UK-based filament supplier, 3D FilaPrint, has announced its closure, attributing this decision to a combination of economic factors. As a respected player in the industry, 3D FilaPrint had established a strong reputation for their customer service and diverse range of filament brands. This post aims to reflect on the factors leading to their closure, explore the current dynamics of the UK 3D printing filament market, and reassure 3D printer operators during this transition.
Why has UK 3D Printing Supplier 3D FilaPrint closed?
When 3D FilaPrint announced its closure on a Facebook post, they highlighted reasons such as increased import costs, the impacts of Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, and rising competition from larger international suppliers and direct-to-consumer brands.
The challenges cited by 3D FilaPrint are not isolated to their business alone. Many companies within the UK 3D printing filament market, including Filamentive, have faced similar pressures. The costs associated with importing raw materials have significantly increased, particularly in the wake of Brexit. Additionally, the global pandemic has disrupted 3D printing material supply chains and added further financial strain. Compounding these issues, market competition from larger international manufacturers and direct-to-consumer suppliers has intensified, making it increasingly difficult for smaller UK filament brands to compete in a market that is increasingly price sensitive.
Filamentive and 3D Printing Filament Market Challenges
We fully understand the challenges that businesses like 3D FilaPrint have faced, and we empathise with the difficulties of navigating such a tough market. At Filamentive, we are fortunate to have a strong and loyal customer base – both 3D printer hobbyists and large scale 3D printing operators – which has been instrumental to our success. We’ve dedicated ourselves to building our brand with a clear focus on sustainability, ensuring our values resonate with the growing demand for eco-friendly solutions in the 3D printing industry.
Our commitment to promoting sustainability and strengthening our brand is at the heart of everything we do. By concentrating our efforts on growing our unique selling proposition (USP), we’ve been able to carve out a distinct place in the UK filament market. While competition is a natural part of a free market economy, we differentiate ourselves by focusing exclusively on our own brand. This approach not only helps us maintain the integrity of our offerings but also eliminates the risk of cannibalising our sales—a challenge that some businesses face when dealing with reselling or brand dilution.
In times of industry shifts, it’s essential to remain grounded in our principles and committed to our vision. At Filamentive, we continue to dedicate all our resources to ensuring that our brand remains strong, resilient, and aligned with the needs of our customers.
Do We Offer the Same UK 3D Printer Filament as 3D FilaPrint?
Yes, we offer a wide range of 3D printing filaments that cater to the needs of both hobbyists and professionals alike, much like 3D FilaPrint did. The vast majority of the market is centred around popular materials such as PLA filament, PETg filament and ASA filament, all of which are available in our 3D printing filament product range.
In addition to these core materials, we also provide specialty filaments designed for more advanced applications. For example, our carbon fibre PETg filament offers enhanced strength and durability, making it ideal for functional prototypes and parts. We also carry a variety of decorative filaments, such as our matte PLA, which adds a textured touch to 3D prints, and our Wood PLA filament, perfect for achieving a natural, wood-like finish on your 3D printing projects.
For those involved in large-scale 3D printing, we offer XL filament spools that can hold up to 8.5 kg of filament, ensuring that you have the capacity to tackle even the most demanding projects without frequent filament spool changes.
If you’re looking for a specific material that we don’t currently offer, simply submit a custom filament request using our short form, and we’ll do our best to meet your needs.
Filamentive is here to support UK 3D FilaPrint Customers
At Filamentive, we want to extend our sincere thanks to 3D FilaPrint for their years of dedicated service to UK 3D printer operators. Their commitment to providing a diverse range of high-quality filaments has significantly enhanced the 3D printing filament market, and their contributions will be fondly remembered by the entire community. We wish the 3D FilaPrint team all the best in their future endeavours.
To support the continuity of supply for 3D FilaPrint customers, we’re offering a special discount code: 3dfp25 which provides a 25% discount on your next purchase with us. For those who are volume users, we also offer a FREE volume user sign-up option that grants you 30% off our products.
If you have any questions or need assistance during this transition, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help and ensure that you continue to receive the quality and service you’ve come to expect.