3Diligent to Split Off Into Marketplace & Direct Services

3D printing marketplaces may be more common today, but companies like 3Diligent have been able to carve out a unique niche from the beginning. As a marketplace that invites clients to submit jobs and then receive bids from vendors, 3Diligent allows businesses from startups to larger enterprises to embark on projects without having to purchase expensive 3D printing equipment. Bringing together customers with those who have 3D expertise and the technology at hand, 3Diligent is offering a service of great convenience—and smart economics for many.

As we’ve seen in the past months, 3Diligent has been busy building their business steadily, joining America Makes, designing exciting contests for enthusiastic users, and adding the 3Diligent Select feature earlier in the spring.  Now, they are restructuring further for the ease of their client base and offering even more as they split off into two entities, with one to include their Marketplace and another introducing 3Diligent Direct.

The new service will offer turnkey support from the request for quote (RFQ) to delivery of the 3D printed item. The Marketplace will now also offer both free and premium subscription offers to customers so that they can continue to enjoy both fast and economical access to 3D printing technology and the desired materials.

While the popularity of 3D printing is obviously continuing to rise, both on the individual and industrial level, many still may not have the funds or the desire to go through the process of purchasing a 3D printer, no matter the size or cost. This is especially true when it comes to industrial-grade machines, which 3Diligent points out can cost as much as $1 million and require someone who is specially trained to be in charge of operations. There is also the question of maintenance expenses, as well as the concerns involved with spending so much on something that might quickly become obsolete.

“These companies have traditionally leveraged 3D Printing service providers, but the rate of industry advancement and variability of pricing and quality from one vendor to the next makes working with local providers inherently limiting,” states 3Diligent in a recent press release.

Headquartered in El Segundo, California, 3Diligent created a set of proprietary algorithms that allow their users to have access to their network of service providers (deemed as qualified by the company) who provide quotes. Their network now stands out as having more providers and machines in their network than any other in the US. Currently they have 300 industrial machines at work, and 3Diligent states that this represents around $500 million annually.

“The market is evolving fast.  Our clients want to stay on the leading edge of technology, and our software-driven, hardware-agnostic approach allows them to do that,” said Cullen Hilkene, CEO of 3Diligent. “We only care about qualifying and onboarding great suppliers, then letting them do top notch work when their capabilities align with the project needs of our customers.”

The new services, just announced, are all now available too:

3Diligent Marketplace – this free service allows manufacturers to submit an RFQ and then receive bids from vendors possessing entry level “prosumer” machines and materials. This service was designed for fast turnaround projects and idea vetting – where tight tolerances and specialized finishes are not critical.

3Diligent Marketplace Premium – for $99/month, manufacturer RFQs are shared with outstanding fabricators who own professional and industrial equipment. Clients receive multiple bids with access to all the materials, machines, finishes, and achievable tolerances available. Pricing is meant to be cost effective relative to 3Diligent Direct for customers completing four or more projects per year.

3Diligent Direct – this service is helpful to companies working on confidential projects, those with less defined procurement needs, or companies that simply require additional support. Project management is handled from start to finish, and RFQs are reviewed by in-house experts to identify the optimal partner from 3Diligent’s database of fabricators.

“We are excited about launching these new services, because they allow us to offer a better level of support for our manufacturing industry customers,” said Hilkene. “Whether you are an R&D engineer, a plant manager, or a procurement agent, we have a seamless way for you to access our unmatched breadth of capability.”

If you sign up for a free account with 3Diligent by October 15th, you’ll enjoy a free 30-day trial, along with a 30% off upgrade code for 3Diligent Premium Marketplace to celebrate the launch. Discuss further over in the 3Diligent 3D Printing Services forum over at 3DPB.com.