2019 in Review: Milestones, Innovations, and Customer Successes at Markforged

As 2019 draws to a close, we reflect on a year marked by groundbreaking material launches—Inconel 625 and Onyx FR—expanded global footprints, strategic partnerships, and remarkable customer milestones.

Continuous Innovation

In early 2019, we introduced Inconel 625, a nickel‑based superalloy engineered for extreme corrosion resistance and high‑temperature performance, tolerating temperatures up to 1,000 °C. Its robustness makes it ideal for aerospace, chemical processing, and offshore applications.

Canadian manufacturer Nieka Systems leveraged Inconel on its Metal X printer to produce crucible clips, eliminating long outsourcing lead times and ensuring parts were ready for customers rapidly. Founder Dr. Louis Croisetière noted, “By integrating the Metal X in‑house, we now have virtually zero lead time on these components.”

We broadened our tool steel portfolio, launching H13 for high‑temperature tooling and adding A2 and D2 grades, widely used for cold‑working applications such as punch and die sets.

In composites, we introduced Onyx FR, a blue‑card certified, flame‑retardant material tailored for aerospace, automotive, and defense sectors, offering high strength, low weight, and fire resistance.

Our hardware continued to evolve. Gen 2 X7 printers now feature Turbo Print, doubling part output speed while preserving the superior surface finish our customers demand.

Michael Ott, Head of Production Innovation at Siemens Healthineers, Germany, said, “Twice the speed means twice the productivity. With Turbo Print, we can produce parts in half the time.”

Recognizing the need for CNC‑grade tolerances, we launched a machinability alpha that increases metal shell thickness to 1.5 mm, enabling precision machining of critical features without compromising internal infill.

We also unveiled the Sinter‑2, a larger, more efficient evolution of the Sinter‑1, delivering higher throughput, lower cost per part, and the capacity to print larger components. We proudly shipped the first unit to a major corporation, and our team even signed the inside before dispatch.

Incredible Applications

Customer success stories spanned industries: Dunlop Systems & Components replaced tooling in the UK; Shukla Medical developed orthopedic extraction device prototypes; Saint‑Gobain achieved a 6‑month ROI on an X7 printer; and Wärtsilä became the first company worldwide to CE‑certify a 3D‑printed lifting tool.

Building Momentum

Growth accelerated with the appointment of Shai Terem as President and COO. Shai’s extensive experience at Kornit and Stratasys positioned him to steer operational excellence.

We secured an $82 M Series D, backed by Summit Partners, Matrix Partners, Microsoft, Next47, and Porsche SE, fueling the launch of new facilities in Cambridge and Billerica, Massachusetts, and our inaugural European office in Dublin.

Strategic collaborations deepened with the integration of Siemens NX into our slicing engine, Eiger, offering a seamless design‑to‑manufacturing workflow. Senior VP Zvi Feuer of Siemens PLM Software emphasized the synergy.

We also partnered with MSC Software, a leader in CAE simulation, to provide end‑to‑end performance assurance—from material selection to final part strength and weight. MSC’s Olivier Lietaer highlighted the joint commitment to deliver validated solutions.

Recognition followed: we appeared on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 for the second consecutive year and were named the fastest‑growing 3D printing company on the list. That night, we also received the MassTLC Massachusetts Emerging Company of the Year award, and our Metal X was honored as Innovative Tech of the Year in robotics. Additionally, Markforged earned the Inno Blazer award in the BostInno 50 on Fire Hardware category.

Leading the Way

Educating industry professionals remains a core mission. We launched Markforged University, offering both on‑site and remote training that equips customers with best practices and advanced techniques.

Lee Evans, Project Lead at Hockley Pattern, UK, remarked, “It opened my eyes massively.”

Hyunjung Choi, Associate Manager, R&D at LSIS Korea, added, “The curriculum is invaluable. Previously, I believed applications were limited, but now I can redesign parts more efficiently with this knowledge.”

We also introduced Blacksmith, an AI platform that aligns manufacturing machines with inspection tools, enabling real‑time adjustments for optimal part quality and factory efficiency.

What’s Next?

Looking ahead, 2020 promises accelerated growth, new product launches, and groundbreaking customer applications. We are grateful for our community’s partnership and excited for the journey ahead.