What Beijing Tiertime Technology does

Beijing Tiertime Technology Co., Ltd., founded in 2003 by Allen Guo (also listed as co-founder Ge Guo) with schoolmates from Tsinghua University, is a Chinese manufacturer of FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) and MEM (Melted Extrusion Modeling) 3D printers, recognized as China's first 3D printer manufacturer and exporter. The company designs, manufactures, and sells a full-stack product portfolio spanning entry-level and education units (UP Mini3, UP BOX Plus at $1,899 USD), professional models (UP300, UP300HS, UP 300D), large-format industrial systems (UP600 with a 120-liter build volume), the high-speed UP400 Pro (600mm/s print speed, 20,000mm/s² acceleration, 400°C extruder), and the innovative X5 continuous-print system with auto-swapping build plates. The technology platform is anchored by the proprietary UP Studio slicing software (with 9-point matrix leveling, automatic calibration via load balancing, smart support generation, and 3D model defect detection), UP Studio mobile app, and the UP Fila filament line (ABS, PLA, TPU) tuned in-house; the company also partners with BASF-owned Innofil3D for engineering-grade materials and integrates with OrcaSlicer open-source software on HiSpeed models.

Tiertime employs over 200 people across its Beijing headquarters (No.2 South First Street, Yanqi Economic Development Area, Huairou District) and US sales office in Milpitas, California. Revenue is generated through a hybrid go-to-market: direct e-commerce via shop.tiertime.com, a global network of authorized regional resellers across more than 50 countries (covering the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa), Amazon marketplace presence, specialty retailers (B&H Photo, MatterHackers, iMakr), and dedicated European operations through Tiertime Europe. Pricing is primarily quote-based for industrial and professional lines and one-time/perpetual for desktop models, with revenue streams including hardware sales, consumables (filaments, nozzles, build plates, replacement parts), and bundled software. Primary customer segments are education (K-12 schools and universities) and professional/industrial users (engineers, designers, manufacturers), with secondary segments in medical/dental, architecture, and hobbyists/makers. The company has received recognition from Make Magazine (2013-2015), PC Magazine (Best 3D Printer of the Year 2013), All3DP (Best ABS Printer 2019), and TCT Magazine (shortlisted 2018), and received a strategic investment from Dover Corporation in 2017.

Name

Beijing Tiertime Technology

Legal name

Beijing Tiertime Technology Co. Ltd.

Website

https://tiertime.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Beijing Tiertime Technology is a Chinese manufacturer of FDM 3D printers, proprietary slicing software (UP Studio), and filaments (UP Fila), serving education, professional, and industrial customers in more than 50 countries via direct e-commerce and an authorized reseller network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Desktop and Industrial 3D Printers (FDM)

NAICS

Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (33411), Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (3341)

SIC

Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555), Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590)

akta.pro primary industry

Large-Format & Industrial Production 3D Printers (High-Throughput Systems) (IMAAAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

3D Printer Automation & Peripheral Hardware (Material Handling, Depowdering, Build Units) (IMAAAAAL), Service, Repair & Maintenance Contracts (Preventive Maintenance, Onsite Service, Extended Warranty) (IMAAAIAM)

Keywords

• Desktop 3D printers
• FDM additive manufacturing
• Industrial prototyping solutions
• STEM 3D printing education
• 3D printing filaments

Headquarters

HQ city

Beijing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 3D Printer Hardware Sales: Sale of proprietary FDM 3D printers ranging from entry-level (UP mini 3) to industrial-grade models (UP600, UP400 Pro). Revenue generated from direct sales through company store and channel partners globally.
2. Proprietary Filament Sales (UP Fila): Sale of company-manufactured filaments including ABS, ABS+, PLA, and TPU. These filaments are specifically optimized for UP 3D printers and tested in Tiertime's labs to ensure excellent performance at default printer settings.
3. Software Licenses and Updates: UP Studio proprietary slicing software bundled with printers. Software updates and releases (UP Studio 2, 3, and mobile app versions) support the hardware ecosystem and enhance user experience.
4. Aftermarket Accessories and Consumables: Sale of consumables including nozzles (various diameters), build plates (Perf Glass, Flex Glass), filament spools, and replacement parts. Optional accessories like filament dryers and Wi-Fi upgrade kits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Beijing Tiertime Technology designs, manufactures, and sells FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) 3D printers ranging from entry-level/educational (UP Mini3, UP BOX Plus) to professional (UP300, UP 300D) and industrial-grade (UP 400 Pro, UP600) systems, together with proprietary UP Studio software, the UP Fila filament line, and accessories. The company sells directly through shop.tiertime.com and through an authorized global reseller network serving more than 50 countries, with a US sales office in Milpitas, California and a dedicated European distribution entity.

