Xometry Keeps Consistent Work Flowing for i-SOLIDS Digital Manufacturing
Partnering with Xometry helps i-SOLIDS connect with the right customers for a steady stream of jobs, empowering the 3D printing business to grow 100% year over year.
| Manufacturing Services Offered | Specialty | Xometry Jobs Completed to Date | Xometry Revenue to Date |
|---|---|---|---|
Manufacturing Services Offered Desktop FDM Industrial FDM Multi-Jet Fusion (MJF) Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) Stereolithograpy (SLA) | Specialty 3D printing for manufacturing production, with a special focus on the oil and gas, energy, and automotive industries | Xometry Jobs Completed to Date 813 | Xometry Revenue to Date $368,516 |
Growing a business requires vision, strategy, and a reliable revenue stream. Kason Knight, owner and lead engineer of Texas-based i-SOLIDS, shares how partnering with Xometry has helped his business optimize capacity and solidify its position as a leader in production-grade 3D printing.
From Side Gig to Production Powerhouse
i-SOLIDS began with a personal curiosity. Knight spent the early part of his career in the oil and gas industry, but his interest in 3D printing technology soon grew into a side venture that he ran out of his home in Houston, Texas.
“I was fascinated by the 3D printing technology itself, and seeing how it was evolving from prototypes and widgets and gadgets to being production-capable. And so that was really our bread-and-butter foundation concept,” he said. “In 2015 we started with consumer grade printers, and one of them turned into two, turned into 10, and around 2018 is when I actually went full time.”
Today, i-SOLIDS specializes in industrial-grade 3D printing, including Multi-Jet Fusion (MJF), selective laser sintering (SLS), and fused deposition modeling (FDM). While engineering remains a valuable component of the business, the core focus has shifted to manufacturing. The business that Knight started in his children’s playroom with one machine has successfully grown to include a physical footprint of over 20,000 square feet and a team of more than 30 employees. “We've consistently grown around a hundred percent year over year … since we started in 2015,” Knight said. i-SOLIDS has also significantly expanded its post-production capabilities, including vapor treatment, polishing, coatings, and hardware installation, to offer comprehensive solutions to clients.
Partnering for Capacity and Consistency
As i-SOLIDS expanded, it required a significant investment in high-capacity machines, creating a need for consistent, high-volume work to maximize the equipment's capacity.
Switching from consumer-grade 3D printing machines to industrial-grade machines is like “jumping from a shovel to an excavator,” Knight said, adding that having the capacity to take on more jobs was, “nerve wracking, especially for a small business owner potentially taking on debt to have this equipment”
Becoming part of Xometry’s Manufacturing Network in 2020 gave i-SOLIDS the ability to connect with customers who were looking for its services. The partnership provided consistent job flow, and i-SOLIDS has brought in more than $360,000 in revenue from Xometry jobs. Xometry now accounts for about 25% of i-SOLIDS’ overall revenue, providing a healthy margin of stability. This consistent demand allowed i-SOLIDS to scale faster than they would have alone.
“Having a reliable source of revenue was a great opportunity,” Knight said.
Knight emphasized the value of repeat business. "I would much rather have recurring work over time that’s consistent from repeat customers that we can rely on," he says. This reliable, consistent stream of orders, rather than reliance on a single, massive project, has been key to i-SOLIDS’ stable growth and profitability.
The Value of Expertise and Strategic Job Selection
Xometry specializes in connecting manufacturers with jobs that perfectly match their expertise and capacity, a system that greatly benefits i-SOLIDS. The platform allows partners to select the projects to which they are best suited, ensuring high-quality output and efficient production.
"There are certain parts that we can infer or see that they’re similar to other parts that we’ve experienced," Knight said. This ability to choose jobs based on their specific knowledge — for example, projects related to oil and gas, energy, or automotive — allows i-SOLIDS to bring valuable insight to projects for Xometry customers and provide design recommendations to improve manufacturability.
Knight appreciates that Xometry’s case managers understand i-SOLIDS' capabilities and expectations, streamlining communication and efficiency.
"The truth is, one of the biggest challenges running a manufacturing business ... is constantly educating your clients on what the technology can do," Knight said. "When you work with Xometry … it just becomes more fluid and more efficient for us as a manufacturer."
i-SOLIDS views its role not just as a fabricator but as a solutions provider, committed to showcasing that additive manufacturing is a viable production technology. By leveraging the Xometry Partner Network, i-SOLIDS secures the optimal mix of work, allowing them to remain profitable while continuing to grow.
Join the Xometry Partner Network
Learn how tapping into Xometry’s platform can streamline your work and accelerate growth. For more information, reach out to partneronboarding@xometry.com or start your application at www.xometry.com/become-a-supplier/.
Header image credit: i-SOLIDS