Welsh 3D printing firm Lunia 3D celebrates five years in business with major investment in cutting-edge technology, positioning the Cardiff-based company for its next phase of expansion.
Founded in 2020 by childhood friends Ken Pearce and Yousef Ahmed, Lunia 3D has grown from a single garden-shed printer to an established 3D printing facility based in Cardiff – and has just installed its most advanced machine to date: a Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) printer.
The new MJF printer allows Lunia 3D to offer faster, higher-volume batch production using powder-based technology. Unlike traditional resin or filament printers, MJF enables production of engineering-grade parts ready for end use – a capability the team has aimed for since day one.
Ken Pearce, co-founder of Lunia 3D, said: “This is a huge milestone for us. We’ve always known Multi Jet Fusion would be a game-changer – not just for the kind of projects we can take on, but for the speed, efficiency and quality we can deliver. The fact that we’ve reached the point where we can invest in this through our own profits is a proud moment. It shows the business is working.”
The British Business Bank played a key role in Lunia 3D’s early success, supporting the company with two Start Up Loans totalling £14,000. This initial funding helped the founders purchase their first commercial-grade printers, laying the foundation for their now-established business. Ken and Yousef were also appointed as Ambassadors for the Bank’s Start Up Loans programme, which has distributed over £50 million to Welsh start-ups since 2012.
Until now, Lunia 3D had been outsourcing MJF work to a production partner to fulfil demand. With increasing orders and a growing B2B client base – particularly in the product design and engineering sectors – the business is now bringing that production in-house, unlocking greater scalability and improving workflow.
To support this move, Lunia 3D has also launched a new instant quote and ordering system. Customers can now upload their 3D models directly through the company’s website and receive an immediate quote, cutting out time-consuming back-and-forth and streamlining production.
“We’ve seen a real shift towards batch production,” added co-founder Yousef Ahmed. “Engineering firms in particular don’t want long waits or high minimum orders. With the new tech and instant quoting, we’re targeting those who want quick turnaround and no middleman – just precision parts, fast.”
The new equipment and software follow several standout projects, including the company’s first major breakthrough: a full-size 3D-printed autonomous car prototype, created for a UK-based self-driving software company. The car shell was designed from scratch to avoid copyright issues and replaced what would have been a costly, time-consuming fibreglass process.
Now with a team of four and a growing list of national clients, including British Airways and Atkins, Lunia 3D is focused on establishing itself as a trusted B2B partner for engineering-ready printing.
Louise McCoy, Managing Director, Start Up Loans Products, British Business Bank: “Lunia 3D is a brilliant example of a Welsh start-up that’s taken a clear vision, strong technical skills, and smart use of funding to build a business with real commercial momentum. Their move into Multi Jet Fusion shows they’re serious about scaling sustainably, and it’s exciting to see their next chapter begin to take shape – and it all started with the financial support of Start Up Loans.”
