Manufacturing Operating System (MOS)과 3DXpert® 금속 프린팅 플랫폼을 Hubb Global Holdings에 매각합니다.
거래는 2025년 4분기(Q4 2025)에 마감될 예정이며, 업계 표준화를 통해 금속 3D 프린팅의 보급을 가속화하는 것이 목표입니다. 3D Systems는 AI와 기계 학습을 활용해 3D Sprint®의 기능을 강화하고, 생산 프린터의 업계에서 가장 큰 설치 기반의 데이터를 활용합니다. 또한 3DXpert® 소프트웨어를 사용한 금속 프린팅 솔루션을 지원하기 위해 Hubb Global Holdings와 전략적 관계를 유지합니다.
3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) a annoncé un virage stratégique dans le développement logiciel, mettant l’accent sur sa solution propriétaire 3D Sprint® tout en se séparant de ses plateformes d’impression indépendantes du fabricant. L’entreprise vendra Oqton® Manufacturing Operating System (MOS) et les plateformes d’impression métal 3DXpert® à Hubb Global Holdings.
L’opération, dont la clôture est prévue au Q4 2025, vise à accélérer l’adoption de l’impression métallique en 3D à l’échelle industrielle par la standardisation. 3D Systems utilisera l’IA et l’apprentissage automatique pour améliorer les capacités de 3D Sprint®, en s’appuyant sur les données de la plus grande base installée d’imprimantes de production de l’industrie. L’entreprise maintiendra une relation stratégique avec Hubb Global Holdings pour soutenir ses solutions d’impression métallique via le logiciel 3DXpert®.
3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) kündigte eine strategische Neuausrichtung der Softwareentwicklung an, wobei der firmeneigene 3D Sprint® bevorzugt wird und plattformunabhängige Drucker aufgegeben werden. Das Unternehmen wird Oqton® Manufacturing Operating System (MOS) und die Metall-Druckplattformen 3DXpert® an Hubb Global Holdings verkaufen.
Der Abschluss der Transaktion wird voraussichtlich im Q4 2025 erfolgen und darauf abzielen, die branchensweite Verbreitung des Metall-3D-Drucks durch Standardisierung zu beschleunigen. 3D Systems wird KI und maschinelles Lernen nutzen, um die 3D Sprint®-Fähigkeiten zu verbessern und Daten aus der größten installierten Basis von Produktionsdruckern der Branche zu verwenden. Das Unternehmen wird eine strategische Partnerschaft mit Hubb Global Holdings aufrechterhalten, um seine Metall-Drucklösungen mit der Software 3DXpert® zu unterstützen.
3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) أعلنت عن تحويل استراتيجي في تركيز تطوير البرمجيات، مع إعطاء الأولوية للحل الملكي 3D Sprint® مع التخلي عن المنصات الطابعة-المعيارية. ستبيع الشركة Oqton® Manufacturing Operating System (MOS) و<3DXpert® منصات الطباعة المعدنية لـHubb Global Holdings.
من المتوقع إتمام الصفقة في الربع الرابع 2025، وتهدف إلى تعزيز اعتماد الطباعة ثلاثية الأبعاد المعدنية على نطاق صناعي من خلال التوحيد القياسي. ستستخدم 3D Systems الذكاء الاصطناعي وتعلم الآلة لتعزيز قدرات 3D Sprint®، مستفيدة من البيانات من أكبر قاعدة أجهزة طباعة للإنتاج في الصناعة. وستبقي الشركة علاقة استراتيجية مع Hubb Global Holdings لدعم حلولها في الطباعة المعدنية باستخدام برنامج 3DXpert®.
