CAD BLU: The Powerhouse of 3D Printing

Setting the expectations at the right level and exceeding them is the most important rule in our book

As one of the largest resellers of equipment, material, and services for the 3D printing industry in the U.S., CAD BLU has in-house application engineers to support the products in their focused segments, with a good service structure to keep machines running. “We are a razor blade business from the standpoint that a machine is sold once every five to seven years but materials are required every month,” says Motto.

In a customer instance a few years back, a large medical company was struggling with certain technologies related to their foundry while performing custom implants. They reached out to CAD BLU, who agreed to buy a machine and install it in their New York office to help the client clear their 510(K) approval for FDA. After getting FDA approval, CAD BLU handed the machine over to the client’s foundry and today there are fifteen of them, producing millions of dollars’ worth of material.

Although spread across different industries, CAD BLU focuses primarily on the jewelry, dental, and foundry industries, which altogether comprise about 60 percent of their business. The rest 40 percent caters to shoe manufacturers, aerospace, and medical devices, with customers like NASA, Los Alamos National Lab, and Nike, to name a few.

With the goal of a full expansion in sight, CAD BLU has now made 80 percent headway in being a national sales and service organization for 3D printing. Apart from running six offices around the country, the company is focused on covering three more territories while on the lookout for new types of products and different technologies to provide additional opportunities for their customers. ‘More products, more services, more territory’ is what the company is aiming at.