The manufacturing landscape is constantly evolving, and when it comes to technology adoption and innovation, things are moving faster than ever before. Additive manufacturing has transformed the traditional approach to product development, and as a result, the conventional supply chain is going to look very different within the next few years. As Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing begin to take off, one has to wonder who could have predicted this? The answer is, 3YOURMIND.
3YOURMIND, an additive manufacturing workflow software provider headquartered in Germany, was founded in 2014 and has quickly become one of the most prominent players in additive manufacturing. Hundreds of customers could identify relevant AM Use Cases, automate their order- and business processes, and automate their production with the help of 3YOURMIND Software. While many industrial players in major automotive, aerospace, energy, and defense markets began contemplating the potential use cases of 3D printing for production, 3YOURMIND was proactively preparing for the inevitable boom. “We knew that 3D printing would go beyond rapid prototyping and anticipated considerable growth for manufacturing applications,” says Stephan Kuehr Co-Founder of 3YOURMIND. “We thoroughly investigated the market and identified several challenges our customers would face and potential gaps within the process. That’s when we realized that our goal is to provide an end-to-end software solution that takes additive manufacturing to the next level. From a good idea to a strategic necessity.”
After launching the Agile ERP order management software in 2014, 3YOURMIND welcomed AM Ventures as a major investment partner. This initial investment round with AM Ventures introduced 3YOURMIND to new opportunities with customers such as Bosch AG or Deutsche Bahn. As their foothold in Germany began to solidify, new AM polymer and metal technologies were introduced to the market, which dramatically shifted the opportunity for 3YOURMIND. With countless new OEMs and material providers entering the industry, the need for reliable software that could connect the front and back end of the additive manufacturing process was in high demand. 3YOURMIND’s software solution is designed to integrate the intricacies of AM technologies and provide users with data to redefine conventional manufacturing and establish new ways to cut costs and reduce long lead times. It’s revolutionary.
International Expansion
In 2016, 3YOURMIND opened a subsidiary office in the United States and launched the Agile PLM software solution that enables users to identify AM-ready parts for production. Removing, in other words, the traditional constraints of manufacturing and providing tangible evidence that AM is a cost-effective solution for MRO, spare part replacement, and other quick production needs. The ability to digitize tooling assets and production parts with 3YOURMIND paves a path for manufacturers to adopt the digital warehouse concept and embrace distributed manufacturing. This is a strategic imperative for many major OEMs and government protection agencies that operate with multiple facilities and international locations.
A Series A investment round led by Unternehmertum Venture Capital in 2017 culminated in a $12 Million investment that fueled expansion through Europe, resulting in new offices located in Munich and Paris. Through the Europe expansion, 3YOURMIND supports customers in France, Spain, or Poland to solve their challenges to scale their AM Business.
3YOURMIND launched the Agile MES software platform and develops connections with leading 3D printing machine manufacturers, EOS, Ultimaker, and SLM. These three key OEMs combined to create one of the largest install bases of polymer and metal additive manufacturing machines on the planet. This transformation shift for 3YOURMIND took the business further into full-scale adoption. By 2019, 3YOURMIND became a highly recognized name within the industry.
“Scalability is the key to success, for us and our customers,” says Aleksander Ciszek Co-Founder of 3YOURMIND. “Our investors give us the flexibility to expand our vision, and we have responded by developing major partnerships that will redefine the next generation of manufacturing. Our partners and customers rely on our software platforms, and we’ve only just begun.” Learn about 3YOURMIND partner and customers:
- SNCF Embraces Agile PLM to Manage Digital Inventory
- EOS Increases Adoption with 3YOURMIND Streamlined Communications Software
- Bosch Takes on AM Production with 3YOURMIND
In 2020, 3YOURMIND expanded to the Asian market after securing contracts with two new customers. KK Irisu, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a major manufacturer that provides conventional and digital manufacturing solutions to a wide range of industries. DMM.make 3D Print, an additive manufacturing service, and technology-agnostic service provider that integrates 3YOURMIND software to enhance production workflows and processes.
The Future of Manufacturing
Data is the lifeblood of the production facility. With the ability to seamlessly collect, track and analyze information, 3YOURMIND paves a path that makes additive manufacturing adoption simple and efficient. Full data continuity from parts innovation to post-processing breathes unprecedented feedback and knowledge transfer capabilities. Data transparency leads to improved communications amongst multiple departments, facilities, and levels of management. 3YOURMIND’s software solutions consist of the following:
- Agile ERP: An automatic order management software customized to fit any process, technology, and material offering with accurate and reliable pricing.
- Agile PLM: AM part identification software that digital stores and organizes files with API integrations, orientation optimizations, and printability analysis.
- Agile MES: Digital planning and automation software that scales AM for true production purposes.
2020 was, without a doubt, one of the most challenging years in our planet’s history for many reasons. From a manufacturing and supply chain perspective, it upended conventional wisdom and forced many businesses to quickly re-evaluate. For 3YOURMIND, it was an opportunity to double down and take a stronger leadership position in the international market. EnBW New Ventures, recognized leader in European renewable energies, joined by TRUMPF Venture and coparion, invested $5.5M USD to support 3YOURMIND’s vision to build smarter manufacturing across the globe.
“The promise of Industry 4.0 relies on Additive Manufacturing,” says Crispin Leick, Managing Director at ENV. “The 3YOURMIND offering enables companies to easily implement AM into their production process which supports the sustainability of many manufacturing and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, & Operations) applications. We are excited to invest in 3YOURMIND, a company that is shaping the future of manufacturing.” ENV believes in supporting strong, innovative companies that can create major impacts in the energy and mobility markets.
In 2021, the Series A+ investment round continued with LBBW VC, the venture capital arm of Landesbank Baden-Württemberg, and Verve Ventures, located in Switzerland, resulting in an additional $6.9M USD investment. 3YOURMIND has now solidified itself as one of the most prominent and well-funded players in the additive manufacturing market. With relatively low competition due to the product advantages and capabilities, 3YOURMIND is poised to take on new markets and opportunities.
Conclusion
The market for additive manufacturing has gained momentum recently, and it’s unlikely to slow down any time soon. The inherent value of AM provides significant design advantages, but production possibilities through on-demand manufacturing is providing a path for manufacturers to reevaluate the traditional supply chain. With 3YOURMIND AM workflow software capabilities, OEMs can digitize their assets, identify AM-ready parts and quickly evaluate cost-effective solutions that drive immediate answers for all stakeholders involved. The digital thread is enhanced by data aggregation and streamlined communications that make production transparency possible. This scalable technology enables smarter manufacturing and transitions Industry 4.0 from a concept to reality.
