Distecna to Showcase MakerBot 3D Ecosystem at Events in Buenos Aires and Lima

BROOKLYN, N.Y. & BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — (BUSINESS WIRE) — April 21, 2015 — MakerBot, a global leader in the desktop 3D printing industry, is expanding its international footprint by adding Distecna as its first distributor of MakerBot® 3D printing and scanning products in Argentina, Paraguay and Perú. Distecna has a strong local presence in South America as well as deep expertise in the vertical markets that MakerBot considers crucial for the adoption of 3D printing technology - education, engineering and design. According to the global research firm Canalys, the 3D printing market in Argentina holds especially strong potential and is predicted to be the second largest market for 3D printing in South America in the next five years.

Distecna will represent MakerBot in Argentina, Perú and Paraguay, covering channel sales, technical customer support, marketing and reseller training. To introduce MakerBot 3D printing and scanning products to resellers and the press, Distecna is hosting MakerBot 3D Ecosystem Showcases throughout the month of April, with presentations, product demos and networking opportunities in Buenos Aires, Argentina (April 21) and Lima, Perú (April 23). Resellers and press interested in attending these MakerBot 3D printing showcases should contact Diego Herrera at dherrera@distecna.com.

“We believe that Distecna will help expand MakerBot’s business in South America with a strong local presence and logistics capabilities across borders,” noted Mark Schulze, general manager of the Americas and Emerging Markets for MakerBot. “Distecna has 20+ years of experience in the technology sector, a network of more than 1,500 active resellers throughout Argentina, Perú and Paraguay, and close connections to the education, design and engineering vertical markets that align with MakerBot’s core customers. Distecna is exactly the kind of partner we are looking for to help us make further headway into these new markets.”

Juan José Noguera, CEO of Distecna stated, “The desktop 3D printing category has grown tremendously over the last several years and MakerBot has been the driving force. We’re thrilled to partner with MakerBot, the market leader, to grow the 3D printing market in South America by offering our resellers a comprehensive product portfolio. MakerBot differentiates itself with the MakerBot 3D Ecosystem, which makes 3D printing accessible and caters to professional and educational users. Our resellers and the market will be excited about this new and innovative product portfolio.”

Distecna will distribute MakerBot Replicator® 3D Printers, which include the MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printer, the MakerBot Replicator Mini Compact 3D Printer, the MakerBot Replicator Z18 3D Printer and the MakerBot Replicator 2X Experimental 3D Printer. In addition, Distecna will offer the MakerBot Digitizer™ Desktop 3D Scanner, MakerBot PLA and ABS Filaments, MakerBot 3D printing accessories and will provide localized product training and customer support.

MakerBot customers in South America include engineers, designers and educators, who use MakerBot Replicator 3D Printers to create unique 3D designs and for Real-Time Prototyping™. Nadir Gordon, a student at Universidad de Palermo in Buenos Aires, recently made headlines for her innovative 3D-printed swimsuit that she designed and 3D printed on a MakerBot Desktop 3D Printer with 3D printing expert Jonathan Guerra. She sees 3D printing as an opportunity to think about fashion in new and innovative ways and gain hands-on experience that will jumpstart her career after graduating. Gordon noted that the swimsuit is a reference to the motion of waves as they crash against the sea’s surface and that it would’ve been impossible for her to produce this innovative, 3D-printed design with traditional methods for creating garments.

MakerBot is a global leader in the desktop 3D printing industry and was one of the first companies to make 3D printing accessible and affordable. MakerBot now has the largest installed base and market share of the desktop 3D printing industry, with more than 80,000 MakerBot Desktop 3D Printers in the world and a robust MakerBot 3D Ecosystem that combines hardware, software, apps like MakerBot PrintShop™ and MakerBot Mobile, materials and Thingiverse, the world’s largest online community for 3D printing, in order to make 3D printing easy and accessible for everyone.

About MakerBot

MakerBot, a subsidiary of Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq: SSYS), is leading the Next Industrial Revolution by setting the standards in reliable and affordable desktop 3D printing. Founded in 2009, MakerBot sells desktop 3D printers to innovative and industry-leading customers worldwide, including engineers, architects, designers, educators and consumers. To learn more about MakerBot, visit makerbot.com.

About Distecna

Distecna is a leading technology distributor in South America. With over 20 years of experience, branches in 4 countries and over 4,000 resellers, Distecna connects society with the most innovative technologies. For more information, visit us at  www.distecna.com.

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The statements in this press release relating to Stratasys’ expectations of the benefits that it will receive from its partnership with Distecna are forward-looking statements reflecting management’s current expectations and beliefs. These forward-looking statements are based on current information that is, by its nature, subject to rapid and even abrupt change. Due to risks and uncertainties associated with Stratasys' business, actual results could differ materially from those projected or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the risk that the benefits that Stratasys expects from the partnership will not materialize, or could be less than Stratasys currently expects, due to technical or other unforeseen reasons and other risk factors more fully explained under the caption “Risk Factors” in Stratasys’ most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 3, 2015. Stratasys is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any obligation) to update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by the rules and regulations of the SEC.

MakerBot
Johan-Till Broer, +1-347-238-2409 (o)
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or
Distecna
Diego Herrera, +1-312-282-9368 (m)
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