Shapeways acquires Thangs

Shapeways, a digital manufacturing solutions provider, has acquired Thangs, the collaborative 3D file-sharing and discovery community. The acquisition marks the second step of the plan created by the new management team that came together to relaunch Shapeways.

The acquisition also addresses gaps in Shapeways’ previous infrastructure. Changes to the Shapeways business model by the former management team left the infrastructure underpinning Shops and Marketplace outdated. The acquisition of Thangs – from Physna, Inc. – provides the community with a timely solution that exceeds Shapeways’ prior capabilities combining robust IP protection powered by Physna’s technology with a modern platform tailored to creators’ needs.

“The team behind Thangs really love their creators and community – and they take good care of them: which is exactly in line with the original spirit of Shapeways. Equally importantly their 3D search technology powered by Physna protects the IP of their creators which is incredibly important to me and the rest of the management team. We will be working now to create the ‘Print to Shapeways’ button within Thangs, and developing shops. We will be retaining the spirit of Thangs, which will become Thangs 3D Inc., a subsidiary, while creating a new home for Shapeways community members’ 3D files and businesses,” said Marleen Vogelaar, CEO of Shapeways.

The integration creates new opportunities for both communities. Designers on Thangs will be able to expand their offering beyond digital assets by leveraging Shapeways’ digital manufacturing engine to sell physical products directly to consumers. The combination brings a broader customer base and additional revenue streams to the Thangs community, while maintaining the platform’s existing functionality and identity.

“The synergy between Shapeways and Thangs was clear from the start. While Physna will continue to focus primarily on our B2B and government products, we remain invested in Thangs and have a great relationship with the community. We look forward to continuing to support Thangs and Shapeways; I believe the strong synergies between the two will drive growth and create value for both communities,” said Paul Powers, Co-founder and CEO of Physna.

“When Shapeways approached Thangs, we recognized a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to empower our community of designers to grow their thriving businesses. 3D printing is transforming commerce on both a global and local scale. It’s an incredibly exciting frontier, and we’re thrilled to provide designers with even more tools to help them succeed. If you’re a 3D designer, we invite you to join Thangs. Let’s keep growing together!” said Dan Pham, Head of Community Relations at Thangs.

Moving forward, Thangs will serve as the consumer-facing brand for creators and makers, while Shapeways continues to focus on business customers. Both brands will be powered by Shapeways’ digital manufacturing engine.