Case Studies
Service Bureau Added SLS Capacity and Grew Revenue 28% with High-Value Nylon Parts
3D printing service bureau invested in industrial SLS technology and captured high-margin production work.
📖 8 min read📅 February 26, 2024Service Bureaus
A regional service bureau built on FDM technology found themselves losing high-value production work to competitors with SLS.
The Opportunity
Customers increasingly requested nylon parts for end-use production. Average SLS job: $2,500-$8,000 vs $300-$1,200 for FDM.
The Investment
Purchased EOS Formiga P110 Velocis SLS system ($185,000 including training).
First Year Results
Revenue growth: $420K added (28% increase). Average job value: $4,200 vs $650 for FDM. Gross margin: 68% on SLS vs 42% on FDM.
Key Takeaways
- ✓28% revenue growth ($420K) in first year
- ✓$4,200 average job value for SLS
- ✓68% gross margin on SLS
- ✓ROI projected at 18 months
