EckerTech / Ecksbot
Open-source FDM 3D printer manufacturer producing the Ecksbot RepRap derivative printer; supplies custom hot-ends, heated build plates, plastic parts, and electronics for DIY and assembled desktop 3D printing; offers production printing services.
- CEO / Founder
- Jeremy Eckert
- Team Size
- 1-10
- Stage
- Defunct
- Total Funding
- Bootstrapped
- Latest Round
- Bootstrapped
Technology & Products
Key Products
Ecksbot 3D Printer (DIY kit and fully assembled versions); Custom hot-ends; Heated build plates; Plastic parts and components; Electronics modules; Printing materials and filament; Production printing services
Technological Advantage
Open-source GPL design enables wide community adoption and forking (e.g., So Make It RepRap builds on Ecksbot design); modular architecture allows customization and component substitution; proven design validated by RepRap community use since 2009; elimination of proprietary licensing enables lower cost-of-entry for users.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Quality-focused open-source 3D printer design at competitive price; GPL-licensed Ecksbot offers improved build quality and reliability over standard Prusa 2; community-driven innovation through RepRap ecosystem; production run capabilities for retail or private purposes.
How They Differentiate
EckerTech positioned as quality-focused maker alternative vs. commercial incumbents; open-source GPL model enables community contribution and cost reduction vs. proprietary competitors; smaller company ethos emphasizing customer relationships over scale; custom innovation in hot-ends and build plate design; production service offering differentiates from kit-only competitors.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
DIY makers, hobbyists, small-scale production users, RepRap community members
Industry Verticals
Consumer 3D printing; DIY/Maker community; Open-source hardware; Small-scale manufacturing
Competitors
Prusa (Prusa i3, Prusa Mk3S+) – commercial RepRap derivative with market dominance; MakerBot (Replicator series) – commercial FDM printer with ecosystem; Ultimaker – professional/commercial FDM focus; Other RepRap variants (Mendel, Sells Mendel, etc.)
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
EckerTech has not raised any funding rounds yet and is not active anymore, suggesting it may be defunct or bootstrapped with limited recent growth.
Major Milestones
2009: Company pivoted focus strictly to 3D printing and RepRap community; 2010s: Development of Ecksbot design – published on RepRap wiki and Thingiverse as GPL open-source; 2010s: Commercialization of Ecksbot (DIY kits and fully assembled versions); 2010s: Active supply of custom hot-ends, electronics, and RepRap components; 2025: Company status marked as 'not active' (Tracxn)