MakerBot Acquired by Stratasys, Ltd. (SSYS) for $403 Million

Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) may not have 3D printers, but it does have the software that is used by many who buy 3D printers. To ride this content-to-print wave, Autodesk must add more 3D print functionality to products like Maya and 3DS Max. The last thing that Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) wants is content creators getting too comfortable with the MakerBot and 3D Systems Corporation (NYSE:DDD)proprietary 3D-creation software packages. Autodesk has recently partnered with MakerBot and sees 3D printing as a potential boon for its software products. The company has tripled its San Francisco workforce to capitalize on the growing 3D print market. Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) senses that what laser printing did for Adobe, 3D printing has the potential to do for it.

To infinity and beyond

As content-to-print has gone from geeky tinkerers sourcing parts from eBay Inc (NASDAQ:EBAY) to consumers buying shiny new Cube 3D Printers at Staples, Wall Street and Main Street have taken notice and want in — in a big way. The content-to-print market is real. Might Formlabs get snapped up by 3D Systems? Who knows, but this space is hot, so look for more M&As in 2013. Right now there are no real “winners” or “losers” in the market, but Stratasys, Ltd. (NASDAQ:SSYS), 3D Systems Corporation (NYSE:DDD) and Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) currently have the inside track. Look for these firms to be aggressive in partnerships, acquisitions and product development as the content-to-print space grows.

John Moore has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends 3D Systems and Stratasys. The Motley Fool owns shares of 3D Systems and Stratasys, Ltd. (NASDAQ:SSYS) and has the following options: Short Jan 2014 $36 Calls on 3D Systems and Short Jan 2014 $20 Puts on 3D Systems Corporation (NYSE:DDD).

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