07 December 2018

HOBS ACQUIRES CANON UK 3D PRINTING

Hobs Group is expanded in the UK 3D printing market with the acquisition of Canon UK’s 3D printer reseller business.

Hobs 3D is already a reseller for California-based manufacturer 3DSystems and will grow its client base by taking on responsibility for all customers who previously bought their machines from Canon. .

The deal comes as the culmination of Canon UK’s plan to exit the 3D printing market, as Hobs looks to expand its own presence, with reselling and maintenance services running alongside prototyping, model making and its multi-sensory virtual reality platform VRCub3d.

Hobs Group chief executive James Duckenfield said: “Hobs and Canon have a relationship extending back to 1969. They are one of our key suppliers and when they were looking to exit 3D printing they looked to us as a safe pair of hands for their excellent list of clients. “Our deal brings Hobs closer to exclusivity on 3DSystems resales in the UK, and will allow us to provide Canon’s clients with services that are enhanced by our own experience and expertise in 3D printing.

“We will also be able to provide, alongside our expert advice, overflow services on our own 3D printing systems, as well as a number of different materials. This market can peak and trough and we will be able to support our customers through that.”