PrintCity MMU

Name

PrintCity MMU

Legal name

PrintCity - Manchester Metropolitan University

Website

https://printcity.mmu.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Additive Manufacturing Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Printing (323120)

SIC

Service Industries For The Printing Trade (2790)

akta.pro primary industry

Polymer 3D Printing Service Bureaus (FDM/FFF, SLA/DLP, SLS/MJF) (IMAAADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Metal 3D Printing Service Bureaus (SLM/DMLS, EBM, Binder Jetting) (IMAAADAB), Electronics & Industrial Component 3D Printing Services (enclosures, fixtures, functional parts) (IMAAADAL)

Keywords

• 3D printing services
• Additive manufacturing
• Digital manufacturing
• Rapid prototyping
• CAD design services

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. MSc Digital Design and Manufacturing Programme: Postgraduate education programme covering CAD, 3D printing, modelling, and industrial sustainability. The course educates and develops industry-ready professionals with various specialisms.
2. Commercial Services and Consultation: Design consultancy, rapid prototyping, and commercial 3D printing services for businesses. Turnkey solutions from design consultation through to finished product.
3. Research Projects: Funded research programmes including Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMMIC) and Centre for Digital Innovation (CDI) part of £100m Government Innovation Accelerator.
4. Student 3D Print Services: Managed print service via Phasio platform for MMU students and staff to submit 3D printing requests.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

PrintCity MMU operates a 3D additive and digital manufacturing centre at Manchester Metropolitan University providing commercial design consultancy, rapid prototyping, and training services to businesses alongside a postgraduate MSc Digital Design and Manufacturing programme. The facility houses over 60 industrial-grade 3D printers spanning FFF/FDM, SLA/DLP, SLS, metal printing (Markforged Metal X), Multi Jet Fusion, and Polyjet (Stratasys J850 Prime FabriX) technologies, complemented by 3D scanning, CNC milling, vapor smoothing, and CAD design services.

Product overview

PrintCity is a 3D additive and digital manufacturing centre at Manchester Metropolitan University, operating as a unified facility combining education, commercial services, and research. The core offering centres on the MSc Digital Design and Manufacturing postgraduate programme and a commercial design consultancy and rapid prototyping service. These are supported by an extensive fleet of over 60 industrial-grade 3D printers spanning FFF/FDM, SLA/DLP, Continuous Fiber Fabrication, Selective Laser Sintering, Metal printing (Markforged Metal X), Multi Jet Fusion, and Polyjet (Stratasys J850 Prime FabriX) technologies. Additional capabilities include 3D scanning (Artec Leo, Einscan HX), CNC milling, vapor smoothing, and concrete 3D printing. PrintCity further offers the Phasio managed print service for student and staff 3D print job submission, outreach programmes for schools, and the PrintCity Podcast. The Centre for Digital Innovation (CDI) leads regional innovation initiatives. The facility serves SMEs, national and international companies, and students through a multidisciplinary team of experts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MSc Digital Design and Manufacturing Postgraduate degree programme educating students in Computer-Aided Design (CAD), 3D printing, digital manufacturing, industrial sustainability, project management, 3D scanning, and mixed reality, producing industry-ready professionals for Industry 4.0.
• Design Consultancy and Rapid Prototyping Commercial design and prototyping service for businesses turning ideas into reality using CAD and additive technologies to reduce production costs and accelerate time-to-market. Capabilities span FFF/FDM, SLA/DLP, Continuous Fiber Fabrication, Selective Laser Sintering, Metal X 3D printing, Multi Jet Fusion, Polyjet, vapor smoothing, 3D scanning, and CNC milling.
• Phasio Managed Print Service Digital managed print service allowing current MMU students and staff to submit 3D print jobs, browse available materials and colours, specify detail/strength requirements, and track print status through the Phasio platform.
• Outreach and Engagement Programme Educational outreach programme for secondary schools, colleges, and academies providing Autodesk Fusion 360 and 3D printing taster sessions, CAD workshops, and facility tours delivered by student ambassadors and PrintCity academic staff.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students gain Autodesk Certified User qualification through university's RISE programme
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Autodesk UKcoreTechnology or IntegrationStrong working relationship with creative software provider Autodesk UK. The programme provides route for students to become Autodesk Certified User through university's RISE programme. Dedicated CAD area with 24 PCs running Autodesk Fusion 360. Steven Parkinson, Education Manager at Autodesk UK, stated 'Many universities claim to have 3D print centres of excellence, but only Manchester Metropolitan University has a vision to move forward and really create something special.'
• Greater Manchester Business Growth HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose links with Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub enabling PrintCity to support SMEs across the region. This partnership extends PrintCity's reach to businesses throughout Greater Manchester.
• Centre for Digital Innovation (CDI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManchester Metropolitan University is consortium lead for CDI, a programme funded through the nationwide £100m Government Innovation Accelerator. The consortium delivers initiatives for digital innovation across the region.
• Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMMIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrintCity staff work on the AMMIC project focusing on polymer materials, industrial digitalisation, and machine connectivity. James McKeown provides support to external companies with respect to machine connectivity and IoT projects.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Markforged: Manufacturer of industrial 3D printers including the Metal X system used by PrintCity. Strong peer because PrintCity runs Markforged Metal X for commercial and research work, and Markforged itself offers bunded metal additive services and software.
• Formlabs: Leading SLA and SLS 3D printer manufacturer whose equipment (Form 3, Fuse) is installed at PrintCity. Comparable as a printer OEM with an emerging services ecosystem that overlaps with PrintCity's bureau activity.
• 3D Systems: Major 3D printer manufacturer (SLA, SLS, DMP metal) with on-demand parts services and software — directly comparable technology stack to PrintCity and a broad incumbent offering similar services globally.
• Stratasys: Global leader in polymer 3D printing (FDM, Polyjet, SAF) with its own services arm and partner network. PrintCity operates Stratasys hardware (J850 Prime FabriX) and competes in the same service market, making Stratasys both a supplier and adjacent incumbent.

Direct peers

• Hubs (Protolabs Network): Manufacturing services platform (now part of Protolabs) offering CNC, injection moulding, and 3D printing with a distributed network of suppliers. Direct competitor to PrintCity's commercial rapid prototyping business.
• Shapeways: Online 3D printing service bureau offering on-demand production across multiple additive technologies to designers, engineers, and enterprises — comparable service-bureau model with multi-technology polymer and metal 3D printing.
• Xometry: On-demand manufacturing marketplace connecting buyers with CNC, injection moulding, sheet metal, and 3D printing suppliers — competes directly with PrintCity's commercial services for SME and enterprise prototyping customers.
• Protolabs: Global on-demand manufacturer offering rapid prototyping and low-volume production via CNC, injection moulding, and 3D printing (SLA, SLS, DMLS, Polyjet). Direct competitor to PrintCity's commercial design and rapid prototyping service for SMEs and multinationals.
• Materialise: Belgium-based 3D printing services and software company offering on-demand additive manufacturing across polymer and metal technologies plus design services — directly comparable as a multi-technology 3D printing service bureau serving industrial customers.

Others

• ALL3DP: Global 3D printing media and comparison platform. Prof. Carl Diver sits on its Editorial Advisory Board, making it an ecosystem peer that shapes industry visibility and perception around additive manufacturing services like PrintCity's.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PrintCityMMU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/printcity-mmu
• Instagraminstagram.com/printcitymmu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 PrintCity MMU