Product overview

Beijing Tiertime Technology is a 3D printing solutions provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of FDM/MEM (Melted Extrusion Modeling) 3D printers, proprietary software, and filament materials. The product lineup includes industrial-grade printers (UP 400 Pro, UP600, UP600 HS), professional models (UP300, UP300HS, UP 300D), entry-level/educational units (UP Mini3, UP BOX Plus), and the innovative X5 continuous printing system. Software offerings comprise UP Studio slicer and mobile UP Studio App, with support for third-party OrcaSlicer. Materials include proprietary UP Fila filaments (ABS, PLA, TPU) and BASF Innofil3D Pro1 through partnership. The ecosystem is unified through Tiertime Print Queue for multi-user network printing and includes optional accessories like filament dryers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UP: Product line of 3D printers including UP300, UP600, UP Mini, UP BOX Plus, and related accessories and software (UP Studio)
• Cetus3D
• UP Fila
• UP Studio
• Inspire

Products and services

• UP600 HS Large-format HiSpeed industrial FDM 3D printer with 400 x 500 x 600 mm build volume, 200 mm/s print speed and 5,000 mm/s² acceleration, dual HEPA and activated carbon filtration, open-temperature printing from PLA to PEEK, and a 7-inch touchscreen interface for industrial prototyping and short-run manufacturing.
• UP300HS HiSpeed professional FDM 3D printer with 205 x 255 x 225 mm build volume, 200 mm/s print speed, 5,000 mm/s² acceleration, dual HEPA and activated carbon filtration, and compatibility with ABS, ASA, PETG, TPU, PC, PA, and carbon fiber composite filaments for professional prototyping and engineering applications.
• UP 400 Pro Industrial-grade FDM 3D printer with six precision linear rails, 600 mm/s print speed, 20,000 mm/s² acceleration, 400 x 350 x 380 mm build volume, extruder temperatures up to 400 °C, heated chamber up to 70 °C, and support for high-performance materials including carbon fiber and flame-resistant filaments for demanding engineering applications.
• UP300 Professional enclosed FDM 3D printer with 205 x 255 x 225 mm build volume, material-specific extruders for ABS/PLA/TPU, dual HEPA and activated carbon filtration, automatic calibration, interchangeable build plates, and 0.05–0.4 mm layer resolution for engineering and design offices.
• UP 300D Professional dual-extrusion FDM 3D printer with the Convergence system that feeds two direct-drive filaments into a single nozzle (no two-nozzle alignment required), heated 55 °C filament compartment, UP Studio 3.0 software, adaptive layer thickness, and dual HEPA/activated carbon filtration, suited to medical, dental, and engineering applications.
• UP600 Large-format industrial FDM 3D printer offering a 500 x 400 x 600 mm (120 liter) build volume, heated build chamber up to 54 °C, adaptive layer thickness, dual HEPA/activated carbon filtration, and a 7-inch touchscreen, targeting large-scale prototyping and short-run industrial manufacturing.
• UP Mini3 Entry-level and educational FDM 3D printer with a 200 x 200 x 200 mm build volume, embedded HEPA and activated carbon air filter, true auto calibration based on load balancing, door-open pause, and filament runout detection for classrooms, families, and hobbyists.
• X5 Continuous 3D Printing System Continuous FDM 3D printing system targeting low-volume manufacturing, with auto-swapping build plates, a build-plate vault housing twelve plates, automatic feeding of up to eight plates with reloading during printing, and dual HEPA/activated carbon filtration, enabling near non-stop production runs.
• UP BOX Plus Desktop professional FDM 3D printer with 255 x 205 x 205 mm build volume, passively heated build chamber, HEPA + activated carbon filtration, full enclosure, automatic platform calibration, blackout recovery, and support for ABS, PLA, polycarbonate, carbon fiber, and flexible filaments, listed at $1,899 USD.
• UP Studio Software Proprietary Tiertime slicing and printer control software with a 3-click print workflow, smart support generation, 9-point matrix leveling, 3D model defect detection, material profile manager, and cloud print settings, available for Windows and macOS as the bundled slicing and workflow tool for Tiertime's 3D printers.
• UP Studio App (iOS) iOS mobile companion application providing wireless printer control, model creation via Puzzle Mode, 2D-to-3D image conversion, and cloud model loading for users of Tiertime 3D printers.
• UP Fila Filaments (ABS, ABS+, PLA, TPU) Tiertime's proprietary filament line manufactured in-house, including ABS, ABS+, PLA, and TPU materials that are specifically optimized for UP 3D printers and tested in Tiertime's labs for performance at default settings, marketed as the fastest path from spool to finished print.
