Shapeways returns under new management following bankruptcy
December 3, 2024
Shapeways, headquartered in the United States and operated from Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is returning to the global market with a new management team, following its bankruptcy announced in July 2024. Originally launched in 2008, Shapeways underwent significant structural and business model changes under the previous leadership, ultimately leading to the collapse of the business.
Now, the management team at the company’s Eindhoven factory has joined forces with two of the original Shapeways founders — both of whom have been out of the business for over a decade — in hopes of resetting the company’s trajectory.
The new management team has completed the purchase of all available assets from both the Dutch and American trustees handling the bankruptcy of Shapeways Inc and Shapeways BV. The new team now owns the Shapeways name, website and original Eindhoven production facility.
The Shapeways management team now includes:
- Marleen Vogelaar – CEO: Co-founded Shapeways in 2007 and left in 2014, former COO/CFO
- Jules Witte – COO: Joined Shapeways in 2012 and remains with the company, former Plant Manager
- Robert Schouwenburg – CTO: Co-founded Shapeways in 2007 and left in 2012, former CTO
- Job van de Laar – Plant Manager: Joined Shapeways in 2019 and remains with the company
- Tiago São José – Head of Engineering: Joined Shapeways in 2012 and remains with the company
New Shapeways CEO Marleen Vogelaar explained, “When I helped to launch Shapeways in 2008 it was at the forefront of democratising access to digital manufacturing. The new management team believes there is a ‘next chapter’ to be written in the Shapeways story, one that includes learning from the past and building a pragmatic, financially sustainable and operationally stable company that continues to provide exceptional service to our users.”
Shapeways currently operates from its original hometown, Eindhoven, The Netherlands, with an international team and will continue to deploy and expand its resources and footprint to be a digital manufacturing engine for its global customer base.
New COO Jules Witte commented, “Our belief in Shapeways has driven us to continue this journey. The acquisition of the Shapeways brand marks a significant milestone on that journey, but doesn’t signal the end. In fact we are excited by the opportunities that lie ahead for Shapeways, our customers and their customers. We have a long way to go, but retain our core ability to produce high-quality parts to meet the needs of our varied customer base.”
www.shapeways.com
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