Strategic Investment in AI-Driven Manufacturing

The Lleida-based industrial group Ingroup has launched the first factory in Catalonia dedicated to the full-cycle production of 3D printers with integrated artificial intelligence (AI), investing over €2 million in the project. The facility, unveiled on Wednesday 14 October 2026, consolidates 18 to 24 months of development and includes the acquisition of assets from Barcelona-based tech firm BCN3D, according to reporting by ACN and Via Empresa. Joan Folguera, CEO of Ingroup, stated the technology places the company at the forefront of European innovation, as the only manufacturer to embed AI natively within the printer hardware and software. This allows users to design complex 3D models using voice commands alone, eliminating the need for prior expertise in computer-aided design.

It’s a pioneering development in Europe, reducing friction between idea and object like an autonomous vending machine.

Folguera described the system as operating like “an autonomous vending machine”, where the machine processes spoken instructions, generates a digital model, and then fabricates the physical object without human intervention. Around 20 companies are currently testing proof-of-concept units ahead of the official launch.

Production Capacity and Market Focus

Francesc Adell, plant manager at Ingroup, outlined production figures: the factory can produce 30 to 35 small-format units per month, priced between €3,500 and €4,000, and 8 to 10 large-format Omega models monthly, each valued at €22,000. The primary market includes industrial process sectors and product engineering departments focused on rapid prototyping. Key applications include:

  • Reducing lead times for critical components
  • Minimising industrial warehouse stock via on-demand spare part production
  • Manufacturing internal tools such as assembly jigs or positioning fixtures
  • Using technical materials resistant to wear, flexible components, or magnetodetectable plastics
  • Supporting cultural heritage and creative design fields through art model reproduction

The Lleida plant is now the only active 3D printer production facility in Catalonia and the second in Spain, alongside a facility near Jaén in Andalusia. Although Ingroup has operated in additive manufacturing since 2015 as a software developer and distributor, this marks its first full integration as a manufacturer of hardware, software, and firmware.

International Launch Planned

The technology will be officially presented at Formnext in Frankfurt, Germany, during November 2026, a major international trade fair for additive manufacturing. The move positions Ingroup as a key player in Europe’s advanced manufacturing sector, with potential implications for local job creation and supply chain resilience in Catalonia.

Reported by viaempresa.cat, ACN, agrolab.cat, elnacional.cat, lavanguardia.com, Carlos S, ground.news.