Angus 3D Solutions: Pioneering Metal 3D Printing Across Scotland

Andy Simpson’s journey into 3D printing began after three decades of managing global oil and gas manufacturing sites in places like Abu Dhabi, Russia, Germany, England, and Scotland. When oil prices collapsed, his role shifted from overseeing operations to shutting down factories and letting staff go. Instead of opening a conventional manufacturing shop, Andy founded Angus 3D Solutions in Brechin, a company that specialises in 3D scanning, 3D printing and bespoke manufacturing for parts that would be impossible or impractical to produce with traditional methods.

Free metal sample part

Angus 3D has rapidly expanded its client base—from independent entrepreneurs to major oil companies operating in Scotland. The studio houses several high‑end 3D printers, including a Markforged Mark Two and the Metal X. The Mark Two primarily produces jigs and fixtures, while several customers have re‑engineered their designs to take full advantage of Onyx and carbon‑fiber materials. “Onyx is a great material,” Andy notes. “It has surpassed both my own and my customers’ expectations.”

The Metal X

Initially, Andy had no plans to invest in a metal 3D printer, assuming such technology would be beyond his budget. That assumption changed when he discovered the Markforged Metal X, a machine that combined affordability with cutting‑edge performance. “I kept coming back to Markforged because they were genuinely engaged and responsive to my challenges,” he explains. After securing a Zero Waste Scotland Circular Economy Investment Fund grant—part of a national effort to broaden access to metal printing—Andy imported the UK’s first commercially available Metal X to Scotland in late 2018. The response has been overwhelming. “There’s nothing I enjoy more than showing people this machine—it’s truly a revelation,” he says. Customers appreciate its relative simplicity compared to other metal printers on the market.

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What’s next?

Since bringing the Metal X to Scotland, Andy has become the go‑to expert on the technology for local businesses, manufacturers, universities, and media outlets. “The Markforged Metal X is part of my journey and likely part of my success,” he reflects. “That technology enabled everything I’ve achieved.”