3D printing company sets crazy world record

By Benjamin SnyderManaging Editor
Benjamin SnyderManaging Editor

Benjamin Snyder is Fortune's managing editor, leading operations for the newsroom.

Prior to rejoining Fortune, he was a managing editor at Business Insider and has worked as an editor for Bloomberg, LinkedIn and CNBC, covering leadership stories, sports business, careers and business news. He started his career as a breaking news reporter at Fortune in 2014.

Courtesy of Airwolf 3D

Airwolf 3D set a world record for running the most 3D printers at the same time, the company announced Thursday.

The 3D printer manufacturer had 159 of its machines working simultaneously at its California offices on Dec. 13, 2014, getting the company into the Guinness Book of World Records. The printers made over 200 prosthetic hands as part of a charity event.

“It was an amazing 24 hours of adrenaline and we were determined to make it happen, and so excited that we did it,” said Airwolf CEO Eva Wolf in a statement. “The best part is that we put our 3D printer farm to work for a good cause.”

The 3D printing industry is expected to grow to $16.2 billion by 2018, according to data from the research firm Canalys. The sector reportedly earned $2.5 billion around the world in 2013, increasing $3.8 billion last year.

Canalys said in December that 3D printer shipments rose 16% in the third quarter of 2014. In the U.S., 3D printer revenue grew 16%, making up 44% of the worldwide total.