Stratasys Acquires RTC Rapid Technologies In Move To Step Up Service To German Customers

Stratasys Ltd. says they’ve acquired the operations and staff of a key German partner, RTC Rapid Technologies GmbH, and the move was aimed at strengthening the company‘s presence in the German Speaking Countries – or GSC – region of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The company says the acquisition aligns with the company’s growth strategy for that region.

Stratasys says they’ll continue to offer the full suite of 3D printing solutions and services to RTC Rapid Technologies customers, and they add that the plan includes working relationships with its regional resellers to capitalize on growth opportunities across a variety of vertical markets in the region.

Stratasys and RTC Rapid Technologies have been in partnership since 2003, and Stratasys says RTC Rapid Technologies has been a “key European partner that helped establish and develop the GSC region.”

Stratasys says the transaction will incorporate a seasoned channel partner team into their German operations which includes customer service, application support, sales and marketing expertise that will better position the company to serve its partners and its customers.

Rapid Technologies & Consulting was founded in 2003, and the company has specialized in consulting, sales and service of rapid prototyping technologies for design, engineering and manufacturing. The company operates predominantly in the German-speaking regions.

They say proximity to their customers in Germany in the regions of Dusseldorf and Frankfurt – as well as those in Austria and Switzerland – have ensured fast response times. They serve well-known customers from such industries such as automotive, industrial design, medicine and electrical engineering, dental industry and research.

Back in May of this year, RTC was given the award as the most successful and top-selling partner in Europe for 2014 by Stratasys from among 60 partners in Europe.

Stratasys EMEA President, Andy Middleton, says the GSC region is critically important to Stratasys, and that by bringing the expertise of RTC Rapid Technologies founders and employees in-house, Stratasys can take advantage of “their intimate familiarity with the GSC region customers.”

“The extended team is expected to add substantial value, being highly focused on our key accounts and business development efforts in this region,” Middleton said of the acquisition. “RTC Rapid Technologies has been an invaluable partner and an extension of our company for over twelve years, and I am confident that our new relationship will be a winning combination for Stratasys, our partners and customers alike.”

What do you think of this deal by Stratasys to bring GSC region players, RTC Rapid Technologies, into the company fold? Let us know in the Stratasys and RTC Rapid Technologies forum thread on 3DPB.com.