Additive manufacturing technology suppliers in Bulgaria

3D printing is among the key technology trends set to revolutionize global manufacturing and bring the next industrial revolution, according to the World Investment Report. Additive manufacturing was until recently seen only as a design, prototyping and testing tool, but in recent years it has become a regular manufacturing operation in a number of industries, including in Bulgaria.

The Bulgarian additive manufacturing ecosystem has been rapidly developing in the last five years and the 3D printing business in the country, in step with global trends, is gradually moving from prototyping to full-functional production in many industries.

In the past on the Bulgarian market low-budget printers were mostly bought. However, this helped Bulgarian users to become more familiar with the specifics of the use and application of 3D printers and in recent years companies have increased their requirements and started looking for reliable mid- and high-end 3D printing systems with more applications, experts conclude. Apart from widely used desktop printers, today industrial 3D printers and materials are becoming more and more affordable.

Ecosystem, technologies and applications

The additive manufacturing ecosystem in the country includes much more than just 3D printers and the companies that make or sell them. There are also material producers, software providers, post-handling machine makers, and service providers. The market is divided into many segments besides desktop and industrial 3D printing systems, including hardware (main and auxiliary components), software, consumables (including filaments), scanning and inspection solutions, design and manufacturing services and so on.

In addition to the automotive industry, where it is among the top technologies today, 3D printing has been successfully applied to rapid prototyping and mass production in the fields of engineering, machine building, electronics, architecture, industrial design, power and energy, construction, aerospace and defense, dental, medical and healthcare, biotechnology, fashion, education, footwear, jewelry, food and many other areas.

Technologies that are gaining significant traction as they are applicable in specialized additive manufacturing processes in industry, are: stereolithography, fuse deposition modeling (FDM), direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), selective laser sintering (SLS), inkjet printing, polyjet printing, laser metal deposition, and electron beam melting (EBM), digital light processing (DLP), laminated object manufacturing, etc.

Additive manufacturing in Bulgaria is increasingly used for the production of not only prototypes and models, but fully functional machine parts, system components and end products, tooling, jigs, fixtures, etc. The main materials in the process are thermoplastics (standard, engineering, and high-performance polymers), metal, composites, alloys, ceramics, etc.

The National Statistical Institute (NSI) regularly publishes the results of its information society research in enterprises. In 2018, for the first time, the study observed the implementation rate of the enterprises of modern technologies such as three-dimensional (3D) printing. The data showed that these technologies still did not find great application in the activity of the Bulgarian business. In the previous year (2017) only 1,8% of enterprises used 3D printers. The most active in the implementation of these technologies were enterprises with 250 and more employees, with 7,6% of them using 3D printing. For the last five years though, the picture has been gradually changing and the number of suppliers and users of additive manufacturing technologies on the Bulgarian market has been rapidly growing.

Educational, R&D opportunities and events

A large part of the Bulgarian technical universities and higher education institutions offer a wide range of programs and specializations (specialties) in the field of 3D printing and additive technologies. Young talents in the country can study, for example: “Computer design and technologies in mechanical engineering” in the Technical University of Sofia, “3D technologies for design and production” in the Technical University of Varna, “3D design and manufacturing technologies” in the Faculty of Physics and Technology of the Plovdiv University, “Modeling of objects for 3D printing” in the New Bulgarian University, “Computer modeling” in the Burgas Free University, “3D technologies for design and production” in the Varna Free University, and also “Additive technologies” in the Trakia University – Stara Zagora.

Sofia Tech Park – the first science and technology park in Bulgaria, runs a “3D Creativity and New Products Rapid Prototyping Lab” as a part of its laboratory complex. The main objective of the rapid prototyping laboratory is to develop research capacity for the application of innovative technologies for materialization of virtual 3D models with complex forms in a very short time.

Bulgaria also used to be home of the Balkan festival for additive manufacturing Additive Days, organized and initiated by B2N in 2018 and 2020 – an international event dedicated to sharing knowledge, exchanging contacts and aimed at supporting a better understanding of the role of 3D printing in various fields: engineering, medicine, business and economics, science, education, architecture, design, fashion, etc.

Latest novelties in 3D printing by tradition are presented at the country’s leading exhibition for industrial technologies MachTech & InnoTech in Inter Expo Center. This year’s edition will be held from October 3 to October 6. On the second day of the event (October 4) a new and exciting event format will take place, which will also feature additive technologies among its main topics – the premier edition of Industrial Tech Forum, organized by TLL Media and IEC.

Company overview

The Bulgarian technological system in the field of additive manufacturing is broad and heterogeneous. It consists of many global manufacturers of 3D printers, software and consumables, including filaments, their local partners and distributors, trade companies, system integrators, engineering companies offering development and implementation of complete production solutions based on 3D printing, service providers in the fields of 3D printing, 3D modeling, scanning, virtual engineering and so on.
In the following section of this article, we will present in alphabetical order some of the leading companies in the sector with the clarification that the list is non-exhaustive. The information is taken from company websites, official company profiles and catalogues, the exhibitor list of the upcoming MachTech & InnoTech Expo 2023 and our databases.

3DBGPRINT is a trade mark, created in 2013. It is fully focused on the technology applications, sales and support of 3D printers and all related industries, subsequently expanding its business through 3D scanning services, 3D design and modeling, 3D printed parts finishing and product design. The company has its own base for 3D training and its own 3D lab for the production of details with various technologies.

