3D People
3D People is a UK-based industrial polymer additive manufacturing service provider running SLS and MJF powder bed fusion equipment in London, producing end-use functional parts and prototypes for B2B customers in robotics, maritime, automotive, healthcare, and consumer sectors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What 3D People does
3D People is a UK-based industrial additive manufacturing service provider operating an in-house factory at Nathan Way Business Park in London (Unit 18–19, SE28 0FS). Founded circa 2017, the company operates 11–50 employees and runs SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) and MJF (Multi Jet Fusion) powder bed fusion platforms, including MJF 5210 and SLS ProX machines (most recently an SLS ProX 6100 added in early 2026) under an ISO 9001:2015 quality management system.
The service portfolio spans four polymer materials (PA12 Nylon for SLS and MJF, PA12 Glass Filled Nylon with 30% glass bead loading, and Ultrasint TPU01 flexible TPE), five in-house finishing services (vapour smoothing, vibro polishing, black dye, colour dye, and threaded insert installation), CAD design and reverse engineering at £50+VAT per hour, and two proprietary digital platforms — PartsVault, a cloud-based digital inventory system storing version-controlled build data for on-demand manufacturing, and an online quote/ordering platform (app.3dpeople.uk). Production is delivered through prototyping, on-demand batch production, and volume manufacturing runs advertised up to 10,000 parts per batch with standard 5-day lead times.
The revenue model combines per-part transactional pricing (ranging from £2.35/unit for high-volume SLS to £871.84/unit for specialised Subsea 7 components), recurring Trade Account subscriptions with NET30 terms and volume discounts, and project-based CAD fees. The go-to-market mixes a self-serve online platform with technical consultations and is supported by case-study-led content marketing, sample packs, and industry events including DroneX, Oceanology International, and ICAM 2026 at Leader sponsorship level. Customers span enterprise (Jaguar Land Rover, Subsea 7, Lavazza, Lotus Racing, Intersurgical, Applied Acoustics, Barber Osgerby) and startups (Dogtooth Technologies, Armada Technologies, Cyclops POV, Tides Studios, Zeal Lifestyle) across robotics, marine/subsea, automotive, healthcare, and consumer products.
3D People firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 3D People
- Legal name
- 3D People Limited
- Website
- https://3dpeople.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- 3D People is a UK-based industrial polymer additive manufacturing service provider running SLS and MJF powder bed fusion equipment in London, producing end-use functional parts and prototypes for B2B customers in robotics, maritime, automotive, healthcare, and consumer sectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
3D People industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Additive Manufacturing Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Electronics & Industrial Component 3D Printing Services (enclosures, fixtures, functional parts) (IMAAADAL)
Keywords
Where 3D People is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
3D People business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Additive Manufacturing Services: Production of functional polymer parts using SLS and MJF technologies. Revenue generated from per-part pricing based on material, finish, and quantity. Services offered include volume manufacturing, on-demand production, scheduled orders, and one-off prototypes.
- CAD Design Services: 3D design and engineering services including reverse engineering, design development, and part optimisation for additive manufacturing. Charged at hourly rates from £50 + VAT with minimum project charge of £500 + VAT.
- Trade Account Programs: Business accounts offering volume pricing, scheduled production, additional discounts, and dedicated account support for recurring commercial customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | CAD Design Services - Hourly rate with project minimum |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Online Pricing - Per part unit pricing |
| Subscription | Monthly | Trade Account - Business volume pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
3D People product offering
Product offeringCore offering
3D People is a UK-based industrial additive manufacturing service provider producing end-use functional polymer parts via Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) powder bed fusion technologies. Services span CAD design, printing across PA12 Nylon, Glass Filled Nylon, and TPU materials, in-house surface finishing (vapour smoothing, vibro polishing, dyeing, threaded inserts), and the PartsVault digital inventory platform enabling on-demand production. Manufacturing volumes range from one-off prototypes to batches of up to 10,000 units.
Product overview
3D People is a UK-based additive manufacturing service provider offering industrial 3D printing through two core powder bed fusion technologies: SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) and MJF (Multi Jet Fusion). The portfolio includes four polymer materials (PA12 Nylon for SLS, PA12 Nylon for MJF, PA12 Glass Filled Nylon for SLS, and Ultrasint TPU01 for MJF) and five finishing services (vapour smoothing, vibro polishing, black dye, colour dye, and threaded inserts). Supporting services include CAD design (reverse engineering, design development, optimisation), the PartsVault digital inventory platform for on-demand manufacturing, and an online quote/e-commerce platform. Manufacturing is delivered through volume production, on-demand, and prototyping services, all produced in-house at their London facility.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PartsVault™: Digital inventory platform for managing and ordering 3D printed parts on-demand, allowing customers to store approved, version-controlled build data for production when needed.
