UltiMaker finally introduced the secure version of their flagship 3D printer.
I say “finally” because I actually saw this machine, or an early version of it, months ago at Rapid. The machine was quietly sitting at the back of UltiMaker’s stand, with only a single sign indicating what was going on. To the casual passerby, it would have appeared to be a normal S8 3D printer.
But it’s not.
UltiMaker described the main feature of the new S6 and S8 Secure:
“The S6 and S8 Secure are engineered for tactical manufacturing in the most sensitive environments. With strictly air-gapped operation, they ensure your data never leaves the room.”
How is that accomplished? They do this:
- USB-only workflows: Eliminate network-based threats.
- No Wi-Fi or cameras: Remove vectors for espionage or data theft.
- Factory-flashed, tamper-resistant firmware.
- Encrypted and auditable file handling.
- Hardware-sealed components for field integrity.
- No cloud dependencies or external attack surfaces.
They say the devices are TAA compliant, meaning they are suitable for sale to NATO countries.
The machines are essentially the same as the stock S6 and S8 devices, but they remove all networking and sensors that could be compromised by bad actors.
Why offer this type of machine? Wouldn’t the removal of these features degrade the machine? The lack of some features would indeed be viewed as detrimental by the general public looking for a fully featured 3D printer. However, the military looks at things quite differently.
UltiMaker discovered that some of the machines sold to military organizations were undergoing “downgrades” by military technicians. They would remove cameras, networking, and other features to ensure the machines were properly secured.
After observing this practice, UltiMaker decided to simplify things by taking out the features in advance, making the machines much more attractive to military organizations: they would need less work to get them operational.
The new secure 3D printers will be of little interest to UltiMaker’s general market, but for those organizations requiring the highest security, the S6 and S8 Secure machines could be highly desirable.
Via UltiMaker
