Will work jointly with MHI and IISC, Bangalore to create India’s first SLS 3D printer, backed by a grant of Rs 8.5 cr
Bangalore, November 2024:: Fracktal Works, one of India’s first homegrown 3D Printing company has received seed funding of an undisclosed amount from Mr. Mohandas Pai; Aarin Capital and Dr Ranjan Pai, MEMG (Manipal Education and Medical Group) Family Office LLP.
With this investment, Fracktal Works jointly with the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) will fund the development of India’s first Indigenous Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D Printer in partnership with the Society of Innovation and Development (SID) of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, with a Grant of 8.5 Cr under the Scheme for Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Indian Capital Goods Sector Phase II.
In addition, C.N. Raghupathi, Director, MILES (Manipal Centre for Innovation Leadership and Entrepreneurship) has come on board as Chairman for Fracktal Works. The company will leverage his decades of sales experience and lean on his guidance to scale the company and bring focus on expansion and go to market strategy.
Fracktal Works founded by Vijay Varada, while a student at Manipal Institute of Technology in 2013, creating his first 3D Printer in his dormitory room and subsequently incubating his company in Manipal Universal Technology Business Incubator (MUTBI). Fracktal Works is a 3D Printer OEM and provides end to end service and consulting leveraging its expertise in Additive Manufacturing. The company is focused on revolutionising prototyping and manufacturing of critical parts across Aerospace, Defense, Healthcare and Automobile and contributing to building a critical technology for the country.
Commenting on the investment, Vijay Varada, CEO & Founder of Fracktal Works, said, “For the past decade, Fracktal has been at the forefront of transforming manufacturing, design, and prototyping through advanced 3D printing technology. This investment is a powerful endorsement of our mission, and we are honoured to welcome such esteemed investors who are committed to building a progressive, technologically advanced, and truly ‘viksit’ Bharat.”
“With this investment and trust, we will focus on enabling next generation deep tech in manufacturing, development and adoption of this critical additive manufacturing technology across sectors of national importance”, Varada added.
Fracktal Works Chairman C.N. Raghupathi said, “Fracktal Works is operating in a field poised to revolutionise manufacturing by streamlining product development, testing and manufacturing. MEMG and Aarin Capital have joined forces to support Fracktal in advancing the adoption of this vital technology, which holds immense national significance for India’s present and future. I am genuinely excited to be part of this journey and witness the limitless potential of 3D printing technology unfold.”
“Dr Ranjan Pai, Chairman, Manipal Education and Medical Group said, “We have been passionate about fostering innovation that can drive meaningful change across industries, and Fracktal Works with their work in 3D printing exemplifies that vision. We are proud to support Fracktal in their mission to develop indigenous solutions that will enhance India’s competitive edge.”
With its newly developed 3D printing technology, Fracktal Works aims to revolutionise healthcare, defence, and industrial manufacturing by utilising advanced materials like PEEK, ULTEM and carbon fibre composites. The company will focus on personalised medical devices, including PEEK implants for orthopaedics and dental use, while enhancing lightweight, high-performance components for defence applications, such as drones and military systems using carbon fibre composites. In the industrial sector, Fracktal plans to replace metal parts with high-strength thermoplastics for aerospace, automotive, and manufacturing, improving efficiency and durability.
Timeline: Fracktal Works
Fracktal Works designs, develops and manufactures an array of 3D printers catering to personal and industrial needs, Fracktal empowers customers in Medicine, Automotive, Aerospace, Architecture, Education, and more.
– 2013: Launched the first commercial 3D printer, Julia, on MIT Manipal campus
– 2015: Established Fracktal in Bangalore and introduced Julia+
– 2017: Released Julia Pro range of large-format printers
– 2019: Unveiled Volterra 400, capable of printing high-performance polymers
-2020 : Channelled 3D printing technology for medical equipment and produced masks, gloves and PPE suits for front line workers during the pandemic
– 2022: Introduced Snowflake, an affordable and easy-to-use printer
– 2024: Introduced the TwinDragon series of 3D printers, pushing the limits of speed, throughput, and reliability for volume manufacturing applications
About Fracktal Works:
Founded in 2013, Fracktal Works is a 3D Printer OEM and provides end to end service and consulting leveraging its expertise in Additive Manufacturing. The company is focused on revolutionising prototyping and manufacturing of critical parts across Aerospace, Defense, Healthcare and Automobile and contributing to building a critical technology for the country.
Profile:: Vijay Varada, Founder CEO, Fracktal Works
Vijay Varada is a mechatronics engineer by choice and an entrepreneur by chance, he founded Fracktal Works at 19 years old. Blending creative problem-solving, technology, and innovation, Vijay seamlessly brings together science, design, and engineering, delivering unique products and solutions. Beyond the corporate world, he actively contributes to open-source hardware projects, particularly assistive technologies for the visually impaired and renewable energy solutions.
Fueling his adventurous spirit, Vijay embarked on an expedition to Antarctica alongside the renowned polar explorer, Robert Swan. Together, they showcased the might of open-source hardware through a groundbreaking 3D Printable Wind Turbine.
He was also a winner of the prestigious Hackday Prize in Open Source Hardware 2017, 2018 and 2023. Vijay is an accomplished author and TEDx speaker. His books, published in multiple languages, aim to further the cause of innovative engineering.
