As a 3-D printing investor, it's difficult to know which company is the best because it seems as if every 3-D printing company claims to be the best at something. Whether it's the best technology, the most materials offered, or something else, 3-D printing companies are constantly vying for the spotlight. To get the insider perspective, I turned to Rich Stump, principal of FATHOM, a highly experienced Stratasys (SSYS +3.24%) reseller and 3-D printing service center, which has been working with Stratasys products since 2008 and "wouldn't have it any other way."
Not surprisingly, Stratasys has the largest installed base of 3-D printers worldwide, a testament that its technology is well suited to serve the highly lucrative professional and industrial segments. Stratasys offers two major technologies and has one of the highest R&D budgets in the industry, allowing it to focus its product development efforts better than competitors with more technologies in their portfolio.
In the following video, 3-D printing analyst Steve Heller sits down with Rich Stump to get the inside scoop about why FATHOM chose Stratasys over its competitors. Going forward, Stratasys investors should continue to watch how the company allocates its resources around R&D spending to see how it translates to new product development and innovation.