B2N was founded in 2006. With the development of its activities, the company gradually reoriented to offer the Bulgarian market a full range of high-quality 3D printers, scanners, software, consumables and 3D services. B2N is an official representative for Bulgaria and a distributor for the whole of Southeast Europe of some of the market leaders for industrial 3D production and a preferred provider of 3D services and 3D training.

BMG Data presents to the Bulgarian market solutions for the design of complex details, construction of assembled units, simulation of the movement of mechanisms, strength and deformation analysis, to prepare the CAM data for production with CNC machines or 3D printers. The provided software prepares the models for direct printing with a 3D printer.

CAD Point is an Autodesk authorized gold partner. The company offers software and hardware solutions for the mechanical engineering sector, including 3D printing part production and generative design. Its portfolio includes state-of-the-art desktop 3D printers for a wide array of applications from the concept to the prototype, high-precision, large-print FDM 3D printers, and 3D printers with alkaline LCD curable resins.

Dassault Systemes Bulgaria is the local unit of Dassault Systemes, which offers solutions in the field of additive technologies, including an online 3D printing service platform. It groups all of the necessary steps in the additive manufacturing process together to provide a comprehensive view of what’s available in terms of technologies, materials, finishes, etc.

DiTra is the center for 3D solutions of TechnoLogica with three decades of expertise in the field. The company offers complex solutions for product design, engineering simulations, technical communication and overall management of engineering activities. 3D printing and 3D scanning systems supplied by the company are effectively used in dozens of enterprises.

Easy3D offers a wide range of services that cover the entire process of creating an object. The company helps its customers navigate the many possibilities of 3D technologies and gain competitive advantages by encouraging innovation and introducing them to different ways of making, related to new production methods and a new approach to analysis and design.

GF Machining Solutions Bulgaria is a local unit of one of the world’s leading providers of complete solutions for precision components and tool manufacturers and the mold-making industry. The company successfully implements its own technologies for additive manufacturing and its portfolio includes a wide range of metal additive manufacturing machines.

Great Master is an engineering company established in 2006. Since 2014, the company has been an importer of products in the field of 3D technology and with a new marketing name – GreMa 3D. Currently, GreMa 3D is aimed at offering complete solutions in the field of 3D technologies: software, 3D scanners, 3D printers and a wide range of materials, consumables, accessories, equipment for post-processing of the details.

HabitAdd is a technology company with a focus on the industrial sector. It develops its services in three main directions: production of 3D printed products in small and medium series of polymers, outsourcing of engineering design, technological consultations, trainings and analyzes related to the applications, design and variety of materials in the field of industrial 3D printing and 3D scanning.

HERZ Bulgaria represents the global specialist in the production and sale of devices, machines and accessories for welding and heat treatment of plastics HERZ. The company is also a manufacturer of high-quality and diverse welding consumables and filament for 3D printers.

K-Industry is the official distributor of Han’s Robot for Bulgaria. The company’s activity includes design, manufacture of automated machines and lines for optimization of various processes in large factories and small enterprises. K-Industry also offers a wide range of 3D printers.
Mazzari aims to develop and implement innovative methods for the production of metal parts. The company says it invests in 3D metal printing technology, because it gives an advantage over conventional metalworking methods.

Printme-3D is the Bulgarian distributor of BCN3D – a partnership with a distribution agreement to drive growth in Bulgaria, Ukraine and other Balkan countries.
PsB3d is a young and innovative company with knowledge and experience in reverse engineering, rapid prototyping and 3D printing. Among its partners are leading global software and hardware companies, providing solutions for 3D modeling, analysis and object scanning.

RE3D is a Bulgarian manufacturer of filaments for 3D printing. The company specializes in the production of engineered 3D printing materials that allow for excellent performance and durability while also recognizing the environment as a priority.
Sodibul is a representative of Sodick in Bulgaria. Among the latest developments of the Japanese manufacturer of erosion machines are 3D printers for metal elements that combine metal laser sintering and high-speed milling and make it possible to produce metal elements and details of very high quality in terms of accuracy and smoothness of surfaces.

SolidFill is a pioneer in professional 3D printing/rapid prototyping services in Bulgaria. Since 2013, the company is fully focused on the applications of the technology and all spin-off industries. Subsequently, it expanded its activities through services for 3D scanning, reengineering, 3D design and modeling, finishing of 3D printed parts and product design.

Spacecad is a provider of metal and plastic 3D printers, scanners, industrial robots and automation services, consulting and technology transfer for the needs of industrial companies, project-oriented teams and engineering firms wishing to take advantage of the benefits of digital design and manufacturing.

TechnoLogica has been the representative of the American manufacturer Stratasys for Bulgaria since 1996 and is among the first partners of the company in Europe. Stratasys is the largest manufacturer of professional and industrial 3D printers, with nearly 50% share of the global market, the company says.

The company “Three-dimensional Prototypes” offers its customers the unique for the Bulgarian market three-dimensional color printing (prototyping) service which allows the production of architectural models, machine elements, conceptual models, industrial models, sculptures, design models, etc.
Top Metrology is a distributor of industrial and laboratory metrological equipment.

Trumpf Bulgaria is a subsidiary of the high-tech German manufacturer of metalworking machines and laser equipment TRUMPF SE +. The company’s portfolio also includes 3D printing solutions, as well as software products and solutions for networked manufacturing.