Key Points Industry Overview 1. Industry Performance: The 3D printing industry experienced a challenging year in 2024, with a continuation of the tumultuous conditions from the previous year. This period was marked by some of the worst six quarters the industry has faced [doc id='4']. 2. Customer Spending: There was a significant decrease in capital expenditure (CapEx) spending by customers for capacity expansion, which negatively impacted revenue across the industry, including 3D Systems [doc id='4']. 3D Systems Performance 1. Revenue Impact: The decrease in CapEx spending by customers led to a tough year for 3D Systems, with a significant impact on revenue. The company was not immune to the industry-wide challenges [doc id='4']. 2. R&D Investment: Despite the challenging conditions, 3D Systems maintained its investment in research and development (R&D) to stay current and advance its technology platforms. This was a strategic decision to ensure the company's long-term competitiveness [doc id='4']. 3. Balance Sheet: The company focused on maintaining a strong balance sheet to ensure it could continue investing in R&D during both up and down cycles [doc id='4']. Conclusion The 3D printing industry faced a challenging year in 2024, with a decrease in customer CapEx spending impacting revenue across the industry. 3D Systems, while not immune to these challenges, maintained its focus on R&D and balance sheet strength to navigate the turbulent conditions.
3D Systems Corporation (DDD) CEO Jeff Graves presents at Needham Growth Conference (Transcript)