3D printer maker Objet poised for exit
Rehovot-based startup which became a leader in 3D printing holding acquisition talks with large electronics company
Israeli startup company Objet is holding acquisition talks with a large electronics corporation, Calcalist learned. The price negotiated is half a billion dollars. Sources in the industry estimated that one of the companies interested in the acquisition may be HP with which Object "works in close collaboration".
Object has become a global leader in 3D printing, a market niche which caters primarily to industrial manufacturers that operate production lines.
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The 3D printer lays down sheets of plastic or metal polymer on a platform and within several hours creates an accurate, flexible 3D prototype of the model sent to the printer by the computer.
Objet's largest shareholder is former partner in Eurofund and present chairman and managing director of CellGuide, Ilan Levin. Levin has invested personal funds as well as funds on behalf of Swiss-Israeli billionaire Elan Jaglom in Object.
Among the company's clients are Adidas, Apple and General Motors which use Objet's 3D printers for rapid prototyping of models and parts.
Sources with knowledge of the company say that when former Apple CEO Steve Jobs contemplated the iPhone design, he used several prototypes produced by an Objet printer. Director James Cameron also used an Objet printer when making his blockbuster Avatar.
Objet declined to comment.
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