UltiMaker (formerly Ultimaker, rebranded 2022 after merging with MakerBot) is a Dutch company founded in 2011 in Geldermalsen. It was among the pioneers of open 3D printing, created a series of professional desktop FDM printers that dominated engineering and education from 2013 to 2019. After competition from Prusa Research and Bambu Lab, UltiMaker held a premium position, more expensive than Chinese competitors, but with European quality, reliability, and integrated Cura software. UltiMaker S7 is the flagship for engineering studios that value reliability and warranty over price.
UltiMaker was founded in 2011 by Erik de Bruijn, Martijn Elserman, and Siert Wijnia, all with backgrounds in the RepRap community (open 3D printing project). Their first printer, UltiMaker Original (2011), was a DIY kit for €1000. It was open source, all CAD files, schematics, and software were freely published.
UltiMaker 2 (2013) was revolutionary, €1500 for a plug-and-play FDM printer with 200 µm accuracy, unprecedented at the time. Became the corporate standard in Europe for engineering education and prototyping.
UltiMaker 3 (2016), added a second extruder for support structures in a different material (PVA, which dissolves in water).
UltiMaker S5 (2018), next version with a webcam, integrated cloud-based management software, multi-network operation. €5500.
In 2022 UltiMaker merged with MakerBot (US competitor focused on education), forming NewCo, which renamed itself UltiMaker. This gave the company access to the US market and the MakerBot portfolio (Sketch, Method).
UltiMaker S7 (2023), current flagship. €5800 base, €7200 with the Air Manager filtration system. Enclosed design, material-agnostic with over 200 supported filaments.
Printers:
Software:
Cura, UltiMaker's free open-source slicer. One of the most widely used slicers in the world (Prusa-Slicer and Bambu Studio are forks of Cura or alternatives). Supports 200+ printers from various manufacturers. Updated monthly.
Digital Factory, cloud-based software for managing multiple printers. Production planning, statistics, remote management. €40-€100/month per printer.
Materials:
UltiMaker doesn't make filaments but partners with Polymaker, Fillamentum, BASF Ultrafuse, eSUN. Certified 'UltiMaker Cura Material Profile' files contain optimal settings for each filament.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Distributors:
- Authorized UltiMaker resellers, official, with certified installation, training, support.
Direct ordering from UltiMaker Europe is possible (€100-€200 shipping + VAT). Support is more complicated.
Similar brands and alternatives:
ROI assessment for UltiMaker S7 in an engineering studio: if you make 30-100 prototypes/month with average revenue €30-€150 per prototype, S7 pays back in 12-24 months. For lower volume (under 30 prototypes/month), Bambu X1-Carbon or Prusa MK4 are more sensible.
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UltiMaker Sketch (€1500). Enclosed body for safety (students can't touch the hot end), simplified interface, minimal maintenance. For a school with 20-30 students, ideal. For more advanced education (master's courses) Sketch is too limited; S5 or S7 are more suitable.
Technically, yes, with the right settings. UltiMaker S7 has a hotend with maximum 290°C, below the recommended 360-400°C for PEEK. For real PEEK work use a specialized printer like Stratasys F370 or Markforged FX20 (€60,000+). UltiMaker S7 is suitable for PA12, PC, ABS, ASA, not PEEK.
In our tests (from 3D Print Magazine reviews and distributor statistics):UltiMaker S7 has a 3% failed-print rate, Prusa MK4-5%, Bambu Lab X1-Carbon, 7%. Significant for production, minimal for one-off prototypes.
Bambu Lab X1-Carbon (€1449) + Anycubic Photon Mono M5s (€368) = €1817. Covers almost all applications. UltiMaker S5 at €2500 (sometimes on sale), only if you specifically want European support and certified quality.
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