3D Systems (NYSE:DDD)宣布在软件开发重点上进行战略调整，强调其自有的聚合物解决方案3D Sprint®，同时出售对打印机厂商无依赖的平台。公司将把Oqton® Manufacturing Operating System (MOS)和3DXpert®金属打印平台出售给Hubb Global Holdings。
该交易预计在2025年第四季度完成，目标是通过标准化推动金属3D打印在行业内的广泛采用。3D Systems将利用人工智能和机器学习来提升3D Sprint®的能力，并使用行业内最大的生产打印机装机基数据。公司将与Hubb Global Holdings保持战略关系，以通过3DXpert®软件来支持其金属打印解决方案。
- Strategic focus on AI-driven development of proprietary 3D Sprint® software
- Maintains strategic relationship with Hubb Global Holdings for metal printing solutions
- Potential for accelerated industry-wide adoption of metal 3D printing through standardization
- Access to industry's largest installed base of production printers for AI/ML development
- Divestment of key software platforms Oqton® MOS and 3DXpert®
- Reduction in software portfolio diversity and market presence
- Potential loss of direct control over metal printing software development
Insights
3D Systems refocuses on proprietary polymer software with AI integration while divesting printer-agnostic platforms to accelerate industry-wide metal printing adoption.
3D Systems has announced a strategic pivot that carries significant implications for both the company's trajectory and the broader additive manufacturing landscape. The decision to divest its printer-agnostic software platforms (Oqton Manufacturing Operating System and 3DXpert) to Hubb Global Holdings represents a calculated reallocation of resources toward proprietary technology development.
This strategic recalibration allows 3D Systems to concentrate R&D investment on its 3D Sprint polymer software platform, which supports the company's extensive installed base of polymer printers - reportedly the industry's largest production fleet. The company plans to leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance this platform, drawing on the valuable data generated across thousands of production systems.
What's particularly noteworthy is the underlying market assessment driving this decision. 3D Systems has identified that industrywide standardization is essential for accelerating metal 3D printing adoption in production environments. By transferring its printer-agnostic platforms to an independent entity, the company aims to facilitate broader OEM adoption and interoperability across mixed printer fleets - ultimately expanding the overall market for metal additive manufacturing.
The transaction structure includes establishing a strategic relationship with Hubb Global Holdings, ensuring 3D Systems maintains access to the 3DXpert platform for its metal printing solutions while removing the conflicts inherent in developing software for competitors. This approach potentially creates a more sustainable ecosystem where specialized software platforms can develop independently while hardware manufacturers can focus on their core competencies.
For investors, this represents a sharpening of 3D Systems' strategic focus and potentially improved capital allocation efficiency, though the financial terms of the divestiture weren't disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2025, marking a significant milestone in the company's evolution toward a more focused business model in the increasingly competitive additive manufacturing landscape.
This strategic realignment illuminates a critical inflection point in the additive manufacturing industry's maturation. 3D Systems' decision to separate its proprietary and industry-agnostic software platforms acknowledges the distinct development trajectories required for polymer versus metal 3D printing technologies.
The polymer segment, where 3D Systems maintains significant market share, benefits from tightly integrated hardware-software ecosystems. By retaining and enhancing 3D Sprint with AI capabilities, the company positions itself to create differentiated value through optimization of its polymer printing systems—potentially improving part quality, reducing waste, and increasing throughput for existing customers.
Meanwhile, the metal additive manufacturing sector faces different adoption barriers. Unlike the polymer segment, metal printing requires more sophisticated workflow integration, rigorous quality control, and seamless connectivity with traditional manufacturing systems. By transferring Oqton MOS and 3DXpert to Hubb Global Holdings, 3D Systems effectively acknowledges that these platforms can deliver greater industry value as independent solutions that serve multiple hardware manufacturers.
This approach parallels evolution patterns seen in other manufacturing technologies: as industries mature, software platforms that enable cross-vendor integration typically emerge as standalone solutions rather than proprietary offerings from hardware manufacturers. The strategic relationship 3D Systems will maintain with Hubb Global Holdings ensures continued access to these capabilities without bearing the full development burden.
For production environments considering metal additive manufacturing implementation, this move potentially accelerates adoption by promoting standardization across printer fleets—addressing a significant operational challenge. The ability to manage mixed hardware environments through unified software platforms is increasingly critical as manufacturers distribute production globally while maintaining consistent quality control standards.
- Primary focus on leveraging breakthroughs in AI to improve part quality, speed the design process for additive manufacturing, optimize manufacturing workflows and enhance ease-of-use in factory operating environments.
- Company to expand capabilities of 3D Sprint® for polymer production systems by leveraging AI and machine learning models, informed by data from industry’s largest installed base of production printers.
