3D Systems to Expand Healthcare Portfolio With Kumovis Acquisition

3D Systems has entered into an agreement to acquire Kumovis, a Munich, Germany-based additive manufacturing solutions provider for personalized healthcare applications. Kumovis’ solutions are built upon extrusion technology specifically developed for precision printing of medical-grade, high-performance polymers such as PEEK (polyether ether ketone).

“As a pioneer in personalized healthcare solutions, 3D Systems is continuously searching for opportunities to expand our application offerings that will advance healthcare delivery,” says Dr. Jeffrey Graves, president and CEO, 3D Systems. “The addition of the Kumovis team–their expertise and technology–will be highly synergistic to our medical business model.

“Our proven ability to deliver regulatory-approved, implantable 3D printed medical devices, personalized to improve patient outcomes, to surgeons around the world through our exceptional channel partners, will help ensure that the Kumovis PEEK-based offerings can be brought to market quickly and effectively,” Graves says. “Moreover, 3D Systems’ expanding point of care initiatives will be greatly enhanced through the inclusion of Kumovis’ unique ‘integrated clean room’ printing technology, allowing hospitals and other end-users to tailor products on-demand, to meet specific patient requirements in the quickest and most resource-efficient manner.” 

“In addition, by joining forces with 3D Systems, we will be able to combine their outstanding solutions with our unique PEEK printing technology to offer efficient, validated end-to-end workflows to produce personalized implants and improve patient outcomes,” Stefan Leonhardt, co-CEO and co-founder of Kumovis adds. 

PEEK is a desirable material for the production of medical devices because it is lightweight, resistant to thermal and ionizing radiation, and possesses mechanical properties similar to those of human bone. The addition of Kumovis’ additive manufacturing solutions to the company’s personalized healthcare solutions portfolio will allow 3D Systems to expand its offering for medical devices and point of care markets for the following indications:

• Craniomaxillofacial applications have been a core focus for 3D Systems for many years. Through this acquisition, the company will expand its VSP (virtual surgical planning) solutions portfolio to include PEEK implant manufacturing in addition to its anatomical model and surgical guidance products for a solution that can be bundled for its customers. 
• Bone plates for trauma is a new application focus for which Kumovis is developing carbon fiber reinforced PEEK bone plates for trauma and fracture fixation applications. This has the potential to open more opportunities for 3D Systems to penetrate and grow the trauma point of care medical market segment.  
• Spinal cages for which 3D Systems is a leader in the development, production, and sale of both implanted parts and systems for in-house production.  

3D Systems expects this transaction to close in April of 2022. The company will comment further on this growth investment in its upcoming earnings call, scheduled for Monday, February 28, 2022, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. 

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.

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