Ingram Micro Aims for Europe’s 3D Printing Business with European Competence Center

The enormous community of makers in Europe certainly has a strong foothold in the 3D printing industry, as well as among manufacturers and suppliers. While Milan and London are thriving areas, nearly rivaling the 3D printing popularity and prowess found in the Big Apple, German cities are routinely in the top ten when it comes to European 3D printing hustle and bustle as well.

We report on many of the larger 3D printing companies opening headquarters there, shaking hands in partnerships, and getting in on good business as well as the general action of creativity and innovation that the high-tech world of additive manufacturing and making has to offer.

California-headquartered Ingram Micro, just making an announcement from Munich, is taking it all the way now on the European continent as well, setting up a dedicated 3D printing and scanning division by way of their European Competence Center, to be managed by Rudolf Ehrmanntraut, senior manager, 3D Printing and Scanning, Europe.

While recently doing more than just dipping their toes in the water but still exploring 3D printing in Europe with projects and products from leading OEMs including 3D Systems, Leapfrog, and German RepRap, they are now ready to go full-force with expansion and their offerings.

The European Competency Center, targeting Ingram Micro’s base of many resellers in Europe, will offer:

• Training
• Support
• Pre-sales support

These resources will allow their resellers expanded resources and opportunity for offering more to their customers and end users.

“We have seen a frenzy of activity in the 3D printing and scanning space in Europe, with our resellers making it clear that they are looking to enter or expand in this fast-growing market,” said Rudolf Ehrmanntraut, Senior Manager 3D Printing and Scanning, Europe. “I am pleased we are able to provide resellers with the needed support to get them fully operational in offering 3D printing and scanning products and support services, going much further than just providing hardware.”

“Our focus lies on providing our partners with deeper know-how in order to enable data preparation and creation of their own objects. I look forward to being a long-term partner to them in this area.”

Catering to manufacturers, schools, artists, and designers, as well as hobbyists, Ingram provides a wide array of tools and products for both re-sellers and customers, featuring:

• 3D printers
• 3D scanners
• 3D authoring tools
• Related supplies

“We have been observing the evolution of this technology and the market around 3D printing for some time and we are convinced that for our customers, new business opportunities are out there for the taking,” said Ernesto Schmutter, Vice President Germany of Ingram Micro’s Technology Solutions division.  “After having successfully introduced and established our specialty solutions such as physical security, digital signage and others, we are pleased to support our reseller community once more with innovative solutions and technical competence.”

We’ve also been observing the evolution of 3D printing in Europe, and Germany itself, not only in the larger sectors, but also as startups and individuals get into the spotlight with many different innovations.

We’ve reported numerous times that the German manufacturers and makers are certainly not faint of heart when it comes to going big in the high-tech world, as well as creating and testing a wide array of 3D printed innovations, from making 3D printed wheelchairs for beloved canines to serving 3D printed food in nursing homes.

Ingram Micro is an international company dedicated to spreading technology and progress worldwide with a comprehensive offering of solutions in mobile and cloud platforms, as well as offering supply chain solutions for their many business partners.

Discuss Ingram Micro’s latest move in Europe in the Ingram Micro 3D Printing Business forum thread over at 3DPB.com.