New York / Zaltbommel, Netherlands. UltiMaker, a global leader in industrial desktop 3D printing, on May 21 launched the Factor 4 Plus, an industrial-grade platform offering up to twice the speed of the standard Factor 4. It delivers robust, high-performance printing – typically associated with more expensive industrial systems – for continuous factory production in the manufacturing and defence sectors.
Industrial‑Ready Platform Built for Continuous Production
Built to support a wide range of production‑grade applications, the Factor 4 Plus delivers manufacturing aids including custom jigs and fixtures, and durable spare parts using high‑performance materials, such as PPS-CF high-heat and chemical-resistant composites. Meanwhile, UltiMaker TRACE (Technical Reporting And Certification Engine) automatically validates every print, ensuring the quality‑assurance standards of end‑use production are consistently met. Collectively, these capabilities give manufacturers a flexible, dependable way to produce the tools, components, and replacements they need to keep operations running smoothly.
“When I talk directly with our customers, one message comes through consistently: speed is great, but proving the quality of the part is the real challenge,” says Arjen Dirks, UltiMaker CTO. “TRACE was built directly in response to that feedback and I’ve seen firsthand what an incredible improvement it makes. Pulling validation data straight from the hardware gives customers the confidence and traceability they need to scale additive manufacturing into true production environments.”
“The Factor 4 Plus reflects UltiMaker’s focus on solving the real production challenges facing manufacturers and defence teams today,” says Andy Middleton, SVP EMEA and Global Marketing at UltiMaker. “This is not about adding another machine to the portfolio. It is about listening closely to the market and delivering the speed, traceability, resilience, and affordability customers need to scale additive manufacturing in demanding, real-world environments.”
Adapted for Field and Defence Requirements
Strengthened for the practical demands of defence use, the Factor 4 Plus operates reliably in harsh or remote environments, thanks to the improved ruggedised architecture of the new gantry system, which absorbs vibration at high print speeds. This redesign maintains precision even when throughput is pushed to its limits, ensuring consistent quality during round‑the‑clock operation.
Where TRACE supports quality assurance in manufacturing, in defence it provides the operational confidence needed to deploy parts quickly in the field. By continuously recording key print parameters, including extrusion behaviour and chamber temperatures, TRACE creates a CAD-validation report that can be reviewed immediately to support fast deployment and ensure components meet mission‑ready standards. The system also offers a self‑contained, easy setup that requires minimal training, making it suitable for rapid use in forward operations or temporary field sites.
High‑Speed Performance for Modern Production
The Factor 4 Plus achieves a substantial speed boost over the standard Factor 4 through its advanced Cheetah motion planner, which, unlike conventional motion planners, removes abrupt changes that cause vibrations, enabling faster production with superior dimensional accuracy. It is also fully compatible with new AA+ and CC+ high-flow print cores. This combination enables significant performance improvements across a range of materials, including PLA, ABS, and high-performance PPS-CF.
With these combined advancements, the Factor 4 Plus extends UltiMaker’s commitment to delivering practical, scalable additive manufacturing solutions for both industry and defence while remaining significantly more cost‑efficient than other industrial 3D printing platforms. By uniting high‑speed performance, field‑ready durability, and traceable, production‑grade output, it offers manufacturers and defence operators a reliable platform capable of keeping pace with modern production demands.
