Max Lobovsky, the CEO and co-founder of Formlabs, raised concerns about the challenges his company faces due to ongoing global trade tensions, particularly between the United States and China, in an interview with WBZ-TV’s Logan Hall for CBS News.Formlabs headquarters in Somerville.Image courtesy of 3DPrint.com.
Manufacturing in China and Trade Tensions Formlabs builds its 3D printers in China, which has tied it closely to the changing trade relationship between the US and China.The imposition of tariffs and the uncertainty surrounding trade policies have created a challenging environment for businesses like Formlabs.A leading 3D printing business based in Somerville, Massachusetts, Formlabs was established in 2011 by three MIT Media Lab students: Lobovsky, David Cranor, and Natan Linder.
The company specializes in developing and manufacturing resin-based 3D printers, along with the software and materials needed to run them.Its products are widely used across various industries, including automotive, dental, and consumer electronics, serving clients like Apple and Tesla.During the interview, which aired on May 12, 2025, Lobovsky said, “It discourages long-term planning.
Long-term planning, long-term investment, that is what grows the economy for everybody.But we cannot do long-term planning right now because everything is changing constantly.” Formlabs Form 4 printers at work at Formlabs headquarters in Somerville.Image courtesy of 3DPrint.com.
Temporary Relief and Ongoing Concerns The White House recently negotiated with China to cut tariffs for 90 days.US tariffs on Chinese goods dropped from 145% to 30%, and China lowered its tariffs on American products from 125% to 10%.While this move offers short-term relief, Lobovsky is still cautious.
He explained that if tariffs go back up, their products could be much more expensive to make.That might push the company to move some of its manufacturing out of China.But how much of that will actually return to the US? To prepare for possible future tariff rises, Formlabs has started looking for ways to rely less on Chinese manufacturing.
One step in that direction is its new regional headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to support growth in the US industrial market.The 20,000-square-foot facility includes a print farm, showrooms, and space for over 100 employees.Additionally, Formlabs has been working on making more parts at its own facilities instead of outsourcing production.
In a LinkedIn post, Lobovsky said the company is moving some manufacturing back from China to places it can control directly.This helps reduce the risks tied to changing global trade rules.Innovation First Despite the challenges, Formlabs continues to innovate.
In March 2025, the company launched a much faster second-generation curing system and Tough 1500 Resin V2.The new resin is 10 times more resistant to breaking than the earlier version and now comes close to matching the strength and flexibility of injection-molded plastics like polypropylene.Lobovsky recently noted, “With our new Tough 1500 Resin, we have made a massive step change that brings us significantly closer to having 3D printed parts compete with injection molded parts in terms of toughness and longevity, but with much more design freedom and production flexibility.” The executive’s concerns reflect a bigger problem that many companies face: the difficulty of making long-term decisions when trade and political situations keep changing.
For Formlabs, which leads in 3D printing technology, the biggest challenge is not the technological or the competition, but the uncertainty around trade rules.Lobovsky says businesses need more stable and predictable trade policies to support long-term growth and innovation.Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter Stay up-to-date on all the latest news from the 3D printing industry and receive information and offers from third party vendors.
Print Services
Upload your 3D Models and get them printed quickly and efficiently.Powered by FacFox
Powered by 3D Systems
Powered by Craftcloud
Powered by Endeavor 3D
Powered by Xometry
3DPrinting Business Directory
3DPrinting Business Directory
