Dremel has discontinued their DigiLab laser cutter, which was announced a little more than 4 years ago, and have licensed their entire DigiLab brand – 3D printers and all – to a 3rd party company called 3PI Tech Solutions.
3PI Tech Solutions is a new company that was co-founded by George Velez, the former head of sales for Dremel DigiLab under Bosch. The company describes themselves as an authorized reseller which exclusively sells Dremel DigiLab 3D products.
Here is what Dremel says about the hand-off:
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The Dremel DigiLab brand has been licensed to 3PI Tech Solutions, Inc. for use with their 3D printers, filaments and accessories. These products will no longer be available on Dremel.com or supplied by Bosch. The Dremel DigiLab 3D products can be viewed on 3PI’s website.
3PI Tech Solutions looks to be entirely dedicated to the sales, support, and potential growth of the Dremel DigiLab brand products.
Dremel adds a little more about 3PI Tech Solutions in their FAQ:
3PI Tech Solutions, Inc. is the company that has licensed the right to use the Dremel DigiLab brand with its 3D printers, filaments and accessories. 3PI is dedicated to the 3D printing industry and has the passion, extensive knowledge and experience to provide high quality 3D printing products to educators and consumers.
With respect to customer support, 3PI Tech Solutions says:
Dremel DigiLab 3D Printers are super reliable, however, if you ever do need assistance, Dremel’s legendary customer service experts are here for you.
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1. Chat, email or speak live with an expert at Dremel Customer Service
2. Average wait time of one minute or less for phone calls
3. USA team based in Racine, Wisconsin
Dremel communicates a similar message:
Dremel has licensed the rights to sell our printers to 3PI Tech Solutions, however the repair and service of Dremel 3D printers remains with Dremel.
What this means is that Dremel’s team will still handle customer service for Dremel DigiLab 3D printers.
As for why Dremel has effectively exited the 3D fabrication space, they say:
We are making these changes so that we can focus on delivering new innovation and performance in the power tool industry while at the same time ensuring that 3D printers and accessories bearing the Dremel DigiLab name continue to deliver the performance and features our customers have come to expect
Dremel has indeed been expanding their power tool offerings, such as with their second-ever 20V Max cordless power tool.
In looking at 3PI Tech Solution’s employee roster on LinkedIn, they just hired a business development specialist that seems focused on K-12 STEAM education solutions. I mention this in case any hobbyist users or educators are concerned about what this big change will mean for them.
Although Dremel has licensed the Dremel DigiLab name to another company, it seems that Bosch (Dremel’s parent company) and Dremel effectively boxed the entire DigiLab business up and set it aside next to them.
The DigiLab 3D printer business looks to be run someone intimately familiar with all of their workings. It also seems that all of Dremel’s educational resources were transferred to 3PI Tech Solutions. More than that, they hired someone who appears to be tasked with supporting and maybe even growing the DigiLab brand’s educational resources.
While Dremel DigiLab machines are widely known to be customized versions of 3rd party products, the brand’s expertise, support, and educational resources were a cornerstone of their efforts. I am optimistic that what I have learned so far suggests that all of the best of DigiLab were passed along to their new partner.
Unfortunately, it looks like the laser cutter is gone for good. I suppose that this business move also destroys any hope we have in ever seeing a Dremel DigiLab-branded CNC router or benchtop milling machine.
It remains to be seen what 3PI Tech Solutions will do with the Dremel DigiLab brand. Will they only sell and support existing products into the foreseeable future, or will they seek to expand things?
Doresoom
That is so weird, I just stumbled across this earlier today while trying to price check the Dremel 3D printers.
Matt the Hoople
Kinda makes sense. Lots of companies try to play in arenas that aren’t their forte and they dilute their core competencies in the process. This is likely a win-win for Dremel as they will still make money from the licensing (and likely get some say in the product offerings) yet they can now focus on their power tools while they let the so-called “3D experts” handle the 3D stuff. Would not surprise me to learn that many of the 3PI folks may be formerly employed under Dremel. As for tech support, I suspect either the Dremel phone forwards to 3PI or it will shift to 3PI at some point within the next year or two.
I’ve always liked the Dremel brand and had been thinking of getting into 3D printing for general consumer/hobby/home use. Dremel os one of the brands I was leaning toward just because I anticipated good support for the foreseeable future as a lot of these tech companies come and go nearly overnight. I would likely still buy a Dremel branded model for the short term at least.
fred
When my partners and I were sitting on a fair amount of cash and looking around for opportunities – we evaluated several rather different businesses to buy. I don’t know how some of those purchases might have turned out – but we seemed to do well being reminded of the old adage: “stick to your knitting”. A retail business (one of our local suppliers) that we looked at buying was ultimately bought up by a larger US chain. They brought economies of scale to the acquisition that we never could have.
Mike
Like Grandma always said – ‘ stick to what you’re good at’…..
Frank D
Hopefully the existing customers will not be left out in the cold when it comes to support, updates, parts, … In the electronics and tool world; I have gotten burned more than a few of these major brand product line cancellations and/or buy-outs. I try to really stick to products from brands where it is there core business. Fingers crossed for those who purchased these units.
JoeM
I wish they’d leave the space as a whole. Focus on their heritage products, and expanding that lineup. Forget the Oscillating Tools, Rotary Cutters, and 4V Built-in USB Charging tools… Focus on Rotary Tools, the MotoSaw Coping/Scroll Saw line, and return to the expansion of those Dremel-Patented solutions that predate Bosch.
Sure, the Engraver, VersaTip/Flame, and Glue Gun lines should be developed again… but not for the “I’ve never used one before in my life” demographic. For the “I take my work seriously” users have been neglected for years now. The MultiMax, SawMax, and UltraSaw were always Bosch tools, and Bosch should be the branding on those. Leave Dremel to be… Y’know… Dremel! There’s so much missed in development there, and I wish they’d stop trying to make Dremel cover more than what it was. It just dilutes the reputation of the historical brand!
Good Riddance to the MakerSpace tools. There are better companies for those products, and Dremel will never compete.
Terry J.
3PI has raised the price of Dremel printer filament about $3 and does not offer free shipping like Dremel did. Dremel filament was already pricey compared to other manufacturers. The cloud based slicing software recently got an overhaul which was a downgrade in my opinion. I assume that is to encourage moving to the non-free version.
Zachary Hlavinka
Regarding the above quote by 3PI Tech Solutions about customer support, this is a LIE. No one answers the phone, and there is no chat support. I just sent an email to them bc it’s my only option, but I can’t imagine anyone will be replying.