An email from Andy Middleton, the senior vice president and general manager of Stratasys's Europe, Middle East, and Asia division, obtained by Motherboard, indicates that MakerBot Europe has laid off its General Manager, Alexander Hafner as part of the effort to integrate MakerBot Europe's business into Stratasys'. MakerBot acquired Hafner's 3D-printing company, Hafner Büro, and converted it into MakerBot Europe in 2014.

"I want to take this opportunity of thanking Alexander Hafner on behalf of all the MakerBot staff for his past contribution to the business, and wish him all the very best for his personal and professional future," Middleton wrote.

A well-informed source who works with MakerBot Europe tells Motherboard that the firing took place on Monday. A MakerBot spokesperson wrote me that "Alexander Hafner stepped down as General Manager MakerBot Europe and Andreas Langfeld will take over this position to lead MakerBot's business in Europe."

In an interview published on 3Dprint.com in March 2015, Hafner described the last six months at MakerBot as "very exciting."