3D printing legend Josef Prusa takes emergency command of Printed Solid after CEO exit — Prusa holds the fort as successor hunt begins

Source: Tom’s Hardware

Image credit: Prusa Research

Leadership Change

After nearly a decade at the helm, David Randolph has stepped down as CEO of Delaware‑based Printed Solid. The move, announced on X and effective January 1, sees Josef Prusa, CEO of parent company Prusa Research, stepping in as interim leader to oversee a new phase of North American expansion. Randolph will remain as a consultant during the transition period. A permanent successor has not yet been named.

Company Evolution and Expansion

Under Randolph’s leadership, Printed Solid grew from a small 3D‑printing supplier into a key manufacturing hub for Prusa’s European‑designed hardware. The company now operates a modest Prusa print farm that produces parts for the MK4S and Core One 3D printers, which are assembled in Delaware. Work is underway to source sufficient American‑made components to earn the “MADE in the USA” stamp. Josef Prusa has stated that he wants his team to become the largest 3D printer and filament manufacturer in the U.S..

Operations and Statements

Chief Sales Officer Chris Pelesky noted that operations remain “business as usual,” with the management team working closely with Prusa HQ to align the companies’ core missions.

“Jo has been working with the remainder of the Printed Solid management team, myself included, along with our longtime liaison, Sam, who helps with any Prusa HQ needs that we have.
We are the same company we were in 2025, with the same goals of advancing sales and manufacturing of Prusa 3D printers here in the U.S. While we will certainly miss David, we will continue onward in the journey he started us on, knowing we are in good hands with our Prusa parents, who will determine the next steps in the CEO replacement process,”
— Chris Pelesky

Randolph’s Reflection

In a LinkedIn post, Randolph said:

“It has been a wonderful journey. We started with three employees and have grown the staff beyond my wildest dreams. It has been truly a highlight of my life to grow Printed Solid as much as it has grown in almost nine years.”
He wishes Printed Solid nothing but the best and looks forward to watching the company grow. He did not announce any further plans, other than taking time off before his next grand adventure.

Randolph’s dog Jessie, the Printed Solid mascot. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

Randolph’s Background and Contributions

Before entering the 3D‑printing industry, Randolph worked as a broadcast engineer for the Discovery Channel and G4TV, where he ran Star Trek 2.0, an interactive cable TV show. His love of retro tech led to Printed Solid’s Beige 500 and Tan 64 PLA filaments, which perfectly match the cases of an AMIGA 500 and a Commodore 64.

He also rescued a fan‑favorite silk filament, Polyalchemy Elixir, from extinction after its original manufacturer shut down. Randolph purchased the formula and spent two years re‑engineering it to work on Printed Solid’s equipment. The result is the super‑shiny Jessie Elixir. Jessie, Randolph’s dog and company mascot, is featured on the website to showcase filament colors, and all of Printed Solid’s filament lines are named for her.