UltiMaker Doubles Speed in Industrial 3D Printing

UltiMaker has unveiled the Factor 4 Plus, a new version of its industrial desktop 3D printing platform that operates at up to twice the speed of the standard Factor 4 model. The platform is aimed at manufacturing companies and defense organizations that want to use additive manufacturing on a permanent basis and close to production, and is designed to offer a level of performance that was previously reserved for significantly more expensive industrial systems.

The focus is on continuous use in production-ready applications, such as custom fixtures and clamping devices, or durable replacement parts made from robust materials like heat- and chemical-resistant PPS-CF. The printing process is supported by UltiMaker Trace (Technical Reporting And Certification Engine), which automatically validates every print to ensure consistent component quality for end-use applications.

Arjen Dirks, CTO of UltiMaker, cites customer discussions in which, in addition to print speed, verifying part quality is cited as the primary challenge. Trace was developed as a direct response to this feedback; hardware-based collection of validation data provides customers with the assurance and traceability necessary for scaling additive manufacturing into real production environments. Andy Middleton, SVP EMEA and Global Marketing at UltiMaker, positions the Factor 4 Plus as a targeted response to market demands and emphasizes that it is about speed, traceability, robustness, and cost-effectiveness—not merely a portfolio expansion.

Factor 4 Plus © UltiMaker

The platform has been further reinforced for use in the defense sector. A more robust gantry architecture is designed to operate reliably even under harsh conditions or at remote locations and to absorb vibrations even at high printing speeds, ensuring that precision and component quality are maintained even during continuous operation. In this context, Trace performs a similar function to that in industrial manufacturing: The continuous recording of printing parameters such as extrusion behavior and chamber temperature generates a CAD validation report that can be evaluated immediately, designed to accelerate component approval and support their operational readiness in the field. The system’s straightforward, standalone installation with minimal training requirements also makes it suitable for short-term deployments in forward operating areas or temporary field locations.

The Factor 4 Plus achieves its speed advantage over the standard model thanks to the newly developed Cheetah Motion Planner, which is designed to reduce abrupt changes in motion and the associated vibrations, enabling higher print speeds with improved dimensional accuracy. Added to this is compatibility with the new AA+ and CC+ high-flow print cores, which are designed to deliver significant performance gains with materials such as PLA, ABS, and PPS-CF.

With the Factor 4 Plus, UltiMaker is positioning itself as a provider that aims to combine print speed, durability, and traceable production quality at a lower price point than other industrial 3D printing systems—for both traditional manufacturing facilities and defense applications.