SBO acquires 3T Additive Manufacturing in public auction

After years of turmoil, several AM companies now seem to be re-emerging from their ashes to address a new phase of more linear and organic growth. We recently saw ExOne reaffirm its commitment to foundry customers after the Desktop Metal bankruptcy, with Velo3D uplisting to the Nasdaq (after de-listing from the NYSE a year ago). ExOne competitor voxeljet has also been consolidating its position as a private company after delisting and the list of examples goes on. Now, 3T Additive Manufacturing, another important AM company that underwent a complicated period, seems to be settling into a new reality as part of the SBO Group.

SBO (which has also just officially finalized its name change from Schoeller-Bleckmann Oilfield Equipment Aktiengesellschaft) agreed to acquire 3T Additive Manufacturing Ltd. on August 19th, 2025. 3T had been put up for public auction as part of the judicial liquidation of BEAMIT S.p.A., which had acquired the company in 2021 as part of an ambitious expansion plan. However, BEAMIT ran into major difficulties, which first led to the minority stakeholder Sandvik divesting and later drove the company into the judicial sale of its assets to pay off its debts.

SBO, on the other hand, has been making inroads into AM, a journey that began with an investment into multiple Velo3D’s Sapphire systems. At the time, VoxelMatters hosted the company in our webinar series, where we learned about its strategy of diversifying its offer through the use of metal AM. SBO closed its fiscal H1, generating revenues of over €250 million, with a solid operational margin despite significant market uncertainty and subdued investment activity. SBO addressed market challenges proactively with targeted measures, including optimizing supply chains and adjusting capacities. The AM investment in 3T falls within this strategy.

With the 3T acquisition, SBO has evolved from in-house 3D printers and depowdering systems into a full internal 3D printing service facility (3T houses several metal AM systems from EOS). Established in 2007 and headquartered at Fulton Court, Greenham Business Park, Thatcham, England. 3T has played a leading role in the development of industrial 3D printing technologies, with a focus on high-performance metal components for the aerospace, medical, and automotive industries. At one time, 3T Additive Manufacturing was one of the largest metal AM service providers in the UK and a major global player. During the time as part of BEAMIT, it became one of the Group’s most solid assets.

Commenting on the acquisition, SBO CEO Klaus Mader said, “We are successfully driving forward technological innovations, diversifying our business, and capitalizing on market opportunities – even in a demanding environment. Thanks to our strong financial position and our global locations we are well positioned, and we execute on our strategy, as also demonstrated by our acquisition of 3T Additive Manufacturing Ltd.”

Last July, as part of the judicial liquidation of BEAMIT S.p.A. (Case No. 54/2025), the Court of Parma announced the public auction of 100% of the share capital in 3T Additive Manufacturing Ltd. The appointed Receiver, Dr. Paolo Capretti, launched the process for the sale of the entire shareholding of 3T,

Since its foundation, 3T has accumulated extensive expertise in materials and process data, supporting the growth of talent and know-how across the additive manufacturing (AM) ecosystem. A major transformation occurred in 2021, with the acquisition by BEAMIT, when the company restructured its operations, transitioning from prototyping to serial production of finished parts. This shift was backed by a new leadership team and supported by Sharing in Growth, a UK programme for advanced manufacturing competitiveness.

At the core of this transformation was the establishment of a more efficient, scalable, and sustainable operating model. Simplification of processes, cultural evolution, and long-term planning laid the foundation for controlled growth and reliable delivery, making 3T a trusted partner for demanding industrial supply chains.

The company’s share capital is composed of 1,410,776 ordinary voting shares and 1,135,920 non-voting ordinary shares, each with a nominal value of £1.00 (GBP). The total estimated value at current exchange rates is approximately €2.93 million.

The starting price for the auction had been set at €5.5 million, taking into account a base offer already received. A 10% deposit on the offered price is required to participate. The sale to SBO took place on August 19, 2025, at 11:00 AM CET, through a mixed synchronous online auction.