Materialise NV
Belgian additive-manufacturing company providing 3D-printing software, production services, and medical solutions.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Materialise NV is a Belgian additive-manufacturing company headquartered in Leuven. Established in June 1990 by Wilfried Vancraen and Hilde Ingelaere, it began as a rapid-prototyping service bureau after acquiring a single stereolithography machine. The company was an early participant in the Benelux 3D-printing market and gradually expanded from contract production into software, medical imaging, surgical planning, industrial manufacturing, and consumer-oriented 3D-printing services. A central feature of Materialise's development has been the combination of physical production with software engineering. In the early 1990s, the company began converting CT data into three-dimensional anatomical models. This work led to Mimics, a medical image-processing and segmentation platform. In parallel, Materialise developed Magics for preparing, editing, and managing files used in additive manufacturing. Both products became important parts of the company's commercial software portfolio and helped it serve customers beyond its own production facilities. Materialise also pursued applications in healthcare. It produced multicolour anatomical models in the mid-1990s to help distinguish structures such as blood vessels, nerves, and tumors. In 1996, it created a customized 3D-printed surgical guide for dental surgery, contributing to the development of patient-specific surgical planning. The company subsequently commercialized SimPlant, which enables virtual planning of dental implant procedures. Its medical activities later broadened into orthopaedic planning, anatomical modelling, cranio-maxillofacial implants, and software for clinical workflows. In industrial additive manufacturing, Materialise developed tools for file repair, build preparation, support generation, production control, and traceability. Products such as 3-matic, e-Stage, Streamics, and build processors addressed different stages of the process, from editing polygonal data to preparing builds and monitoring production. The company also built or operated production capabilities for stereolithography, polymer processes, metal additive manufacturing, and other technologies. Its Mammoth stereolithography systems were designed to produce unusually large single-piece models, while later facilities and acquisitions expanded its ability to produce complex low-volume metal parts. Materialise has also participated in specialized and consumer-facing applications. Its work with Phonak on Rapid Shell Modeling helped automate the design of customized hearing-aid shells, an early example of additive manufacturing being used for high-volume, patient-specific end-use products. The company launched the .MGX design label and later i.materialise, an online service through which customers could submit digital designs for professional 3D printing. It has also supplied software and services to customers in sectors including healthcare, aerospace, automotive, industrial manufacturing, consumer products, and research. The company became publicly traded on Nasdaq on June 25, 2014, using the listing to support expansion of its software and services activities. It acquired or established operations in several markets, including the United States, China, and Germany. Acquisitions such as Columbia Scientific, OrthoView, OBL, and ACTech strengthened its dental, orthopaedic, implant, and metal-production capabilities. Materialise remains an active international additive-manufacturing business whose proposition combines specialized software, medical expertise, engineering services, and production infrastructure.
History
Materialise was founded in June 1990 in Belgium by Wilfried Vancraen and Hilde Ingelaere. It started as a rapid-prototyping service bureau and acquired a stereolithography machine, becoming an early 3D-printing service provider in the Benelux region. The company's initial business centered on producing physical prototypes, but it soon invested in software and specialized applications that could make additive manufacturing more useful and scalable. In 1992, Materialise began reconstructing human anatomy in three dimensions from sliced CT data. This work formed the basis of Mimics, its medical image-processing software. At the same time, it developed Magics, an industrial platform for preparing and managing data for 3D printing. These two software families helped shift Materialise from being solely a service bureau toward a technology company with products that could be used by hospitals, medical-device organizations, manufacturers, and other service providers. The company explored medical visualization and patient-specific applications throughout the 1990s. In 1995, it produced multicolour stereolithography anatomical models that differentiated complex structures for surgical planning. In 1996, it produced a customized 3D-printed surgical guide for a dental procedure. This experience contributed to SimPlant, a software system for virtual dental-implant planning. In 1997, Materialise introduced an online ordering service known as Materialise NextDay, later called Materialise OnSite, allowing customers to submit digital files for rapid production and delivery. It also developed Mammoth stereolithography systems for producing large single-piece models. During the 2000s, Materialise broadened its healthcare and industrial activities. In 2000, it worked with hearing-aid specialist Phonak on Rapid Shell Modeling, which automated the design of customized hearing-aid shells for additive production. In 2001, it acquired Columbia Scientific Inc., whose products included Sim/Plant and ImageMaster, strengthening its United States dental business. In 2003, it launched .MGX by Materialise, an early consumer-oriented 3D-printed product brand, and added fused-deposition modelling equipment for industrial use. Software development continued with the introduction of 3-matic in 2004. The product enabled direct editing of STL data, reducing the need to return to a conventional computer-aided-design system for every geometry change. In 2006, Materialise introduced RapidFit, a 3D-printed approach to customized jigs and fixtures intended to protect large components during shipping. The company also developed titanium cranio-maxillofacial implants with porous structures designed to support complex patient-specific applications after acquiring OBL, a specialist in this field. In 2008, Materialise launched e-Stage, an automated support-generation solution for stereolithography, and i.materialise, an online service for customers seeking professional 3D printing. It also developed build processors to connect software workflows with different printing processes. In 2012, Streamics was introduced to support traceability and quality control for industrial users producing end-use components, including customers operating in regulated environments. Materialise listed its shares publicly on June 25, 2014. That year it acquired OrthoView, a provider of orthopaedic digital pre-operative planning software, and established a Chinese office focused on software and research and development. In 2016, it opened a dedicated metal production facility in Bremen, Germany. It began testing HP's Multi Jet Fusion process at its Leuven headquarters and started production using that process in 2017. The company later acquired ACTech in Germany as its metal additive-manufacturing activities expanded. ACTech added expertise in producing highly complex metal components in low volumes and supported the improvement of Materialise's metal-printing software. Across its history, Materialise has therefore developed through a combination of organic software development, medical innovation, online services, production-facility investment, and acquisitions. Its business remains centered on additive manufacturing, with activities spanning industrial software, healthcare software, engineering, and contract production.
