3D printing is truly a technology of the future. What was once only a vision of science fiction has become an incredible reality, where business and individuals alike can design and create physical 3D items at the click of a button.
To stay at the head of the pack, companies of all sizes and verticals – from global aerospace organizations to tomorrow’s tech startups – must design, test, and produce at velocity. But for years, manufacturing, particularly at the design phase, has been a bottleneck. When building a new device, companies had to turn to specialized machinists to create custom parts and enclosures to make their designs go – and while they waited for their parts to be made, the design process would grind to a halt.
For Prusa, one of the leading global 3D printer manufacturers, supporting this new wave of innovation is a labor of love that has led to explosive growth – from just a small start-up to an international organization with more than 750 employees. To support this growth while maintaining a top-tier level of service and product robustness, Prusa needed to work with the right partners to build their tech.
So, they turned to Arrow Electronics and Molex.
Lowering the barrier for rapid prototyping without compromise
All Prusa products are open source, which means customers are free to use and customize their printers and products as they see fit. To help enable this, many of Prusa's printers are sold as a kit, where the customers are responsible for final assembly. With this approach serving as their business model, Prusa was in search of a connector manufacturer that could meet their high standards. They needed products that were robust, but also intuitive and easy to use. Furthermore, 3D printers are used in a variety of environments – from woodshops to garages, production floors to clean rooms – and need to be able to operate reliably in the face of harsh conditions, extreme temperatures, vibration, and exposure to several chemicals. Prusa needed connectors that were up to that challenge. Molex provided the answer.
With a target demographic that includes everyone from professional engineers at global industrial leaders to students and hobbyists, Prusa also sought a supplier that provided outstanding products with automotive grade reliability at a competitive price. Molex provided just that.
Strategic scaling
Supported by a growing tech market, Prusa's top-tier products have led to incredible growth. What was once a small one-man startup in 2012, Josef Prusa – a Czech hobbyist, maker, and inventor – has led his organization to international success. With Fortune Business Insights predicting the global market for 3D printing will grow from $18.33B USD in 2022 to $83.9B USD in 2029, Prusa's growth is unlikely to slow any time soon.
To meet its already rapid expansion as well as position itself for sustained success moving forward, Prusa needed a global supplier that could support its product manufacturing today, tomorrow, and for years to come. At the same time, Prusa also firmly believes in doing things in-house – from their own electronic board development to component purchasing, manufacturing, testing, and assembly. It sought a strategic partner who could help support their vision of enabling a new-generation of open-source 3D printers while also allowing them to maintain control of their processes – this partner was Arrow.
Arrow, who is a key distributor of Molex connectors, has helped provide Prusa with full global logistics and technical support. Even during the global semiconductor shortage, Arrow was able to use its network of suppliers to keep Prusa manufacturing moving forward and provide premium quality components, support, and customized cabling solutions. Arrow helped Prusa build a bulletproof supply chain that allows the organization to manufacture and distribute its products without interruption, even in the face of rapidly evolving market conditions.
The market is evolving – Arrow and Molex are here to help
3D printing is truly a technology of the future. What was once only a vision of science fiction has become an incredible reality, where business and individuals alike can design and create physical 3D items at the click of a button. As filament materials grow, costs continue to decline, and 3D printer manufacturers like Prusa continue to develop new technology, it is not hard to imagine a future where there is a 3D printer in every household. Have a broken cabinet hinge? You can print a new one in minutes. Need a picture frame? Design one and manufacture it from your couch. On the business side, 3D printing continues to enable engineers to design faster, test more quickly, and build better products. The ceiling for 3D printing is truly limitless.
Arrow, as a recognized leader in managing a best-in-class, globally complex supply chains and logistics operation, is well-positioned to support this new wave of innovation. In support of their mantra that technology should be for the many, not the few, Arrow is ready to provide improved efficiencies, flexibility, scalability, and reliability while lowering risk and total costs for the 3D printer manufacturers forging ahead into this brave new world.
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