GE’s Failed 2016 3D Printing Acquisitions
In 2016, General Electric (GE) made a bold move to transform the additive manufacturing landscape by announcing plans to acquire two major 3D metal printing companies: Sweden’s Arcam AB and Germany’s SLM Solutions , for a combined $1.4 billion. The strategic vision was to integrate cutting-edge metal 3D printing into GE’s manufacturing capabilities, particularly for aerospace.
However, GE's acquisition plans hit a wall when hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer , through Elliott Management , stepped in. He owned substantial stakes in both companies — over 20% of SLM Solutions and over 10% of Arcam — and blocked the deals, arguing they were not favorable to shareholders. Singer’s tactic of pushing share prices beyond GE’s offer led GE to walk away from SLM Solutions , and nearly miss out on Arcam.
In a surprise counter, GE acquired Concept Laser , another German metal 3D printer company, and ultimately succeeded in acquiring Arcam by slightly raising its offer and lowering the threshold for majority ownership. These assets became the foundation of GE Additive , which later evolved into Colibrium Additive under GE Aerospace in 2024 after GE’s corporate split.
After losing GE’s bid, SLM Solutions entered a turbulent period. The company saw leadership changes , financial troubles , and even intervention from Singer’s own fund to keep it afloat. But a new strategy under CEO Sam O’Leary shifted the focus to large-format metal 3D printing , reviving the company’s standing in the industry with its NXG series .
In 2022, Nikon Corporation stepped in to acquire SLM Solutions for €622 million. The deal closed in 2023, forming Nikon SLM Solutions , with O’Leary staying on as CEO. The company has since grown steadily, posting strong sales and innovation momentum.
