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Dylan Oliver, general manager of Fathom’s new Seattle 3D-printing production center.

Fathom, one of the nation’s top 3D printing companies, has had a sales office in Seattle for the past five years. But to meet demand and better serve its customer base in the Northwest, Fathom recently opened up a brand new studio complete with a 3D printing production center in the Fremont neighborhood.

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Joseph Drust designed this “Fish Girl,” which was produced at Fathom’s Seattle studio.

This is the first time Fathom, originally founded under the name Kemeera, has expanded outside of its home base in Oakland, Calif. At its Seattle studio, the company sells high-end Stratasys 3D printers and produces prototypes for a variety of companies both big and small. It also acts as a design, repair and troubleshooting shop.

Dylan Oliver, general manager of the office, said demand in the Seattle area had grown so much that it was time to have a presence in the city.

“It got to a point where we needed to have a place where people could come see the printers in Seattle,” he said. “That process adds a lot more value and credibility.”

Having an actual printing facility in the Emerald City also helps Fathom when it comes to producing actual prototypes for companies.

“The Northwest customer base in general just wants the local thing, and to them it makes a big difference,” Oliver said.

Fathom makes 3D printed prototypes for all sorts of industries, from medical device to electronics to arts and entertainment. Due to the confidential nature of the products being printed, its Seattle office — located at the corner of Stone Way and N 43rd Street — is always locked and passer-bys cannot see through the windows. Oliver added that many customers prefer to have prototypes printed locally rather than overseas due to lead time and intellectual property issues.

“Trust is a big thing for these companies,” he said.

Other 3D printing centers in the Seattle area include Makerhaus and Metrix. Check out more photos of Fathom’s studio below.

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