Carbon secures 60 million dollars to expand polymer series production

The US company Carbon has closed another funding round of 60 million US dollars. The round is led by existing investors such as Sequoia Capital, Silver Lake, adidas, Baillie Gifford, Madrone and Northgate. The capital is intended to cushion the transition to positive cash flow, build additional production capacity and further expand the platform for large-scale-capable 3D printing.

Since its founding in 2013, Carbon has positioned itself as a provider for the series production of high-performance polymer parts in the additive manufacturing environment. In addition to several printer systems, the company has introduced numerous photopolymer resins as well as software tools for part design, process monitoring and automation in recent years. The goal is to be able to manufacture end-use products using the Digital Light Synthesis process in a reproducible and economical way.

“It’s an exciting time for Carbon,” said Phil DeSimone, office of the CEO and Co-Founder of Carbon. “We have built a remarkable portfolio of products and a network of trusted suppliers, production partners, customers, and collaborators who share our vision. With this latest round of investment, we’re in a good position to expand what’s possible in digital manufacturing and redefine how entire industries bring ideas and products to market.”

The company’s references are primarily high-volume applications. Together with adidas, Carbon has been producing midsoles and other components for sports shoes since 2017 and has recently expanded the portfolio to include the Climacool line with fully 3D-printed structures. In the field of head protection, helmet manufacturer Riddell uses lattice inner pads made from Carbon materials that have performed well for several years in tests by the NFL and NFLPA. Brands such as CCM, Schutt and Vicis also use the technology in selected models. In the bicycle sector, manufacturers such as Fizik, Selle Italia and Trek rely on saddles made from Carbon components that are regularly used in professional cycling.

Particularly strong growth is coming from the dental sector, where, according to the company, Carbon customers manufacture millions of individual parts per week, including splints, models and flexible partial dentures.

“We believed in Carbon’s mission from the very beginning,” said Jim Goetz, Partner at Sequoia Capital. “Carbon’s print technology, proprietary resins, and design expertise – along with their proven success across multiple industries – position them to lead and collaborate in shaping the next era of digital manufacturing in the United States.”

Jim Goetz, partner at Sequoia Capital, sees Carbon as well positioned for the next phase of digital manufacturing thanks to its combination of printing technology, resin portfolio and design expertise. For users in consumer, medical and industrial applications, the round signals that polymer-based 3D printing is increasingly being integrated into regular supply chains.