Rapid 3D
Rapid 3D is a South Africa-based authorized distributor and consulting partner for professional and industrial 3D printing, scanning, and post-processing systems, serving manufacturing, dental, jewellery, and design/engineering customers across South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersDurban, South Africa
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Rapid 3D does
Rapid 3D is a South Africa-based, authorized distributor and consulting partner for professional and industrial additive manufacturing systems. Founded in 2004 and operating since 2014 as a subsidiary of Kemtek Imaging Systems, the company is headquartered in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, and serves manufacturing, dental, jewellery, and design/engineering customers across South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. Its team sits in the 11–50 employee band and combines founder-engineers with field-sales and product-support staff. Listed customers are limited; instead, the company leans on the Additive Minds consulting methodology, originally trained in Germany and validated on programmes with Mercedes, BMW, and Airbus, to credentialize its advisory work.
The company's portfolio is multi-OEM by design: metal 3D printers from EOS; polymer and reinforced-plastic systems from Markforged, Bambu Lab, and Formlabs; industrial serial-production printers from 3D Systems; professional 3D scanning from Artec 3D and Scantech/3DeVOK; post-processing from DYEMANSION and DLyte; and 3D printing software from Materialise. Beyond hardware, Rapid 3D offers Additive Manufacturing Consulting (part selection, technology fit, workflow design, and financial feasibility analysis) and aftermarket consumables including filaments, Formlabs V5 resins, Nylon 12 powders, and OEM-specific spare parts distributed through an e-commerce storefront at store.rapid3d.co.za. The Akhani 3D bureau (ISO 9001:2015) provides DMP/DMLS, SLS, SLA/DLP, FDM, and FFF part-manufacturing services for outsourced production needs. The company is also a certified member of eWASA for e-waste compliance.
Commercially, Rapid 3D runs a hybrid go-to-market: enterprise field sales supported by round-the-clock engineering for capital equipment, paired with direct e-commerce for consumables and small-ticket accessories. Revenue is concentrated in hardware sales (industrial 3D printers, scanners, post-processing systems) and consumables, with professional consulting as a smaller, higher-margin overlay. Pricing is denominated in South African Rand and ranges from entry-level filament spools (~R275–R795) and Bambu Lab printer combos (~R17K–R57K) up to professional 3D scanners (~R118K for the Scantech/3DeVOK MT) and undisclosed quotations for EOS, Markforged, and Formlabs industrial systems. The company is privately held, bootstrapped, and has not raised external venture funding.
Rapid 3D firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rapid 3D
- Legal name
- Rapid 3D JV (Pty) LTD
- Website
- https://rapid3d.co.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Rapid 3D is a South Africa-based authorized distributor and consulting partner for professional and industrial 3D printing, scanning, and post-processing systems, serving manufacturing, dental, jewellery, and design/engineering customers across South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rapid 3D industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial 3D Printing Equipment
- NAICS
- Industrial Design Services (54142), Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (333310)
- SIC
- Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559), Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555)
- akta.pro primary industry
- 3D Printers (Additive Manufacturing) (HDACAEAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Large-Format & Industrial Production 3D Printers (High-Throughput Systems) (IMAAAAAK), Service, Repair & Maintenance Contracts (Preventive Maintenance, Onsite Service, Extended Warranty) (IMAAAIAM), Electronics, Sensors & Control Spares (Thermistors, Encoders, Boards, Cables) (IMAAAIAL)
Keywords
Where Rapid 3D is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Durban
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices2 records
Markets served
Rapid 3D business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- 3D Printer Sales: Sales of professional, industrial and production 3D printers including metal and polymer systems from OEM partners such as EOS, Markforged, Bambu Lab, Formlabs, and 3D Systems.
- 3D Printing Materials and Consumables: Sale of filaments (PLA, ABS, PETG, ASA, TPU, Nylon), resins, powders, and other consumables for 3D printing equipment.
- 3D Scanner Sales: Sale of professional 3D scanning equipment including Artec 3D scanners and related accessories.
- Additive Manufacturing Consulting: Consulting services using Additive Minds methodology to help businesses determine optimal 3D printing strategies, part selection, technology selection, workflow optimization, and financial feasibility analysis.
- Post-Processing Equipment: Sale of post-processing systems for 3D printing workflows including cleaning, surfacing, colouring, and metal surface finishing equipment from partners like DYEMANSION.
- Spare Parts: Sale of spare parts for various 3D printer brands including Bambu Lab, Markforged, EOS, Formlabs, and Projet systems.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Entry-level filaments and consumables |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Professional Resins |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Powder Materials |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Industrial 3D Printers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 3D Scanners and Accessories |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Rapid 3D product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rapid 3D is an authorized distributor and value-added technology partner supplying professional, industrial, and production 3D printers, 3D scanners, post-processing systems, consumables, and spare parts in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. The company represents OEM brands including EOS, Markforged, Bambu Lab, Formlabs, 3D Systems, Artec 3D, and DYEMANSION, and complements equipment sales with Additive Minds methodology-based consulting for part selection, technology fit, workflow optimization, and financial feasibility analysis.
Product overview
Rapid 3D is a technology distribution company and authorized partner for professional and industrial 3D printing, 3D scanning, and post-processing solutions in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. The company serves as a value-added distributor for multiple OEM brands including EOS, Markforged, Bambu Lab, Formlabs, 3D Systems, Artec 3D, and Dyemansion. Their product portfolio encompasses Metal 3D Printers, Polymer Plastic 3D Printers, Professional 3D Scanning systems, and Post-Processing Systems, complemented by consumables (filaments, resins, powders), spare parts, and accessories. The company also provides Additive Manufacturing Consulting services using Additive Minds methodology. Their online store offers a comprehensive range of branded consumables and spare parts for distributed equipment. Related entity Akhani 3D provides standalone 3D printing bureau services for clients requiring outsourced manufacturing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Metal 3D Printers
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 20 years of experience in 3D printing and additive manufacturing in South Africa
Companies that use Rapid 3D
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Rapid 3D technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Rapid 3D partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- EOS (Electro Optical Systems Gmbh)coreAuthorized partner and supplier for Industrial and Serial Production 3D Printers for Polymer and Metal applications in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.
