PrintCity
University-backed additive manufacturing and digital fabrication hub providing commercial 3D printing services, design consultancy, and accredited workforce training to UK manufacturers and SMEs.
- CEO / Founder
- Professor Carl Diver
- Team Size
- 11-50
- Stage
- Active
- Total Funding
- $3.9M
- Latest Round
- Grant
- Key Investors
- Manchester Metropolitan University; European Regional Development Fund
Technology & Products
Key Products
Commercial 3D Printing & Prototyping; Design Consultancy & DfAM; MSc Digital Design & Manufacturing; 3D Scanning & Reverse Engineering; Industry Training & Workshops
Technological Advantage
CLAIMED: Extensive multi-technology facility (60+ machines) under one roof with post-processing capabilities. VERIFIED: Recognized by Made Smarter UK as a key regional enabler for AM adoption; official Autodesk Training Centre for Fusion 360. DEFENSIBLE: Strong institutional backing and regional network effects, but hardware/process is replicable by commercial service bureaus.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Reduces prototyping and tooling costs by 30-50% while cutting lead times from weeks to days, eliminating upfront capital expenditure on 60+ industrial AM machines and providing certified workforce training to accelerate in-house AM adoption.
How They Differentiate
Unlike volume-focused bureaus like Protolabs, PrintCity combines commercial printing with accredited MSc training and DfAM consultancy, offering a 60-machine multi-technology facility with direct Made Smarter UK integration for regional SME upskilling.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
UK SMEs, large manufacturers, academic researchers, and engineering students
Industry Verticals
Manufacturing; Aerospace; Automotive; Medical Devices; Education
Competitors
Protolabs UK; Hubs (formerly 3D Hubs); AMRC Training Centre
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
PrintCity runs the PrintCity Network project, a £3.2m European Regional Development Funded (ERDF) programme supporting SMEs in Greater Manchester.
Major Milestones
Officially launched as MMU's advanced 3D printing hub; Partnered with Made Smarter UK to support regional manufacturing; Recognized as an official Autodesk Training Centre; Hosted live AM design challenges at TCT 3Sixty
Notable Customers
Greater Manchester SMEs; Made Smarter network participants