- 2017
Multi Jet Fusion production begins
[1]Following testing at Leuven, Materialise begins production using HP's Multi Jet Fusion process.
- 2016
Bremen metal facility opens
[1]A dedicated German facility expands the company's metal additive-manufacturing capacity.
- 2014
Public listing and OrthoView acquisition
[1]Materialise becomes publicly traded and acquires OrthoView to expand its orthopaedic planning software business.
- 2012
Streamics is introduced
[1]Materialise launches production-management software focused on traceability and quality control.
- 2008
e-Stage and i.materialise launch
[1]The company introduces automated support generation for stereolithography and an online consumer printing service.
- 2006
RapidFit and titanium cranio-maxillofacial implants
[1]Materialise develops RapidFit shipping fixtures and produces customized titanium skull implants.
- 2004
3-matic is introduced
[1]The company launches software for editing STL-format geometry directly.
- 2003
.MGX by Materialise launches
[1]Materialise introduces a consumer-facing label for 3D-printed end-use products and prototypes.
- 2001
Columbia Scientific acquisition
[1]The acquisition strengthens Materialise's US dental software operations.
- 2000
Rapid Shell Modeling collaboration
[1]Materialise works with Phonak on software for automated design of customized hearing-aid shells.
Products and positioning
An integrated additive-manufacturing partner combining 3D-printing software, production services, and healthcare-specific applications.
Additive-manufacturing software
Magics
Magics is Materialise's industrial software platform for preparing and managing data for additive manufacturing. It supports work such as checking and repairing files, arranging parts, and preparing production builds. The product represents one of the company's core industrial software offerings.
Medical imaging software · 1992
Mimics
Mimics originated from Materialise's work converting CT image slices into three-dimensional anatomical representations. It is used for medical image processing and the creation of patient-specific anatomical models, supporting clinical, research, and medical-device workflows.
Dental planning software
SimPlant
SimPlant is associated with Materialise's dental activities and enables virtual planning of dental implant procedures. Its development followed the company's early work on customized surgical guides and patient-specific anatomical visualization.
3D geometry-editing software · 2004
3-matic
Introduced in 2004, 3-matic allows users to modify three-dimensional files directly in STL format. It addresses the practical need to edit polygonal models without repeatedly returning to a separate computer-aided-design system and reconverting the complete file.
Production-management software · 2012
Streamics
Streamics was introduced to help industrial additive-manufacturing users manage traceability and quality control. Its intended use includes production of end-use parts, particularly in environments where process documentation and oversight are important.
3D-printing service · 1997
Materialise OnSite
Materialise OnSite is the later name of the company's early online ordering service, Materialise NextDay. The service lets customers submit digital designs for production and receive printed parts, linking online ordering with Materialise's professional manufacturing infrastructure.
Consumer 3D-printing service · 2008
i.materialise
i.materialise was launched as an online consumer service that enabled individuals to submit ideas or digital designs for production using professional 3D-printing equipment. It extended Materialise's service model beyond industrial and medical customers.
Consumer product brand · 2003
.MGX by Materialise
.MGX by Materialise was introduced as a design-oriented label for 3D-printed end-use products as well as prototypes. It was one of the company's early efforts to demonstrate additive manufacturing directly through consumer products.
Brand decisions
2016
Expansion of metal productionStrategyBackground
Growing demand for metal additive manufacturing created a need for dedicated production capacity.
Action taken
Materialise opened a dedicated metal production facility in Bremen, Germany.
Aftermath
The facility strengthened the company's ability to provide metal additive-manufacturing services.
2014
Public-market expansionStrategyBackground
Materialise sought resources to expand its software development and additive-manufacturing services.
Action taken
The company completed a public listing on June 25, 2014.
Aftermath
The listing gave Materialise access to public capital markets as it continued international expansion.
2008
Launch of e-Stage and i.materialiseProduct launchBackground
Additive-manufacturing users needed more automated build preparation, while consumers were seeking access to professional printing equipment.
Action taken
Materialise introduced automated stereolithography support-generation software and launched the i.materialise online service.
Aftermath
The initiatives broadened the company's software portfolio and exposed its production services to consumer users.
1997
Move into online 3D-printing orderingStrategyBackground
Customers needed a faster way to submit digital files and obtain physical prototypes.
Action taken
Materialise launched Materialise NextDay, later renamed Materialise OnSite.
Aftermath
The service extended the company's production capabilities into an online ordering workflow.
- Acquisition of ACTechM&A
Background
Materialise wanted to expand its capabilities in complex, low-volume metal components.
Action taken
The company acquired German metal-manufacturing specialist ACTech.
Aftermath
The transaction added metal-production expertise and supported further development of software for metal 3D printing.
Recent events
Materialise prices public offering of 4 million ADSs[3]
Reported:
Materialise announced the pricing of its registered underwritten public offering of 4.0 million American Depositary Shares at US$24.00 per ADS.
Materialise introduces Mindware advisory service[4]
Reported:
Materialise launched Mindware, an advisory service offering businesses strategic, tailored and technology-neutral insights on using Additive Manufacturing. The service was introduced by Materialise CTO Bart Van Der Schueren during a live webinar on May 20.
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