The acquisition is the second phase of the new management team’s Shapeways relaunch plan.
NEW YORK, NY, Jan 6, 2025 – Shapeways, the engine for digital manufacturing solutions, has announced the acquisition of Thangs. The acquisition marks the second step of the plan created by the new management team that came together to relaunch Shapeways. Thangs is a platform built for all creators and invites former Shapeways members and newcomers alike to visit thangs.com/memberships to learn how creators are monetizing their digital designs on Thangs.
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the Shapeways business model by the former management team left the infrastructure underpinning Shops and Marketplace outdated.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 security powered by Physna’s technology with a modern platform tailored to creators’ needs. With Thangs fostering ideas into designs and Shapeways bringing those designs to life, the two companies together create a seamless ecosystem that spans the full 3D creation value chain.
A Shared Vision for Creators
Shapeways CEO, Marleen Vogelaar explained: “The team behind Thangs really love their creators 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.”
The integration of Shapeways and Thangs 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.
Greater than the Sum of its Parts
Paul Powers, CEO and co-founder of Physna, Inc., explained: “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 Thangs and Shapeways will drive both growth and value for both the Thangs and Shapeways communities.”
Dan Pham, head of Community Relations at Thangs, shared: “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!”
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, combining expertise in software, hardware, and post-processing solutions with agile, on-demand manufacturing capabilities.
For more information, visit shapeways.com.
