The world of 3D printing has seen some phenomenal growth since its inception. However, a lot of the big printing companies have yet to introduce their own 3D printers. Giants like Hewlett-Packard and Seiko Epson are looking to correct that.
The question on the table is whether these companies will work on building their own 3D printing technology from scratch, or whether they will be buying an existing 3D printer company like Stratasys. Though the record high stock prices on Stratasys would make for a hefty purchase, it may prove to be a better move than having to go through the work of re-inventing the wheel. After all, the plethora of patents and years of history that have brought us the modern 3D printer represents a lot of distance to catch up on. Also, the brands of the existing 3D printer companies have a significant presence in current markets, which would make for an easier transition.
On the other hand, Stratasys may prefer to remain independent and build upon its own success. Representatives of the company have declined to comment on the possibility of selling out. A take-over therefore remains possible, though not entirely probable.
