Voxel8

Voxel8 was a Somerville, Massachusetts additive manufacturing company that commercialized multi-material digital fabrication systems combining hardware, software and materials. It first became known for a 3D printer for electronics, demonstrated at CES 2015, which printed polylactic acid (PLA) structures together with conductive silver ink so that circuits and enclosures could be built in a single job; a printed quadcopter with in-process insertion of battery, motors and electronics was the launch demonstration [2][3][5].

The company later refocused on footwear and athletic apparel, developing systems to print high-performance elastomers directly onto textiles with zonal control of mechanical properties. Its ActiveMix technology mixes reactive components in real time and deposits them by extrusion (using non-Newtonian fluids to build 3D structures and thick films on textiles) or by elastomeric spray that partially embeds in fabric; ActiveImage adds high-resolution inkjet graphics on top of the printed elastomer. These capabilities were packaged in the ActiveLab Digital Fabrication System, a 600 kg machine with a 600 x 430 mm build platform used for product development, wear testing and production of athletic shoe uppers and other textiles, with a Rhino plug-in for design [1][2][4].

In August 2021 Kornit Digital Ltd. (NASDAQ: KRNT) acquired all associated assets of Voxel8 to extend its digital textile production portfolio with 3D print-on-part decorative and functional applications [0][1].

Founding story

Voxel8 emerged from Harvard, as a product of Professor Jennifer Lewis' laboratory and more than a decade of patented research on printing functional materials. It was co-founded by an interdisciplinary group of scientists and engineers including Lewis, Daniel Oliver, Jack Minardi, Michael Bell and Travis Busbee [2][3][4][5].

Business model

Voxel8 sold digital fabrication systems as a complete solution comprising hardware, software and materials, positioned for both prototyping/product development and production use by footwear, apparel and textile manufacturers; earlier it sold a low-cost Developer's Kit electronics 3D printer via a pre-order program [1][2][4][5].

Sources describe sales of printing systems together with software and materials; no pricing or revenue figures are disclosed [1][4].

Traction

Recognition included Fast Company's "9 best ideas from CES 2015," a Gold Medal in the 2015 Edison Awards, and inclusion in MIT Technology Review's "50 Smartest Companies of 2015" [5]. Its technology was tested by global fashion and footwear brands including Hush Puppies (Wolverine Worldwide), and it announced an agreement with Italian high-fashion manufacturer Eddy Ricami [0][1].

Latest developments

Kornit Digital announced the acquisition of Voxel8's assets on 10 August 2021, stating it would integrate the technology into its product roadmap for on-demand textile production; former Voxel8 leaders Fred von Gottberg and Travis Busbee are listed in Kornit additive manufacturing textiles roles [0][1].