As COVID-19 forces companies to consider diversifying and distributing their supply chain, 3D Hubs opens new warehouses to provide engineers with truly risk-free access to overseas manufacturing; eliminating customs delays and ensuring quality across its global network of manufacturing facilities.

Amsterdam, September 22nd, 2020 - In an industry first, online manufacturing platform 3D Hubs today announced it has completely de-risked overseas manufacturing by opening warehouses in Chicago and Amsterdam to manage customs clearance and additional quality inspections.

Over the last 20 years, the appeal for engineering businesses to outsource their production overseas has shot up. China's global manufacturing output increased by 11 percent in the space of ten years.¹ India's manufacturing economy is anticipated to be worth USD 1 trillion by 2025.² This growth is due, in part, to the cost competitiveness these countries can offer, but also the manufacturing expertise they have developed over the past decades. Supply chain disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic have only accelerated this trend as companies seek to spread risk and build a resilient supply chain.³

However, outsourcing overseas has traditionally posed several risks and challenges, including finding dependable suppliers, effectively vetting their quality standards, and managing communications across time zones and languages. In addition to eliminating these challenges, which oftentimes would fall to engineers and disrupt their workflow, 3D Hubs is the first online manufacturing platform to successfully remove two of the biggest challenges related to overseas production: preventing customs delays and ensuring the quality of every delivered part.

This has been made possible through the opening of two new 3D Hubs warehouses, based in Amsterdam and Chicago. These locations will handle all customs clearance, as well as hosting a quality control center to review all parts and ensure they are to specification before reaching the customer on time.


Bram de Zwart, CEO and Co-founder at 3D Hubs, said:

"For a long time, companies have sought to outsource their manufacturing overseas, but this has come with the risk of customs delays and inconsistent quality.

"This year we decided to solve this industry challenge once and for all. By opening these new warehouses, 3D Hubs grants engineers and supply chain managers truly reliable access to overseas manufacturing."



¹ China and the world: Inside the dynamics of a changing relationship. McKinsey & Company, July 2019.
² India Manufacturing Barometer 2019. PwC, January 2019.
³ Supply Chain Resilience Report. 3D Hubs, July 29, 2020.


About 3D Hubs

3D Hubs is an online manufacturing platform that provides engineers with on-demand access to a global network of manufacturing partners. Users can easily upload their design, instantly receive a quote, and start production at the click of a button.

Founded in Amsterdam in 2013, 3D Hubs has raised over US$30 million and produced more than 4 million parts, using various manufacturing technologies, including CNC machining, 3D printing, injection molding and sheet metal fabrication.