When it comes to consumer-level 3D printers, two companies seem to rule the road. The first is US-based MakerBot, which was acquired by Stratasys in the middle of 2013, and the second is Netherlands-based Ultimaker. These two companies seem to have a majority of the market share, with MakerBot currently leading the way.
Much of MakerBot’s lead within the space may be a result of last year’s CES when the company announced three new 3D printers, all which catered to a different sub-market, all varying in size and price. Today, January 5th, at at the 2015 International CES it was Ultimaker‘s time to shine, as they have released two new Ultimaker2 lines of 3D printers.
(left to right) Ultimaker2 Go, Ultimaker2, Ultimaker2 Extended
Although exact specifications of each machine have yet to officially go live on the Ultimaker site, the names and a few details of each machine have been revealed. We will be live at CES tomorrow taking additional pictures and speaking with executives of the company, so please stay tuned to this article for further details.
The first of the two new machines is a larger printer, targeted towards the enterprise section of the market. Called the Ultimaker2 Extender, this machine is priced at $3030, around $500 above the current Ultimaker2. This machine has a larger Z-axis, for prints which can be four inches taller (10 inches in height) than the current Ultimaker2. This 
machine is likely intended to go head-on-head with MakerBot’s Replicator Z18 3D printer.
The second new machine is aimed more for at-home desktop use. The Ultimaker2 Go gets its name from its portability. Much smaller than the Ultimaker2, this machine is capable of printing pretty much anywhere. With the smaller build volume also comes the smaller price tag of $1450. This machine is likely intended to cater towards the same market as the MakerBot Replicator Mini.
“After receiving recognition and awards from the leaders in the industry, we were inspired to make these new versions of the ground breaking Ultimaker 2, supporting our vision to aim for the ultimate 3D printing experience,” says Siert Wijnia, CEO of Ultimaker. “The Ultimaker 2 Go is a compact printer that is easy to use as a starting printer while the Ultimaker 2 Extended has added a ten centimeter larger build volume for users who want to create larger and more complex projects.”
Ultimaker teased both of these machines in a video a few days ago, and intends to unveil a brand new website sometime tomorrow as the 2015 International CES officially kicks off. Both the Ultimaker2 Go and Ultimaker2 Extended 3D printers will be available for pre-order starting in March, and will begin shipping in April. For those wishing to get a sneak peek at either new machine, Ultimaker will be present at 2015 CES at booth #72024.
Let’s hear your thoughts on both these new machines. Discuss, and get additional information of them both in the Ultimaker2 Go & Ultimaker2 Extended forum thread on 3DPB.com. Check out the teaser video below:
