BigRep GmbH, a pioneering company in large-format extrusion-based additive manufacturing, and SMG Technology Acceleration SE, a special purpose acquisition firm based in Luxembourg, have agreed on a non-binding letter of intent to merge. This strategic move is set to propel BigRep to go public on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, a significant step for the company in the global market following the anticipated business combination.
The industry’s demand for AM solutions is continuing its strong growth, driven by major global transformations such as digitalization of manufacturing, a focus on sustainability, and supply chain risk mitigation. Hence the global AM market grew double‐digit over the last years to around USD 18 billion in 2022.
BigRep to go public through SPAC
BigRep, a global leader in largeformat, open Additive Manufacturing (AM) solutions, helps businesses accelerate their innovation processes and rethink manufacturing, allowing them to sprint from prototyping to production faster and get products to market faster.
“We expect the AM market to continue its dynamic growth for the foreseeable future, driven by the strong megatrends such as digitalization and decentralization of manufacturing. BigRep embraces those transformations, providing complete industrial AM solutions comprising of reliable hardware, productivity software, quality materials, and excellence in customer support.”
– Dr.‐Ing. Sven Thate, Managing Director and CEO of BigRep GmbH
Thate continued, “With our solutions based on Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) being by far the most widely used AM technology, we are in the sweet spot of industrial, automotive, and aerospace clients seeking fast ROIs not only for small parts but also for large, complex functional part production.”
Dr. Reinhard Festag, Managing Director and CFO of BigRep GmbH adds: “At the same time, we operate within a very fragmented market offering significant potential for consolidation. By unifying under‐critical players with outstanding technologies, we aim to broaden our comprehensive solution offering and leverage economies of scale‐ to benefit our customers. As a fast growing, global player, we plan to form a European leader in AM technology via a buy and build approach, expanding our portfolio, market reach, and talents working at BigRep. The signing with SMG marks a significant next step on this journey.”
Given the described market drivers and the continued strengthening of the company’s technology towards intelligent open AM solutions, management anticipates that BigRep will be able to continue its growth path, driven both organically and inorganically to form a new champion, “Made in Europe.”
BigRep recently acquired HAGE3D GmbH, bolstering its leadership position in the German-speaking industrial AM sector. BigRep will realise far-reaching synergies with this first step by scaling its full spectrum of low to high-temperature FFF solutions on its global growth platform, which includes a strong brand, an extensive reseller and support network, and a scalable premium contract manufacturer supply chain.
BigRep is striving to push the limits of FFF and make its broad industrial customer base more successful, with a combined global team of now over 100 passionate 3Dprinting experts, five strategically located application centres around the world, and an installed base of more than 1,000 largescale industrial FFF printers in all relevant industrial sectors.