- Hubb Global Holdings to assume leadership for industrywide, printer-agnostic software platforms through acquisition of Oqton® Manufacturing Operating System (MOS) and 3DXpert® software platforms. Objective is to accelerate adoption of production-scale 3D metal printing by providing faster design-to-manufacturing through automation and streamlined workflows as well as to efficiently operate mixed fleets of metal printers as needed for globally distributed manufacturing operations.
- Companies to establish a strategic relationship to support continued growth of 3D Systems’ metal printing solutions incorporating 3DXpert® software.
ROCK HILL, S.C., Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following a comprehensive strategic review of its major software platforms, 3D Systems (NYSE: DDD) today announced its decision to focus development efforts on its proprietary polymer solution, 3D Sprint®, in response to the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in additive manufacturing. As part of this strategic focus, the company intends to divest its software platforms designed for broad industry adoption across all OEM printer manufacturers, which includes its Oqton® Manufacturing Operating System (MOS) and 3DXpert® metal printing platforms. These platforms are, by design, agnostic to the printer manufacturer and created to support large, mixed fleets of printers within a customer’s manufacturing environment. This move reflects 3D Systems’ commitment to driving innovation and delivering differentiated value through its core technologies.
Given the growing viability of direct metal printing as a cost-effective and technically advanced solution for a wide range of metal component applications, 3D Systems believes—at this stage of customer adoption—that industry standardization of metal print process planning and workflow is essential in order to accelerate direct metal printing adoption by customers around the world. Broader adoption will drive the scale needed to enable increased investment in software capabilities, which will in turn further accelerate global demand for metal printers. Under 3D Systems’ ownership, both Oqton® MOS and 3DXpert® have been offered as printer-agnostic platforms, not confined to 3D Systems’ metal printers, to global OEMs and customers alike. This approach has been effective in creating a strong technical foundation and brand awareness for both platforms. Transitioning these solutions to an independent software developer is expected to further accelerate OEM adoption of additive manufacturing and foster the standardization needed to transform the manufacturing landscape for metal printing. This will benefit customers and the entire OEM metal printing industry as demand rises for new systems.
Hubb Global Holdings, a strategic investment group led by principals Steve Lokam and Kalyan Yenneti, signed a definitive agreement to acquire these market-leading assets. This strategic investment is aimed at significantly expanding their core capabilities, strengthening sales and service infrastructure, and driving broader industry adoption. The transaction is anticipated to close in the fourth quarter of 2025. Highlands Capital Advisors acted as the exclusive buyside advisor to Hubb Global Holdings through the entire transaction.
Just as it has under 3D Systems’ ownership, Oqton® MOS will operate under Hubb Global Holdings as an independent provider of printer-agnostic enterprise software that will enable the rapid integration of intelligent, cost-effective metal additive manufacturing into customers’ factories. The same approach will be taken with 3DXpert®, whether it is incorporated into the Oqton® MOS or provided to customers as a standalone platform. This approach will benefit the entire industry by accelerating growth in customer demand for 3D metal printing technology, and its integration into factory operating environments around the world.
3D Systems will partner with Hubb Global Holdings in support of its mission, incorporating 3DXpert® into the company’s expanding metal solution portfolio and focusing on the development of new component applications enabled by this software.
“Our Company is focused on enabling customers to fully leverage the advantages of additive manufacturing in their production environment,” said Dr. Jeffrey Graves, president and CEO of 3D Systems. “We make this possible by providing fully integrated additive manufacturing solutions comprising 3D printing hardware, materials, software, and services to customers worldwide. We believe it’s critical to continue to invest in R&D to drive innovation in all elements of our solutions—focusing these investments where they can make the biggest impact for our customers and shareholders.”
“By concentrating our internal software development resources on advancing 3D Sprint®, and continuing to support our unique application development across both polymer and metal printing solutions, with the later utilizing the 3DXpert® platform that will continue to evolve under Hubb Global Holdings’ ownership, we can best leverage both of these market-leading software systems to solve the most critical customer needs in both polymer and metal solutions,” Dr. Graves continued. “In addition, we are confident that, with the backing of Hubb Global Holdings, Oqton® MOS will continue on its path to become the Manufacturing OS of choice for 3D printing, and that 3DXpert® will expand upon the unmatched technical foundation it has established with customers, and several other OEMs alike. This transaction enables 3D Systems to be well-positioned for the future, with a comprehensive solution portfolio to support high reliability customers in production environments, supported by a sustainable R&D investment strategy for the future.”
