Apple Tree begins selling Formlabs Fuse X1 SLS 3D printer in Japan

Osaka-based 3D printer reseller Apple Tree has started selling Formlabs' Fuse X1 SLS 3D printer in Japan, marking the first time the machine has been available for purchase in the country. The Fuse X1 is a selective laser sintering system that requires no support structures, enabling production of complex geometries and internal features. Apple Tree and Formlabs will co-host a free webinar on June 24, 2026, covering the Fuse X1 and the new Flexible 80A resin. Apple Tree, founded in 2012, also sells Markforged and FlashForge systems and operates a service bureau from offices in Osaka and Tokyo.

This launch extends Formlabs' SLS platform into a Japanese market that has traditionally been dominated by polymer PBF systems from EOS and Farsoon, as well as HP's Multi Jet Fusion. The Fuse X1 competes in the mid-range SLS segment, offering a simplified workflow that reduces post-processing overhead compared to legacy powder-based systems. For Apple Tree, adding the Fuse X1 broadens its portfolio beyond desktop FDM/FFF and entry-level systems into production-grade polymer AM, positioning the company to serve Japanese industrial users in tooling, jigs, and low-volume end-use parts. The partnership reflects a recurring pattern in AM distribution: regional resellers expanding into higher-throughput polymer processes as domestic demand for production-capable systems grows.

For Japanese buyers, the Fuse X1 fills a gap between desktop SLS units and enterprise-scale systems, offering a controlled powder-handling workflow at a lower entry point than EOS or Farsoon alternatives. Apple Tree's existing service bureau experience gives it a credible basis for supporting customers through qualification and process setup. The real test will be whether the reseller can build enough local application engineering and powder supply chain support to convert initial interest into repeat machine sales.