Meituan Enters the 3D Printing Arena — Leads Series B Investment in Multi-Color Four-Extruder Desktop Printer Maker Snapmaker

Panda3dp.com’s Introduction:In a surprising move, China’s local services giant Meituan has officially stepped into the 3D printing field. The company, known for its strategic investments in tech ventures such as Unitree Robotics (humanoid robots) and Aiper Innovation (pool-cleaning robots), has now invested in the fast-rising 3D printing manufacturer Snapmaker (Kuizao Technology).

On October 30, 2025, Panda3dp.com learned that Snapmaker, the intelligent multi-color desktop 3D printer company that raised approximately 150 million RMB through an overseas crowdfunding campaign, has completed its Series B funding round, led by Meituan and Hillhouse Capital — marking Meituan’s official entry into the 3D printing sector.

Snapmaker’s Rise: A Crowdfunding Legend

This year, Snapmaker has become one of the hottest names in the 3D printing industry. Its latest U1 3D printer broke records on Kickstarter, raising US$20,577,877 (≈ RMB 147 million) from 20,643 backers worldwide — the highest amount ever raised by a 3D printer on the platform. The achievement catapulted Snapmaker into the spotlight, drawing three consecutive waves of investment from major venture firms in 2025.

Recently, Panda3dp.com visited Snapmaker’s production workshop to witness the U1 multi-color printer’s automatic toolhead switching in action and to evaluate material efficiency during multi-color printing. At the 2025 TCT Shenzhen Exhibition, Panda3dp.com also interviewed Snapmaker engineers to gain insight into the U1’s key innovations and technical breakthroughs.

Core Breakthrough: Independent Quad-Extruder System Tackling Efficiency and Waste

The Snapmaker U1’s primary advantage lies in its proprietary SnapSwap Toolhead System. Unlike traditional single-nozzle color-switching printers, the U1 features four fully independent print heads, each capable of loading different colors or materials simultaneously. This design eliminates the time and material waste typically caused by color purging during filament changes.

· Speed Revolution: With a base print speed of 500 mm/s and no downtime for color switching, multi-color printing efficiency increases by 4–5 times compared with traditional systems.

· Material Versatility: The U1 can print challenging materials like TPU and PP, and even combine soft and rigid materials in one model — for example, printing an integrated shoe with a firm sole and flexible upper in a single process.

· Instant Toolhead Swap: The live demonstration showed that swapping toolheads takes only five seconds, showcasing the smooth, plug-and-play functionality that impressed onlookers with its engineering elegance.

Remarkably, this sophisticated system was developed in just two years. Snapmaker’s engineers shared that extensive testing refined the toolhead mechanism to achieve extremely low clogging rates. Even in early user and KOL test units, no widespread clogging issues were reported. Should a blockage occur, the nozzle module — priced at US$15–18 — can be easily replaced without professional tools. Each module’s durability has been verified through over one million switch cycles without failure.

Smart Design: Modular Drying and Intelligent Filament Recognition

Beyond its multi-extruder system, the Snapmaker U1 also showcases an industrial-grade approach to usability and material management.

· Filament Drying and Storage: The printer supports four spools simultaneously, paired with the SnapDryer, a co-branded modular drying system developed with Polymaker. The SnapDryer allows “printing while drying,” using four independent compartments to maintain optimal filament conditions — preventing moisture-related failures.

· Intelligent Filament ID: Equipped with an RFID recognition system, the printer automatically detects material type and color when using Snapmaker’s original filaments. Third-party materials can also be configured manually through the touchscreen interface, enhancing compatibility.

· Visual Operation: An onboard camera enables real-time monitoring and time-lapse recording, while the touchscreen interface provides intuitive control for print settings and color adjustments — lowering the learning curve for users.

Real-World Testing: Low Waste, Visible Layer Lines

During live demonstrations at the exhibition, the U1 printed multi-color TPU models that revealed two notable takeaways:

1. Significantly Reduced Material Waste: Traditional single-nozzle color systems consume large amounts of filament for purging between color changes. The U1, through its independent nozzles and an adjustable purge tower, cuts waste to just one-fifth of conventional systems.

2. Promising Multi-Material Applications: The displayed multi-color TPU shoe sample exhibited smooth surface finish, excellent elasticity, and firm structural support. Snapmaker hinted at expanding into hybrid material products, such as multi-color appliance components and customized toys.

However, it’s worth noting that the printed samples still displayed noticeable layer lines. Engineers explained that this issue partly stems from model design and is currently being addressed through ongoing software optimization and parameter tuning.

△ Snapmaker U1 prototype photographed by Panda3dp.com at the 2025 TCT Shenzhen Exhibition