More on 3DXpert® and Oqton® MOS
Following years of development by 3D Systems, 3DXpert® has become the benchmark for advanced metal printing applications, enabling more efficient and reliable print set-up, and greater productivity for 3D metal printing applications. Its popularity with customers around the world has been growing each year, which has already driven its adoption by several OEMs in the metal printing industry in recent years. Oqton® MOS is an advanced operating system designed to manage complete workflows for additive component printing, from raw material to finished part, including the integration of automation and inspection capabilities throughout the manufacturing process to ensure the highest possible productivity and reliability of finished components. Oqton’s® capabilities have been demonstrated in several customer facilities across the U.S., Europe and the Middle East, including the potential for distributed manufacturing, on-demand, for reduced cost and delivery time. Oqton® seamlessly integrates the 3DXpert® platform into its workflow, ensuring interoperability, and is designed to be fully compatible with leading MRP systems used by customers in manufacturing worldwide. By spinning-off these software platforms to an independent party, an industrywide focus can be maintained and growth accelerated, which will benefit the entire 3D printing industry.
More on 3D Systems Polymer Software, 3D Sprint®
Moving forward, 3D Systems will concentrate its R&D efforts on advancing 3D Sprint®, its AM software platform that powers the Company’s polymer 3D printing platforms. 3D Sprint is architected for efficient design-file preparation and process optimization. It is currently used by customers throughout its installed base, numbering in the thousands, the largest operating fleet in the industry. 3D Systems intends to continue expanding 3D Sprint’s® capabilities by leveraging artificial intelligence and automation to enable accelerated adoption of 3D printing technologies in high-volume, production environments.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this release that are not statements of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from historical results or from any future results or projections expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In many cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as "believes," "belief," "expects," "may," "will," "estimates," "intends," "anticipates" or "plans" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based upon management’s beliefs, assumptions, and current expectations and may include comments as to the company’s beliefs and expectations as to future events and trends affecting its business and are necessarily subject to uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the company. The factors described under the headings "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other factors, could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected or predicted in forward-looking statements. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not, and should not be relied upon as a guarantee of future performance or results, nor will they necessarily prove to be accurate indications of the times at which such performance or results will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included are made only as of the date of the statement. 3D Systems undertakes no obligation to update or review any forward-looking statements made by management or on its behalf, whether as a result of future developments, subsequent events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law.
About 3D Systems
For nearly 40 years, Chuck Hull’s curiosity and desire to improve the way products were designed and manufactured gave birth to 3D printing, 3D Systems, and the additive manufacturing industry. Since then, that same spark continues to ignite the 3D Systems team as we work side-by-side with our customers to change the way industries innovate. As a full-service solutions partner, we deliver industry-leading 3D printing technologies, materials and software to high-value markets such as medical and dental; aerospace, space and defense; transportation and motorsports; AI infrastructure; and durable goods. Each application-specific solution is powered by the expertise and passion of our employees who endeavor to achieve our shared goal of Transforming Manufacturing for a Better Future. More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com.
About Hubb Global Holdings
Hubb Global Holdings is dedicated to accelerating the next wave of industrial innovation. We achieve this by acquiring, operating and growing best-in-class technology companies that specialize in the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced manufacturing. Our deep operational focus on additive manufacturing and metal 3D printing unlocks significant efficiencies and value, creating a foundation for industry leadership and sustained growth.
About Highlands Capital Advisors
Highlands Capital Advisors is a boutique investment banking firm representing founder-owned companies across the Independent Software Vendor (ISV) ecosystems, with a focus on Industrial Technology. HCA combines deep industry expertise with a tailored, relationship-driven approach, guiding clients through mergers and acquisitions (M&A) processes, capital raises, and strategic initiatives. More information on the company is available at www.hcapadvisors.com.
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