Bram De zwart on digital transformation
From EMS@C-Level, Episode #34, with Bram de Zwart of 3D Hubs · · SCOOP tv
“Younger engineers expect on-demand manufacturing platforms similar to Uber or Airbnb. COVID has accelerated this digital transformation and increased the desire for such platforms.”
On , Bram De zwart, Head of Innovation of Hubs at PROTO LABS INC, spoke about digital transformation during EMS@C-Level, Episode #34, with Bram de Zwart of 3D Hubs on SCOOP tv.
About Bram De zwart
Bram de Zwart, co-founder and former CEO of 3D Hubs (now part of Proto Labs as Head of Innovation of Hubs), has discussed the company's strategic shift from a consumer-focused platform to an industrial manufacturing service. In a 2021 interview, he stated that 3D Hubs pivoted from connecting thousands of hobbyist 3D printer owners to working with a few hundred certified production partners, adding CNC machining and injection molding alongside 3D printing. He said the company uses machine learning to automate pricing and quality checks, and that it targets the small-volume outsourced production market, which he described as a $40 billion segment. De Zwart has emphasized the importance of supply chain resilience, particularly after disruptions caused by COVID-19. He said the company doubled the number of regions where it has manufacturing partners to avoid over-reliance on any single area, such as China. He noted that 3D Hubs doubled its net revenue during the pandemic despite a global decline in manufacturing output, attributing this to increased digital adoption. He has also stated that the company aims to become a billion-dollar enterprise by further automating production and decentralizing manufacturing to reduce inventory and transportation.