• Innofil3D Pro1 (BASF) Filament BASF/Innofil3D Pro1 high-speed engineering thermoplastic filament distributed by Tiertime in China and the US, printing as easily as PLA at high speeds while delivering mechanical properties that exceed printed ABS, developed under the 2018 Tiertime-Innofil3D FDM engineering materials partnership.
• Tiertime Regional Reseller Program Global value-added reseller program operated by Tiertime, providing access to the company's 3D printer portfolio and solutions across the Education, Manufacturing, Medical, and other verticals, with dedicated account managers, technical support, and global logistics support for partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Print speed up to 600mm/s with acceleration of 20,000mm/s² on HiSpeed models (UP400 Pro)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Innofil3D (BASF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2018Partnership with Innofil3D, a Netherlands-based 3D printing filament company owned by BASF, for development of FDM engineering materials. Tiertime distributes Innofil3D filaments in China and the US markets. The two companies collaborate on developing new materials optimized for Tiertime's printer platform.
• Machines-3DcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018Machines-3D, Europe's leading e-shop for 3D printing, distributes Tiertime's X5, UP300, and UP mini 2 ES printers in Europe. Partnership includes stocking the full 2018 Tiertime product line and joint launch activities at 3D Print Congress & Exhibition.
• FormnextminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Annual participation as exhibitor at Formnext, the leading additive manufacturing trade fair held in Frankfurt, Germany (November 13-16, 2018 at Booth H3.1 C69).
• TCT ShowsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Exhibitor at TCT Shows, a major UK-based 3D printing and additive manufacturing exhibition held at the NEC Birmingham (September 25-27, 2018).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Creality: Shenzhen-based 3D printer manufacturer with a broad FDM and resin portfolio (Ender, K1, Halot series). Competes head-to-head with Tiertime in education and prosumer segments via aggressive pricing and broad distribution.
• Ultimaker: Netherlands-based professional FDM 3D printer maker (S series, Method series). Closely comparable to Tiertime's professional and education SKUs in target customer, channel, and price band.
• Prusa Research: Czech-based FDM 3D printer maker (MK4, XL, MINI) with proprietary firmware and a strong enthusiast/education following. Comparable to Tiertime in software-integrated ecosystem play and prosumer focus.
• Anycubic: Chinese 3D printer maker offering FDM (Kobra) and resin (Photon) lines. Direct competitor to Tiertime in the prosumer and small-business desktop segments.
• Flashforge: Chinese 3D printer manufacturer offering Adventurer, Creator, and Guider lines across desktop and professional FDM. Direct competitor in both retail and education channels globally.
• Bambu Lab: Shenzhen-based FDM 3D printer maker best known for the X1, P1, and A1 series plus the AMS multi-material system. Directly competes with Tiertime in desktop-to-prosumer FDM, with rapid innovation cadence and aggressive global pricing.
• Raise3D: US/China professional FDM 3D printer maker (Pro3, E2) targeting industrial and education customers. Highly comparable to Tiertime's professional/industrial SKUs in customer base and ASP band.

Broad incumbents

• MakerBot (Stratasys): Stratasys-owned desktop FDM brand (Method, Sketch). Competes with Tiertime in education and SMB prototyping, but as part of a broader industrial 3D printing portfolio rather than a desktop-only focus.
• Stratasys: Original FDM patent holder and leading industrial 3D printing company. Overlaps with Tiertime in industrial FDM segments and in education (MakerBot subsidiary) but operates at vastly larger scale and broader technology footprint.

Emerging players

• Snapmaker: Shenzhen-based maker of multi-function 3-in-1 machines (3D printing, CNC, laser). Partial overlap with Tiertime in desktop/education, with a different value proposition combining additive and subtractive tools.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tiertimecorp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/tiertime
• Facebookfacebook.com/tiertime
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tiertime
• Instagraminstagram.com/tiertime

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Beijing Tiertime Technology