Q.Big 3D, a 3D printing startup that was in our list of companies to watch this year, has recently closed a Series A funding round of €2 million led by VC firm HZG Group. HZG Group joined Manz AG, a global high-tech engineering company with an extensive technology portfolio, that has been invested in the startup since its early stages and stays on board. So does Manz-founder Dieter Manz who is personally invested.
The fresh capital comes in time for Q.Big 3D’s launch of the Queen 1 large-format printer. A key feature of the machine is its ability to operate two nozzles in the printing process. One nozzle is used for fast, high-volume printing and one for applying fine surfaces and structures. The system works with plastic granulate as widely available and well-established base material.
During the ramp-up phase of the Queen 1 printer that started in autumn 2022, beta customers have produced large-scale components such as rear light mounts, sophisticated pipe flanges in the field of energy technology, and side doors for helicopter cockpits. Q.BIG 3D is currently intensifying its sales activities for the serial product, which will be ready for shipment by the end of this year.
Katja Herrmann, co-founder of Q.Big 3D, said: “Compared to alternative processes such as milling, laminating or casting, we enable a significantly shorter lead-time for the production of components at a lower price. For example, one customer confirms a lead-time reduction of 70 percent and a cost reduction of at least 30 percent. With this customer feedback and HZG Group as an investor at our side, we are very confident about the market launch. Following the R&D phase, we are now set for growth“.
XXXL becomes economical: Print bigger
Setting the nozzle up and putting it down is often the critical part in the additive manufacturing process, as it is difficult to control the component’s accuracy in the process. So far, users therefore had to choose between large components with coarse surface structures and small components with filigree structures. Q.Big 3D‘s innovation is the VFGF (Variable Fused Granular Fabrication) process, which allows the amount of extruded plastic to be precisely controlled according to the part’s geometry.
With an installation space of 1700 mm x 1100 mm x 1050 mm and the use of plastic pellets, large-format 3D printing with the Queen 1 printer is an economical solution for many applications. Q.Big 3D customers include companies such as Voith, Kärcher and John Deere. Great potential for future use lies in the rail and commercial vehicle industry, in shipbuilding, aerospace, mechanical engineering, architecture, and construction, as well as in the exhibition stand construction and building technology business.
Kerstin Herzog, founder and managing director of HZG Group, said: “In the field of additively manufactured large components, Q.Big 3D’s technology covers a very broad spectrum from prototypes, design and functional samples to spare parts, operating equipment and end products. We are thrilled by the potential range of applications because this is exactly where the classic advantages of 3D printing are effectively merged with a short and tool-less process chain to manufacture large components. We are excited about the next steps we will take together with the team and its Queen 1.“
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