Sculpteo is a French company specialized in

3D printing 3D printing or additive manufacturing is the Manufacturing, construction of a three-dimensional object from a computer-aided design, CAD model or a digital 3D modeling, 3D model. It can be done in a variety of processes in which material is ...

in the cloud. Sculpteo offers an online

service, using

rapid prototyping Rapid prototyping is a group of techniques used to quickly fabricate a scale model of a physical part or assembly using three-dimensional computer aided design (CAD) data. Construction of the part or assembly is usually done using 3D printin ...

and a manufacturing process involving

laser A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The word "laser" is an acronym for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation". The fir ...

sintering Clinker nodules produced by sintering Sintering or frittage is the process of compacting and forming a solid mass of material by pressure or heat without melting it to the point of liquefaction. Sintering happens as part of a manufacturing ...

or stereo lithography. The company was founded in June 2009 by Eric Carreel (co-founder of

Inventel Inventel was a French company developing consumer electronics and communication systems, noted for domestic gateways and considered one of the primary architects of Triple play in Europe. Founded in 1990 in Paris by Jacques Lewiner and Eric Ca ...

, acquired by

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in 2005, and

Withings Withings (pronounced "WITH-things") is a French consumer electronics company headquartered in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France. It also has offices in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, and Hong Kong, and distributes its products worldwide. Withings is kno ...

), Clement Moreau and

Jacques Lewiner Jacques Lewiner (born in 1943) is a French physicist and inventor. He is Professor and Honorary Scientific Director of École supérieure de physique et de chimie industrielles de la ville de Paris (ESPCI Paris), and (since 2012) dean of innov ...

. Sculpteo offers online 3D printing services, particularly in Europe and North America The company was acquired in 2019 by the German multinational chemical company

BASF BASF Societas Europaea, SE () is a German multinational corporation, multinational chemical company and the List of largest chemical producers, largest chemical producer in the world. Its headquarters is located in Ludwigshafen, Germany. The ...

Purpose

Sculpteo offers an online 3D printing service for professionals and individuals. From a 3D file, Sculpteo manufactures real objects such as interior decoration, figurines, robots, miniatures, scale models... It also gives access to a 3D design market. Since 2012, Sculpteo offers mobile applications which can generate 3D files and order their manufacture directly from the smartphone. With its offer of 3D printing for professionals as well as for the general public, Sculpteo gives individuals access to 3D printing in an original form which integrates professional designers in the chain of production.

History and background

The company was created in June 2009. Two years after, in January 2011, ''Sculpteo'' launches their online 3D printing service for the general public by allowing users to make your own avatar from simple 2D photos modeled in 3D. In March 2011, the company launches ''Pro.Sculpteo'', an online 3D printing service for professionals. In june 2011, Sculpteo and 3DVIA announce a direct printing service provided by ''Sculpteo'' via the 3Dvia portal. In January 2012, ''Sculpteo'' launches the 3D printing Cloud Engine and the Sculpteo app at the

Consumer Electronics Show CES (; formerly an initialism for Consumer Electronics Show) is an annual trade show organized by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). Held in January at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Winchester, Nevada, United States, the event typi ...

in Las Vegas. The app transforms human data into a 3D printed object using an

iOS iOS (formerly iPhone OS) is a mobile operating system created and developed by Apple Inc. exclusively for its hardware. It is the operating system that powers many of the company's mobile devices, including the iPhone; the term also includes ...

device. In september 2012, ''Sculpteo'' launches ''3DPCase'', the first smartphone app able to generate the 3D file of an iPhone case directly from the smartphone. For the app, ''Sculpteo'' is granted the Prize of Best Innovator at CES 2013. This new approach of unit production highlights the flexibility of the online 3D manufacturing process and allows the company to commercialize iPhone 5 cases before the launch of the

iPhone 5 The iPhone 5 is a smartphone that was designed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is the 6th generation iPhone, succeeding both the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, and preceding both the iPhone 5S and 5C. It was formally unveiled as part of a press e ...

. In December 2012, Sculpteo raises 2 million euros thanks to XAnge'','' branch of the French bank Banque Postale, business angels and founders. In March 2013, ''Sculpteo'' commercializes Lighting plug connectors manufactured in 3D printing. Late 2013, La Poste launches a 3D printing service in post offices, in partnership with Sculpteo. In January 2014, at the Las Vegas

, ''Sculpteo'' unveils "3D Batch Control", a cloud 3D printing service designed for professionals and businesses in need of short-run manufacturing. It allows users to upload a 3D file, change the size and dimensions of the object directly within the browser, select a printing material and order their design to be 3D printed and shipped. In May 2014, Sculpteo seeks to reduce 3D printing costs and material squandering by optimizing the quantity of used material. In this light, the company launches a free service named "Hollowing". The same month, designers conceive innovative 3D objects that

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, in partnership with ''Sculpteo'', proposes in a dedicated online store opened in July 2014. In June 2014, the company continues its pursuit in democratizing 3D technology and integrates its printing service in the Adobe Photoshop Creative Cloud thus rendering the process of 3D manufacture more simple. In November 2014, ''Sculpteo'' launches a free service named "Thickening" aimed to reinforce the robustness of fragile parts without having to use a modelling software. In January 2015, at

, ''Sculpteo'' reveals FinalProof, a tool that allows users to apprehend the final result of the object file before printing. In April of the same year, ''Sculpteo'' announces a 5 million euros fundraising thanks to Creadev, investment fund of

Mulliez family The Association Familiale Mulliez (AFM) is the holding company of the Mulliez family. The entrepreneur family originates from around the Lille area of France, and is one of the wealthiest families in the country. AFM was founded in 1955 by Gérar ...

, and Xange, well known investor. In November, the computer Sprout by HP integrates the 3D printing service of Sculpteo. In January 2016, ''Sculpteo'' launches a new material for additive manufacturing that is more flexible than the others TPU. Several branches are targeted, such as medical branch and the fashion industry. In March, a partnership with Carbon allows ''Sculpteo'' to offer the 3D printing technology "

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". In November 2019, ''Sculpteo'' was acquired by

. The international group said to have purchased the company to market new industrial 3D printing materials more quickly for its 3D printing subsidiary. In June of 2022, ''Sculpteo'' announced Alexandre d’Orsetti as its new CEO.

Awards

* In January 2013, at

, Sculpteo received the Best of CES Innovations Award for 3DPCase, its new 3D printing mobile application 3DPcase. * In 2012, Sculpteo was granted the "Observeur du Design" label by Observeur du Design thus being acknowledged as a reference in the world of design. * In 2011, Eric Carreel received the Prize for Engineers 2011 awarded by the French National Council of Engineers and Scientists and the magazine

Usine Nouvelle ''L'Usine nouvelle'' is a weekly French business magazine that covers business and technology. It is based in Antony, Hauts-de-Seine near Paris. History This trade magazine appeared for the first time on 5 December 1891 in Charleville in the Arde ...

References

{{Reflist 3D printing websites Online companies of France 2009 establishments in France

Purpose

History and background

Awards

See also

References