We knew 2015 would be a hot year for 3D printing, and in the first full week of the year we’re already seeing an exciting new partnership arise. 13 European markets will benefit from the distribution agreement inked between 
MakerBot Europe has teamed up with Datech, the specialist brand from Tech Data Europe for European distribution of Autodesk, in an exclusive distribution deal for MakerBot 3D printers and scanners in over a dozen European nations. Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain have a new supplier for the MakerBot Replicator product line.
“We believe that the sales distribution agreement between MakerBot Europe and Datech is the right step at the right time for both sides and will help MakerBot expand its market-leading position in professional desktop 3D printing across Europe,” said MakerBot Europe’s General Manager, Alexander Hafner.
The companies are already partners in the US, as Tech Data is a MakerBot distributor in the country. The existing 
“Datech, with its many years of experience in the Autodesk design software market,” continued Hafner, “is an ideal partner for this project, especially with its deep knowledge of the market and its close connection to a network of more than 3,000 resellers and customers in engineering, architecture and design. Datech and its resellers will be able to broaden their product range with market-leading 3D printing products that are very closely connected to Datech’s existing Autodesk business. We see the two markets sharing a large common ground for the Datech resellers, as they already have all the competencies needed to create designs and files that can be realized with MakerBot Replicator 3D Printers.”
Included in the Replicator portfolio are the following 3D printers: MakerBot Replicator Desktop , Replicator Mini Compact, Replicator Z18, and Replicator 2X Experimental. The MakerBot Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanner and MakerBot PLA and ABS Filaments are also included in this distribution agreement.
MakerBot Europe has additionally launched a new Reseller Zone, where resellers can become integrated into their systems. Participants gain understanding of the MakerBot printer and scanner line, and can get involved in the whole process, as well as guide their customers. The Reseller Zone is limited to only authorized users, and registering looks to be a straightforward — if somewhat time-consuming and very thorough — application process. Resellers will then have access to an impressive amount of knowledge regarding MakerBot and 3D printing, including training and exams.
Datech and MakerBot will have nine service centers, established this year, that will be strategically positioned to support the partnership. The centers will include time-sensitive customer and sales support targeted at responding to each individual inquiry.
For its part, Datech seems excited at the prospect of this new partnership. Datech Europe’s Vice Presidenet, Mike Appel, noted that their “resellers have been looking for a complete solution and new opportunities with the fast-growing 3D printing market,”and that his team is “happy to provide them the possibility to use their experience in selling 3D design solutions with Autodesk software to now enable their end-user customers to step into the world of 3D printing and Real-Time Prototyping.”
What do you think about this sort of partnership? Let us know your thoughts in the MakerBot and Datech Team Up in Europe forum thread over at 3DPB.com.
