Formlabs’ new 3D printer is poised to reshape manufacturing

Formlabs launched the Fuse X1, a new selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printer, on an unspecified date in 2024, aiming to make industrial 3D printing more accessible to smaller manufacturers and engineering teams. The Fuse X1 is designed to produce production-quality parts in under 24 hours and is priced at $84,999, with orders open now and shipping expected in the fourth quarter of 2026. This launch represents Formlabs' strategy to apply its decade-long playbook of making professional-grade prototyping more affordable and faster to larger industrial systems, a market segment previously constrained by high costs and operational complexity. CEO Max Lobovsky, who co-founded Formlabs out of MIT in 2011, stated the company's enduring goal is to simplify the process of transforming ideas into physical objects. Formlabs, recognized by Fast Company as one of its Most Innovative Companies in manufacturing in 2024, has expanded its offerings beyond professional desktop 3D printing to include automation, advanced materials, dental solutions, and industrial production. The company reports approximately 700 employees, over $250 million in annual revenue, and has maintained profitability for over two years. Significant venture capital has supported its growth, including a $150 million Series E funding round led by SoftBank in 2021, which valued the company at $2 billion. To date, Formlabs customers have utilized its printers and materials to produce more than 500 million parts.