China’s Unmatched Strength in 3D Printing Supply Chains and Market Scale—Formlabs Doubles Down

Global leader in desktop SLA and SLS 3D printing, Formlabs, has launched its “Shenzhen 2.0” strategic plan, doubling down on its investment in the Chinese market—even as many foreign companies adopt a more cautious stance. As part of this initiative, the Shenzhen team has been elevated to one of the company's global core hubs.

On June 4, 2025, Formlabs officially relocated its China office to a new space in Shenzhen’s Nanshan district—tripling its previous size. CEO Max Lobovsky and CPO Dávid Lakatos were among the executives present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. During an exclusive interview with Panda3dp.com, Formlabs leadership elaborated on their "Double Down" strategy in China, the Shenzhen 2.0 initiative, and the company’s stance on the U.S.-China tariff landscape.

Leading the Desktop 3D Printing Industry—Formlabs Bets Big on China

While many foreign firms adopt conservative China strategies, Formlabs is charting a different course—scaling up investment and growing its local team. The company stated, “To be a global leader in 3D printing, we must maintain a strong presence in the Chinese market.”

The Shenzhen 2.0 Plan represents this commitment. Drawing inspiration from Chinese innovators like DJI and Tiertime, Formlabs seeks to proactively engage with market dynamics rather than react. The company is focused on creating locally adapted, user-centric products that integrate seamlessly into China’s unique innovation ecosystem.

With a global workforce of approximately 800 employees, Formlabs has made R\&D a top priority. It operates research hubs in Boston, Shenzhen, and Budapest. The newly expanded Shenzhen office reflects the company's long-term commitment to China and underscores the city’s strategic role in global operations.

Shenzhen 2.0: From Regional Office to Global Innovation Hub

Having established a presence in China nearly a decade ago, Formlabs initially tasked its Shenzhen office with regional coordination. But as China rapidly emerges as both the largest and most innovative 3D printing market, Formlabs began implementing its "Shenzhen 2.0" upgrade in early 2024.

This plan involves establishing a new R\&D base, building a globally integrated team, and centralizing key operations such as supply chain management, local technical adaptation, and market responsiveness. The goal is to transform Shenzhen from a regional outpost into a global business hub, embedding it as a core component of Formlabs' international structure.

Thriving Amid Headwinds: The Formlabs Growth Story

In contrast to the challenges faced by many U.S.-based 3D printing firms, Formlabs continues to thrive. CPO Dávid remarked, “We are one of the largest players in the 3D printing industry, profitable and growing rapidly. Our focus remains on sustained growth and delivering exceptional products.”

Formlabs has differentiated itself in the desktop SLA space by emphasizing quality, reliability, and ecosystem integration—areas often overlooked by low-cost competitors. “We provide real value to customers, enabling them to produce high-performance parts with greater precision and ease,” Dávid added.

In the compact SLS segment, Formlabs’ Fuse series has also outperformed early competitors. While low-cost SLS machines have entered the market, few offer the reliability and stability required for professional use. Dávid noted, “There’s still no direct rival to the Fuse in terms of consistent performance.”

Ensuring Print Success with Open Materials

When asked about the advertised “99% print success rate” for the Form 4 under the Open Material Mode (OMM), Dávid acknowledged the challenge: “Openness and control are inherently in tension. Open material use introduces greater risk to reliability. To address this, we’ve developed a tuning editor with over 100 adjustable parameters, along with comprehensive documentation to guide users. It requires more effort—but offers full flexibility.”

Micronics Acquisition and Next-Gen Product Development

Formlabs recently acquired Micronics, a startup founded by two college students, Henry Chan and Luke Boppart, who now lead hardware and software development at Formlabs. This acquisition reflects the company’s strong belief in the potential of SLS technology, which remains underutilized globally.

Though specifics were not disclosed, Formlabs is working on a next-generation SLS machine—faster, more versatile, and capable of supporting a wider array of materials and functionalities. Regarding market speculation about a \$3,000 SLS printer, Formlabs commented: “It’s incredibly challenging—but not impossible.”

Capitalizing on China’s 3D Printing Farm Ecosystem

China is home to roughly 1,000 3D printing farms, each operating dozens to thousands of FDM machines—some exceeding 10,000 units. A growing number of these operators are transitioning to high-performance materials like nylon and high-precision resin.

Formlabs is targeting this sector with software tools and volume-based pricing on materials. Collaborations with industrial-scale farms are already underway, positioning the company to capitalize on the shift from consumer-grade to industrial-grade manufacturing.

Tariff Impact and Global Supply Chain Strategy

When asked about U.S.-China trade frictions, Formlabs confirmed that the impact has been limited and manageable. While some hardware manufacturing occurs in China, over half of the company’s revenue comes from outside the U.S., and about 50% of income stems from material sales—most of which are produced in the U.S. and Europe. Supply chain optimization efforts continue to mitigate potential risks.

Formlabs emphasized China’s unparalleled industrial ecosystem, especially in Guangdong, which boasts world-class expertise in injection molding, sheet metal, extrusion, PCBs, and more. The region also offers a wealth of skilled engineers and tool designers. These advantages enable faster product validation and quality improvements. As the company stated, “Without China’s manufacturing capabilities, competitiveness in electromechanical products would be nearly impossible.”

Looking Ahead: Fewer Products, Greater Excellence

Adopting what it calls the “Apple approach,” Formlabs prioritizes excellence over breadth—delivering fewer products, each refined to the highest standard. While some users seek smaller SLS units and others desire larger build volumes, Formlabs is cautious about overextending its portfolio.

The company remains bullish on China and will continue expanding its local presence. CEO Max Lobovsky, who visits China multiple times annually, expressed a desire to deepen collaboration with Chinese 3D printing media and users—working together to advance the adoption of 3D printing technology across the country.