The founder and CEO is Wilfried Vancraen who was bitten by the bug for 3D printing when he created a statue for a Christmas present in 1985 using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) where metal paste is deposited onto a wire structure. From then on, 3D printing captured his imagination and he created i.materialise in June, 1990. The headquarters are located in Leuven, Belgium. Vancraen also created Materialise, which offers rapid prototyping for the medical, automotive, and aerospace industries. I.materialise is designed for consumers.

 

How i.materialise Works

 

Users can upload their own designs, sell their designs, or choose from designs already available for purchase. Shipping time (also called lead time) is typically 10 to 20 days and is typically delivered within 1 to 5 days, depending on the customer’s location. The Creation Corner offers downloads of 3D modeling software, the 3D Print Lab allows users to upload their design, the Materials page discusses different types of materials, and the Gallery shows pictures of the latest designs.