11 June 2025

Global 3D printing leader UltiMaker has unveiled the UltiMaker S6, the latest and most advanced addition to its professional desktop portfolio. In an exclusive interview with MoveTheNeedle.news, Andy Middleton, SVP EMEA & Global Marketing, and a seasoned expert in additive manufacturing, explains how the S6 fits into UltiMaker’s vision for sector-focused innovation, accessibility, and future-readiness.

“This launch is about delivering exceptional value to customers at a time when businesses are under pressure to do more with less,” Middleton says. “With the S6, UltiMaker reaffirms its mission to make professional 3D printing more accessible, adaptable, and future-ready than ever before.”

A Trusted Name with a Renewed Mission

Middleton joined UltiMaker in March 2025, bringing nearly two decades of experience from industry heavyweights like Stratasys, HP, and XJet. He arrived at a pivotal time, three years after UltiMaker’s merger with desktop 3D printing pioneer MakerBot, uniting two iconic brands under one banner.

“I’ve followed UltiMaker’s journey for a long time. It’s a trusted brand with deep roots in desktop 3D printing,” Middleton says. “But the industry is still evolving— as a valid alternative to conventional manufacturing, additive manufacturing is not quite there yet. That means big opportunities ahead, and UltiMaker is positioned to lead.”

Why the S6 Stands Out

The new UltiMaker S6 is a leap forward particularly in terms of speed and productivity gains, while building on the best qualities of the S5. The latter enjoys an iconic status particularly owing to its reliability, according to Middleton. “It’s virtually unbreakable.” Over 40,000 units of the S5 have been shipped to date. Compared to the S5, the S6 notably delivers up to 4x faster printing speeds, thanks to the new Cheetah motion planner, while maintaining UltiMaker’s hallmark ease of use.

Other standout features include:

• Travel speeds up to 500 mm/s and 50,000 mm/s² acceleration
• Fully backward-compatible with S5 hardware and ecosystem
• Support for over 300 materials, thanks to UltiMaker’s open material system
• Cloud-based remote printing and slicing via Cura Cloud and Digital Factory
• Made in the Netherlands, with European engineering and in-house production

It’s also the first UltiMaker model to come with a two-year warranty—double the industry standard—reflecting the company’s confidence in the S6’s durability and performance.

Targeting Key Sectors: Education, Manufacturing, Defense

Traditionally strong among small businesses, designers, and educators, UltiMaker is now sharpening its focus on three sectors where its offering is particularly compelling: education, manufacturing, and defense.

“We don’t want to be a jack of all trades,” Middleton says. “We’re looking to serve specific sectors with tailored solutions—sectors where we have a particularly good value proposition.”

In defense, where logistics and operational resilience are crucial, 3D printing plays an increasingly strategic role. From printing spare parts in the field to supporting maintenance workflows, the S6 offers military teams a mobile, fast, and intuitive solution—no advanced expertise required.

Similarly, in education, the shallow learning curve and familiar interface make the S6 ideal for classrooms and universities looking to teach advanced manufacturing skills without overwhelming new users.

Security-First Variant Coming Soon

Acknowledging the needs of customers with strict data security requirements, UltiMaker is also preparing to launch a secure S6 model—stripped of Wi-Fi and cameras and hardened with upgraded hardware for environments where IP protection and digital isolation are mission-critical.

The Future of 3D Printing—and UltiMaker’s Role

As the 3D printing market matures, the focus is shifting from the novelty of additive manufacturing to its strategic integration into production. “We believe ease of use will be the biggest driver of adoption,” says Middleton. “That’s why we invest heavily in education and support an open material platform. We want to empower users to innovate, not restrict them.”

UltiMaker’s vertically integrated ecosystem—comprising hardware, materials, software, and cloud services—is designed to help teams go from idea to part quickly and affordably. With the S6, the company takes a bold step forward while staying true to the values that made its earlier models so successful.

More about the UltiMaker S6
Discover the full specs and details of the new S6: https://ultimaker.com/3d-printers/s-series/ultimaker-s6/