Engineering and manufacturing firms often struggle to locate reliable, capacity‑rich metal‑fabrication partners quickly, leading to lengthy procurement cycles, under‑utilised equipment, and higher costs. The market is fragmented, with many manufacturers lacking a unified digital channel for receiving and quoting CAD‑driven orders.

Fractory operates a cloud‑based manufacturing marketplace that automates the end‑to‑end procurement workflow for metal parts. Users upload 3D CAD files or DXF drawings, receive instant, algorithm‑generated quotes, and can select from a vetted network of CNC, laser‑cutting, bending, casting and finishing providers across Europe. The platform manages order routing, quality assurance, logistics and payment, while offering dedicated project‑engineer support to guide design‑for‑manufacturability and ensure on‑time delivery. By aggregating demand, Fractory leverages collective buying power to secure competitive pricing and reduces idle capacity in the supply chain.

Instant online quoting for laser cutting, tube laser cutting, plasma, flame, waterjet, metal punching, bending, CNC milling, turning and machining based on uploaded CAD files (STP, SLDPRT, IPT) or DXF drawings

Automated order management workflow that routes jobs to the most suitable vetted manufacturers, with real‑time supplier availability data

Integrated project‑engineer assistance for DFM advice, quality checks and logistics coordination

Support for a wide material portfolio (structural steel, stainless steel, aluminium, etc.) and finishing options such as welding, heat treatment, coating and assembly

Collective buying power model that aggregates demand across customers to negotiate better rates

Expansion into industrial 3D printing, additive manufacturing and metal casting services

Sustainability focus through optimized capacity utilisation and carbon‑emission reduction initiatives

Fractory serves engineering businesses, from sole traders and SMEs to large multinational manufacturers, that require on‑demand metal fabrication for prototyping, low‑volume projects or series production across sectors such as construction, heavy machinery, automotive, aerospace, energy and robotics.

Since its 2017 launch, Fractory has worked with over 24,000 customers and hundreds of manufacturers, delivering more than 2.5 million metal parts. Revenue grew by 400 % during the COVID‑19 pandemic, with annual income rising from under €0.25 M to over €6 M by 2021. The company was ranked 32nd in the Financial Times list of Europe’s 1,000 fastest‑growing firms and was named the fastest‑growing UK manufacturing firm in 2023.