Swiss-based JellyPipe Expands B2B 3D Printing Marketplace to UK

Switzerland-based JellyPipe, an online B2B marketplace connecting customers with 3D printing solution providers, resellers, and service providers, is now expanding its presence beyond continental Europe to UK and Ireland. The platform has successfully served over 5,500 clients since being founded in 2018, primarily in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy until now. Currently, the company is focusing on recruiting 3D printing solutions and service providers in the UK & Ireland to onboard onto their platform.

At present, the platform offers 63 material options, 14 technologies, and 132 experts or 3D solution partners on its platform. Customers first choose a 3D solution partner based on the country, consulting requirement (research, production, engineering etc) and industry.

What this also enables is for experts in 3D printing to setup virtual shops on JellyPipe’s platform where users, once matched, can upload their files to receive guidance on any repair or improvement for a part, as well as a range of quotes from the service providers to choose from.

While there have been similar connecting networks or marketplaces, such as 3DHubs, JellyPipe’s B2B platform is unique in that it has a strong focus on providing consultative services to end-customers through a 3D solution partner who is a certified engineer and an expert in 3D printing. Their consultative network enables customers to understand and select the best suited 3D printing process, material or design considerations for their application— advice and knowledge that is critical to optimizing projects and to meeting customer expectations efficiently.

The customer primarily connections and communicates with the 3D solution partner as their point of contact with JellyPipe, who provide unbiased support in design optimization, process, post-process or material selection specific to the customer requirement. Then the order is sent out to a manufacturing network of 3D printing service providers and, once quotes are received, the customer can choose based on pricing or lead times. The platform uses a complex, secure, software engine, with fully automated tools to make the consulting, DfAM guidance, vendor selection and order process as simple as possible. George Benz, president and co-founder of JellyPipe, views this ease-of-use as critical:

“Simplicity is the absolute key behind Jellypipe’s success. The number of 3D printing service suppliers in our ecosystem means that customers have access to 13 different additive manufacturing processes, and 50 different printable plastic or metal materials. Time and costs are optimised as they will always receive a fastest delivery or best price offer, and ordering really couldn’t be more simple — upload the file, it is checked and if necessary repaired and then the order placed, all free of charge. We ensure that customers communicate with 3D printing solutions providers instead of direct with service providers in order to receive impartial professional advice on specific applications, limits, and optimisation of 3D printing for their specific requirements.”

Remarking ahead of the expansion into the UK and Ireland, Benz said:

“We are delighted to bring the Jellypipe 3D printing platform to the United Kingdom and Ireland. Since 2018, Jellypipe has been working in continental Europe, and this is an important step for us as we work towards our platform being used globally. The principal behind Jellypipe is very simple, but is made possible by some extremely complex and intricate software which is the engine that makes using our platform so intuitive and rewarding commercially for all parts of the 3D printing ecosystem we host. Users of Jellypipe can easily access a huge resource of knowledge, advice, and consultation to ensure that the correct materials, 3D printing technology, and finishing is selected, and then receive quotes from the most extensive network of 3D printing service providers based on speed of delivery or lowest cost. It really couldn’t be more powerful or more simple to engage.”

Since 2018, when JellyPipe was launched, the company has been doubling its revenue and number of orders every quarter and looked to break-even early in the first quarter of 2020. As it looks to expand into further regions, it’d be interesting to see how the advantages of a 3D solution partner/consultant service plays out for end users, as compared to other marketplace platforms, especially with DfAM guidance increasingly critical as customers now look towards production using 3D printing.