Products and services
- SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) 3D Printing Industrial SLS powder bed fusion printing service producing durable, functional end-use polymer parts with robust mechanical properties and dimensional stability, targeted at manufacturers across robotics, maritime, automotive, medical, and consumer sectors.
- MJF (Multi Jet Fusion) 3D Printing Industrial MJF powder bed fusion printing service producing parts with smooth finish and fine detail, available in grey or black natural colour with efficient build rates, targeted at commercial customers needing premium surface quality.
- CAD Design Services CAD design and engineering service covering reverse engineering, design development, part optimisation, digital sculpting, parametric modelling, 3D scanning, and data preparation for additive manufacturing. Charged at £50+VAT per hour with £500+VAT minimum project charge.
- Vapour Smoothing Service Post-processing surface finishing service that smooths, seals, and strengthens 3D printed polymer parts, making them waterproof and airtight while reducing friction and improving wear resistance.
- Vibro Polishing Service Surface finishing service using vibratory media processing to improve smoothness and cosmetic appearance of 3D printed polymer parts.
- Black Dye Service Dye finishing service providing a durable deep black finish for 3D printed polymer parts, with optional shot peen treatment for enhanced surface properties.
- Colour Dye Finish Dye finishing service providing vibrant, uniform colour finishes for 3D printed polymer parts with optional shot peen treatment, offering the broadest colour dye palette in the UK.
- Threaded Inserts Service Post-processing service embedding metal screw threads into 3D printed polymer parts to enable robust fastening capabilities.
- Volume Manufacturing Scalable batch production service for end-use parts ranging from one-off prototypes to thousands of units, delivered with production-grade quality and ISO 9001:2015 certified processes.
- On-Demand Manufacturing Fast-turnaround batch production service supporting just-in-time and made-to-order workflows for customers with flexible production needs.
- Prototyping Service Prototyping service delivering single bespoke parts or functional pre-production prototypes using the same materials and finishes as production processes, enabling design validation prior to volume runs.
- PartsVault Digital Inventory Platform Cloud-based digital inventory platform enabling customers to store approved, version-controlled build data and reorder production parts on demand, reducing physical stock requirements by 30–60%.
- Online Quote Platform Web-based self-serve platform providing instant 3D printing quotes, geometry analysis, and online ordering with dynamic shipping options, saved addresses, trade accounts with NET30 payment terms, and mobile-accessible interface.
- PA12 Glass Filled Nylon (Duraform GF) SLS Material Engineering plastic loaded with 30% glass beads, offering nearly double the stiffness of unfilled PA12 with heat deflection temperature of 180°C, targeted at motorsport, automotive, aerospace, and industrial applications requiring high stiffness and thermal resistance.
Quantifiable outcome
- Physical stock reduction of 30-60% through digital inventory approach
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use 3D People
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
3D People technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
3D People partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- AMIS (Additive Manufacturing Software)core3D People fully deployed AMIS Runtime system at its London facility to automate build preparation processes. The deployment was supported by a UK government grant and aims to enhance production efficiency, reduce manual errors, and support factory expansion.
- Applied AcousticscoreCollaboration for maritime and ocean technology applications. 3D People produced functional components (housings and enclosures) using SLS 3D printing with PA12 nylon for Applied Acoustics' subsea applications, eliminating tooling costs and reducing lead times from weeks to days.
- Dogtooth TechnologiescoreUK-based agri-robotics partnership for strawberry harvesting robots. 3D People prints various parts using SLS and Multi Jet Fusion technologies including robotic arm covers, bespoke wiring guides, nylon lens hoods, and complex end effectors. Partnership enables rapid iteration cycles and cost-efficient low-volume production.
- Armada TechnologiescoreLiverpool-based maritime technology company selected 3D People to produce critical Venturi ejector components for Passive Air Lubrication System (PALS) designed to reduce drag and greenhouse gas emissions in global shipping. All parts across four production batches met quality thresholds and functional requirements.
- Tides StudioscoreLondon-based sustainable eyewear company producing sunglasses using polymer PBF AM and finishing technologies. 3D People completes monthly batch production runs up to 500 items with vibro polishing and vapour smoothing. Tides Studios creates bespoke sunglasses for customers worldwide including Beyonce for her Renaissance tour.
- Zeal LifestyleminorSurrey-based sustainable mobility aid company prototyping stylish walker components. 3D People produced approximately 500 SLS and MJF parts for various prototypes and design iterations over one year. Zeal awarded Unlocking Potential Award by Innovate UK.
