HardwareMelbourne, AustraliaFounded 1984· One of 1757 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse
Large-format gantry-based 3D printers combining additive manufacturing and 5-axis machining for composite and concrete materials
CEO / Founder
David Croft
Team Size
11-50
Stage
Active
Total Funding
$2.7M
Latest Round
Seed
Key Investors
Blackbird Ventures, Main Sequence Ventures, Square Peg Capital
Technology & Products
Key Products
Large-format composite and concrete 3D printers; integrated 5-axis machining; digitalization of manufacturing process through partnership with Siemens.
Technological Advantage
Proprietary gantry-based system with integrated 5-axis machining; screw-driven extrusion for wide material compatibility (ABS, PC, HDPE, PEEK, carbon/glass fiber composites); Siemens SINUMERIK control integration
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Integrates 3D printing and 5-axis machining in single system, reducing production time and enabling complex part manufacturing
How They Differentiate
3x larger build volume than competitors; integrated 5-axis machining capability; proprietary extrusion system for high-performance thermoplastics and composites
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Industrial manufacturers in aerospace, marine, mining, defense, construction
VSF occupies a niche at the intersection of large-format additive manufacturing and subtractive machining. Its gantry-based systems integrate 3D printing with 5-axis CNC milling in a single build envelope, eliminating the need for part transfer between separate machines. This hybrid approach reduces production time and enables complex geometries that would be difficult to achieve with either process alone.
The core technology is a proprietary screw-driven extrusion system compatible with thermoplastics including ABS, PC, HDPE, and PEEK, as well as carbon and glass fiber composites. Build volumes reach up to 22 meters by 5 meters by 1.6 meters, making VSF's machines among the largest commercially available. The system is controlled via Siemens SINUMERIK, which also enables digital twin simulation for process optimization.
VSF targets industrial manufacturers in aerospace, marine, mining, defense, construction, and automotive sectors. Notable deployments include a 22-meter composite printer at ZONE RV, Australia's largest recreational vehicle manufacturer, and confidential installations in marine and aerospace. The company's heritage traces to CNC Design, founded in 1984, with VSF technology commercialized in the early 2020s.
The primary competitive differentiator is build volume—roughly three times larger than rivals such as Thermwood and WASP—combined with integrated subtractive capability. However, the company operates in a capital-intensive segment with relatively few deployments, and its long-term viability depends on scaling adoption beyond pilot projects in aerospace and marine. Partnerships with Siemens for control software and Innomerix for materials provide some technical moat, but the addressable market for 22-meter hybrid printers remains narrow.