MaterialsBarcelona, SpainFounded 2018· One of 961 Materials companies tracked by AMPulse
Develops high-purity gases and specialized gas management systems (3DPro®) for additive manufacturing to optimize part quality and process stability.
CEO / Founder
Eduardo Gil Elejoste
Team Size
1001-5000
Stage
Subsidiary
Total Funding
Subsidiary
Latest Round
Acquired
Key Investors
Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
Technology & Products
Key Products
3DPro® Gas Line; High-purity Argon; High-purity Nitrogen; Helium mixtures; Gas management equipment
Technological Advantage
Proprietary gas mixtures for sintering FDM parts; specialized equipment for gas management; global supply chain stability.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Provides high-purity gases and specialized management systems that ensure optimal atmosphere control, reducing part defects and improving mechanical properties in metal AM.
How They Differentiate
Offers the 3DPro® dedicated product line for AM; specialized mixtures for sintering metal FDM parts; global supply chain stability via Nippon Sanso Holdings.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Additive manufacturing OEMs, metal 3D printing service bureaus, and industrial manufacturers.
Industry Verticals
Aerospace; Automotive; Medical; Energy; Metal Production; Food & Beverage
Competitors
Air Liquide; Linde; Air Products
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
Services 150,000+ customers; 3,200+ employees; part of a global group with 19,000+ employees.
Major Milestones
Acquisition of Praxair's European business for €5B in 2018; Launch of 3DPro® specialized AM gas line; Planned rebranding to Nippon Sanso in April 2026
Notable Customers
BeamIT; AIDIMME; University of Sheffield AMRC; Poly-Shape
Nippon Gases, based in Barcelona, Spain, operates as the European arm of Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation, one of the world's five largest industrial gas companies. Its distinctive position in additive manufacturing stems from the 3DPro® product line, a dedicated range of high-purity gases and gas management equipment engineered specifically for metal AM processes. This focus on atmosphere control addresses a critical gap in the market: inconsistent part quality caused by oxidation or contamination during laser powder bed fusion, electron beam melting, binder jetting, directed energy deposition, and metal extrusion.
The company's core offering includes high-purity argon, nitrogen, and helium mixtures, along with specialized gas management systems that regulate flow, purity, and pressure. A key technological advantage lies in proprietary gas mixtures developed for sintering metal FDM parts, where precise atmosphere composition directly affects densification and mechanical properties. Nippon Gases also leverages the global supply chain stability of its parent group, which employs over 19,000 people and serves more than 150,000 customers across industries.
Target customers include AM OEMs, metal 3D printing service bureaus, and industrial manufacturers in aerospace, automotive, medical, energy, and metal production. Notable named customers include BeamIT, AIDIMME, the University of Sheffield AMRC, and Poly-Shape. The company's competitive moat is reinforced by its 2018 acquisition of Praxair's European business for €5 billion, which expanded its production footprint and customer base. Competitors include Air Liquide, Linde, and Air Products, but Nippon Gases differentiates through the 3DPro® dedicated AM line and specialized sintering atmospheres.
An open question is how the planned rebranding to Nippon Sanso in April 2026 will affect market perception and customer relationships in the AM sector. While the company's scale and parent backing provide significant resources, the niche AM gas market remains relatively small compared to its broader industrial gas operations, and specialized competitors may offer more tailored local service.
Competitive Intelligence
Competitors, SWOT analysis, and investment insights