- Cyclops POVcoreHead-mounted POV camera system for filmmakers developed by cinematographer James Medcraft. 3D People produces MJF PA12 Nylon and TPU components through prototyping to production. Used by Royal Air Force and commercial clients including Playstation, McDonald's, and FIFA.
- Subsea 7coreGlobal offshore energy services leader required alternative solution to gauging pig for cable pull-in operations at offshore platform. 3D People produced cable olive components using SLS PA12 Nylon for extreme deep-sea conditions, with short lead times and parts installed with ease.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
3D People competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Protolabs: Global on-demand manufacturing service bureau offering CNC, injection molding, and 3D printing (SLS, MJF, SLA, DMLS, metal). Direct overlap with 3D People's polymer PBF services, but Protolabs is much larger (public, multi-technology, multi-region) and operates as a broad incumbent rather than a specialized UK polymer PBF bureau.
- Xometry: Global on-demand manufacturing marketplace with instant quoting on CNC, 3D printing, sheet metal, and more. Comparable to 3D People in business model (online quoting, distributed manufacturing for 3D printing) and customer segments, but Xometry is publicly traded, multi-technology, and operates globally.
- Hubs (formerly 3D Hubs): Global on-demand manufacturing platform connecting customers with a network of vetted manufacturing partners. Overlapping business model with 3D People (online quoting, 3D printing services) but Hubs operates a marketplace model rather than a single in-house factory.
- Materialise: Belgium-based 3D printing service bureau and software provider with industrial manufacturing services across polymer and metal. Comparable to 3D People in core service bureau offering, but Materialise is publicly listed, multi-material, and has a meaningful software and medical verticals footprint.
- Stratasys Direct Manufacturing (formerly RedEye): Service bureau arm of Stratasys offering FDM, PolyJet, SLS, and DMLS production services. Comparable to 3D People as a polymer PBF service bureau, but Stratasys Direct is the established incumbent backed by the Stratasys OEM and a global footprint.
Direct peers
- Shapeways: Online 3D printing service bureau offering SLS, MJF, SLA, DMLS, and other technologies with automated quoting and ordering. Direct peer to 3D People in self-serve polymer 3D printing services, though Shapeways is US-based with a broader consumer and professional focus.
- Fictiv: US-based on-demand manufacturing platform with instant quoting on CNC, 3D printing, and injection molding. Direct peer to 3D People in instant-quote digital 3D printing services for engineers and product teams, but Fictiv operates a curated supplier network rather than an in-house factory.
- Sculpteo: France-based online 3D printing service bureau offering SLS, MJF, SLA, DMLS, and other technologies with online quoting and finishing services. Closely comparable to 3D People in technology stack (SLS/MJF polymer), self-serve quoting model, and EU-based industrial customer focus.
Regional players
- RP Technologies: UK-based rapid prototyping and 3D printing service bureau offering SLA, SLS, and vacuum casting. Comparable to 3D People as a UK-based polymer 3D printing service for industrial customers, but RP Technologies focuses more on prototyping and has a different technology mix.
- AM Prototypes: UK-based 3D printing and rapid prototyping service offering SLA, SLS, and DMLS services. Regional peer to 3D People serving UK industrial customers with similar 3D printing service offerings, though smaller in scale and portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
3D People social profiles
Digital presence3D People compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
3D People financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
3D People leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
3D People funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
3D People M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 3D People
What does 3D People do?
3D People is a UK-based industrial additive manufacturing service provider producing end-use functional polymer parts via Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) powder bed fusion technologies. Services span CAD design, printing across PA12 Nylon, Glass Filled Nylon, and TPU materials, in-house surface finishing (vapour smoothing, vibro polishing, dyeing, threaded inserts), and the PartsVault digital inventory platform enabling on-demand production. Manufacturing volumes range from one-off prototypes to batches of up to 10,000 units.
Is 3D People a public or private company?
3D People is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was 3D People founded?
3D People was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is 3D People based?
3D People is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does 3D People make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Additive Manufacturing Services are the primary driver. The others are CAD Design Services and trade Account Programs.
Who are 3D People's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Protolabs, Xometry, Hubs (formerly 3D Hubs), Materialise and Stratasys Direct Manufacturing (formerly RedEye). Direct peers are Shapeways, Fictiv and Sculpteo. Regional players are RP Technologies and AM Prototypes.
Does 3D People have an API?
No public API is recorded for 3D People.
What industry is 3D People in?
3D People's product category is Industrial Additive Manufacturing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAAADAL, Electronics & Industrial Component 3D Printing Services (enclosures, fixtures, functional parts).