Fractory has announced they’ve raised further funding from SmartCap Green Fund to spur growth in the UK and Scandinavia. Fractory’s mission is to make the resource-intensive metal industry more efficient and, through that, more sustainable. Backed by the Estonian Government, the fund focuses on sustainable innovation and identified Fractory as a key player in the digital manufacturing sector.
The undisclosed round joins the previous round led by Kvanted, and will be used to further grow in existing markets whilst preparing for a larger Series B round. The investment will be used in part to grow the UK and Scandinavian teams, enabling Fractory to meet increasing business demands across Europe. Over a dozen engineering and commercial roles will be recruited to manage an increasing number of customer projects, growing the international team to over 90.
The funding will also be used to build supplier visibility and environmental impact of manufacturing and transportation into the platform. ‘‘The data is already there, we just have to make accessing it clear and simple.’’ says Martin Vares, Fractory’s CEO.
Martin Vares, CEO & Co-Founder, Fractory:
‘‘In Fractory’s case, sustainability and efficiency go hand in hand. Efficiency for us means making use of the existing capacity and capabilities the market has to offer—sustainability is a very welcome additional benefit.
We have a lot of data—both current and historic—that can aid our customers in their pursuit of meeting the EU’s climate regulations. Tracking the environmental impact of supply chains with precision is a challenge because getting reliable data is difficult. It’s not uncommon for companies to regularly use tens or even hundreds of manufacturers, further adding to the difficulty.
We’re well positioned to tackle this problem because the data we already process for all our orders enables us to also calculate an accurate environmental footprint—this is soon to become mandatory for businesses in the manufacturing industry.
We’re able to utilise this data, share it, and ultimately help companies decrease their environmental impact.’’
Sille Pettai, Fund Manager, SmartCap:
‘‘Fractory is emerging as a promising player in the digital manufacturing sector, leveraging its advanced platform to streamline metal fabrication services.
This investment is a crucial step in our strategy to support innovative startups that are driving efficiency and growth within the manufacturing industry. Fractory’s platform enhances machine utilisation rates in factories across their supplier network by up to 80% and decreases material waste.
By backing Fractory, we are endorsing their commitment to revolutionising production processes and enhancing supply chain dynamics.’’
SmartCap Green Fund is funded by the European Union’s NextGenerationEU. The fund is focused on investments in greentech companies operating in the fields of energy, agriculture, food, transport, logistics, materials, chemicals, and the environment.
Fractory’s Background
Fractory offers scalable manufacturing services for engineering businesses through their cloud-manufacturing platform and audited network of global manufacturing partners. Created to improve efficiency, accessibility, and quality in the manufacturing industry, Fractory provides instant access to metal manufacturing processes—including laser, sheet and tube cutting, and CNC machining.
Founded in 2017 by mechanical engineer-turned entrepreneur Martin Vares, Fractory has worked on projects ranging from prototypes to full production lines across rail, energy, defence, aerospace, marine, and machine building industries.
Fractory has over 70 members of staff spread across three offices: one in Manchester, one in Tallinn, and one in Tartu.
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