- MarkforgedcoreSouth African agents for Markforged fiber reinforced 3D printers, offering continuous fiber reinforcement technology for strong functional parts.
- Bambu LabcoreBambu Lab 3D Printers - The Industrial Partner for Southern Africa, providing fast CoreXY 3D printing technology.
- FormlabscoreAuthorized partner for Formlabs 3D Printers in South Africa, offering professional resin and SLS 3D printing solutions.
- Artec 3DcoreSouth African Technology Partner for Artec 3D scanning solutions, providing professional 3D scanning technology.
- DYEMANSIONcoreSouth African Technology Partner for DYEMANSION automated 3D printer post-processing workflow systems including cleaning, surfacing, and colouring solutions.
- 3D SystemscoreSouth African Technology Partner for 3D Systems Industrial and Serial Production 3D Printers for Polymer and Metal, including Dental, Jewellery and Metal Casting applications.
- MaterialisecoreSouth African Technology Partner for Materialise software and 3D printing solutions.
- Additive Minds ConsultingcoreTrained by the multi-year award-winning Additive Minds team in Germany, using their proven process methodology developed with Mercedes, BMW and Airbus for determining optimal 3D printing strategies.
- Akhani 3DcoreSpun-off 3D printing bureau service initially operated as Rapid 3D Parts. Specializes in Short-run, Complex Part Manufacturing using multiple technologies including DMP/DMLS, SLS, SLA/DLP, FDM. ISO 9001:2015 certified.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Rapid 3D competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Proto Labs: Digital manufacturing services company offering on-demand CNC, injection molding, and 3D printing. Demonstrates the services-bureau scale outcome available to Akhani 3D and serves as the public-comparable endpoint for Rapid 3D's services model.
- Stratasys: Global leader in polymer 3D printing and a benchmark for the entire distributor-led go-to-market model in industrial AM. Important incumbency comparator for Rapid 3D's positioning.
- EOS GmbH: Global industrial metal and polymer 3D printing OEM. Rapid 3D is an authorized partner/distributor for EOS in sub-Saharan Africa, making EOS both an OEM partner and the incumbent whose direct presence could displace Rapid 3D.
- Materialise: Global 3D printing software and services company (including a major 3D printing services bureau). Materialise is both a Rapid 3D software partner and the kind of vertical integrator Rapid 3D/Akhani 3D could evolve into.
- 3D Systems: Long-established global 3D printer OEM whose hardware and materials Rapid 3D distributes. Functions as both OEM partner and broad incumbent whose direct salesforce competes indirectly with the Rapid 3D distributor model.
- Markforged: Industrial/composite 3D printer OEM that Rapid 3D represents in South Africa. As Markforged scales internationally, it is both a partner and a broad-incumbent peer whose direct go-to-market choices affect Rapid 3D.
- Formlabs: Professional SLA/SLS 3D printer OEM that Rapid 3D distributes in South Africa. Provides the large mid-market installed base that drives Rapid 3D's resin and powder consumables revenue.
Direct peers
- Fisher Unitech: Long-standing US 3D printing and Stratasys distributor providing hardware, software, training, and consulting. Direct analogue to Rapid 3D's enterprise field-sales approach with multi-OEM representation.
- Tri-Tech 3D: US-based 3D printing solutions distributor offering multi-OEM hardware, consumables, and consulting. Closely comparable in business model to Rapid 3D, just operating in a different geography.
- GoEngineer: Large regional value-added reseller combining SOLIDWORKS/3D design software with professional 3D printing hardware and consulting. Similar hybrid distribution + services + consulting model to Rapid 3D.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Rapid 3D social profiles
Digital presenceRapid 3D compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Rapid 3D financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rapid 3D leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Rapid 3D subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Rapid 3D funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rapid 3D 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 Rapid 3D
What does Rapid 3D do?
Rapid 3D is an authorized distributor and value-added technology partner supplying professional, industrial, and production 3D printers, 3D scanners, post-processing systems, consumables, and spare parts in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. The company represents OEM brands including EOS, Markforged, Bambu Lab, Formlabs, 3D Systems, Artec 3D, and DYEMANSION, and complements equipment sales with Additive Minds methodology-based consulting for part selection, technology fit, workflow optimization, and financial feasibility analysis.
Is Rapid 3D a public or private company?
Rapid 3D is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Rapid 3D founded?
Rapid 3D was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Rapid 3D based?
Rapid 3D is headquartered in Durban, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Rapid 3D make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. 3D Printer Sales are the primary driver. The others are 3D Printing Materials and Consumables, 3D Scanner Sales, additive Manufacturing Consulting, post-Processing Equipment and spare Parts.
Who are Rapid 3D's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Proto Labs, Stratasys, EOS GmbH, Materialise, 3D Systems, Markforged and Formlabs. Direct peers are Fisher Unitech, Tri-Tech 3D and GoEngineer.
Does Rapid 3D have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rapid 3D.
What industry is Rapid 3D in?
Rapid 3D's product category is Industrial 3D Printing Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDACAEAH, 3D Printers (Additive Manufacturing), with a secondary code of IMAAAAAK, Large-Format & Industrial Production 3D Printers (High-Throughput Systems). Its NAICS code is 54142 and its SIC code is 3559.