I received this
e-mail from a friend yesterday afternoon: “I caught this on Bloomberg today – you
may have seen the article or discussion already. I hope all is well with you.” And,
here’s the article, up on Forbes.com, by Gene Marks:
e-mail from a friend yesterday afternoon: “I caught this on Bloomberg today – you
may have seen the article or discussion already. I hope all is well with you.” And,
here’s the article, up on Forbes.com, by Gene Marks:
Will 3D Printing Be
Staples’ Field of Dreams?
Staples’ Field of Dreams?
“If you build it, they will come.”
It worked for Ray Kinsella. Maybe, just maybe, it’ll
work for Staples
SPLS +2.03%
too. The office supply company is now bringing their brand recognition to
the field of 3D printing. They’re building it. And now they’re
hoping that entrepreneurs
will respond. Staples is a client of mine and I was paid to moderate a panel
last week in New York about this new offering.
work for Staples
SPLS +2.03%
too. The office supply company is now bringing their brand recognition to
the field of 3D printing. They’re building it. And now they’re
hoping that entrepreneurs
will respond. Staples is a client of mine and I was paid to moderate a panel
last week in New York about this new offering.
3D printing is not new. The problem is that to date
it’s not been very sexy and no one is familiar with the players.
it’s not been very sexy and no one is familiar with the players.
Take for example ProtoCAM, a small company
near Allentown, Pennsylvania who is also a client of mine. Since 1994,
they’ve been creating 3D prototypes of parts that their customers then use in
their final designs of production equipment. It’s not very sexy work.
ProtoCAM’s engineers and technicians use complex computer applications and very
expensive, custom made machines that oftentimes take days to pop out molds and
models. They do this using cast urethane models, rapid injection molding,
high-quality metal castings and roto-casting. “We’ve always been at the
leading edge using the latest stereolithography resins to provide our customers
with the best possible alternatives for their rapid prototyping needs,” the
company’s website says.
near Allentown, Pennsylvania who is also a client of mine. Since 1994,
they’ve been creating 3D prototypes of parts that their customers then use in
their final designs of production equipment. It’s not very sexy work.
ProtoCAM’s engineers and technicians use complex computer applications and very
expensive, custom made machines that oftentimes take days to pop out molds and
models. They do this using cast urethane models, rapid injection molding,
high-quality metal castings and roto-casting. “We’ve always been at the
leading edge using the latest stereolithography resins to provide our customers
with the best possible alternatives for their rapid prototyping needs,” the
company’s website says.
Look, I didn’t say this was exciting, did I? And if
you really want an alternative to counting sheep, try visiting one of the many Design2Part shows around the country that
feature the products and services of other companies just like ProtoCAM.
Or checkout the next 3D Printer
World Expo which is scheduled for 2015 in Burbank, California,
following a successful event this past month in New York. You’ll find
that many of these companies are, like ProtoCAM, not exactly newcomers to the
world of 3D printing. They’ve been doing this for years.
you really want an alternative to counting sheep, try visiting one of the many Design2Part shows around the country that
feature the products and services of other companies just like ProtoCAM.
Or checkout the next 3D Printer
World Expo which is scheduled for 2015 in Burbank, California,
following a successful event this past month in New York. You’ll find
that many of these companies are, like ProtoCAM, not exactly newcomers to the
world of 3D printing. They’ve been doing this for years.
We’re told that soon people will be “printing” houses,
fingers, ears, parts for your car, parts for your factory equipment, food,
pharmaceuticals. 3D printing will be creating new industries, generating
billions in wealth and forever changing our lives. But even though 3D printing
is projected to be a $10.8 billion
industry by 2021, most of us aren’t yet affected. So when will
3D printing become as pervasive and commonplace as just…printing? How can
entrepreneurs with an idea but little capital get in on the action?
fingers, ears, parts for your car, parts for your factory equipment, food,
pharmaceuticals. 3D printing will be creating new industries, generating
billions in wealth and forever changing our lives. But even though 3D printing
is projected to be a $10.8 billion
industry by 2021, most of us aren’t yet affected. So when will
3D printing become as pervasive and commonplace as just…printing? How can
entrepreneurs with an idea but little capital get in on the action?
Enter Staples. And 3D Systems.
Last week, Staples announced a
partnership with 3D Systems DDD -1.93%
to provide 3D printing services at two of its retail locations. Customers
can bring their 3D print-ready files to have them printed at Staples’ stores on
5th Avenue in Manhattan, N.Y. and Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, Calif.
partnership with 3D Systems DDD -1.93%
to provide 3D printing services at two of its retail locations. Customers
can bring their 3D print-ready files to have them printed at Staples’ stores on
5th Avenue in Manhattan, N.Y. and Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, Calif.
The idea is this: there’s no need to buy a 3D printer
(they sell those too) just like there’s no need to buy a regular printer,
scanner or copy machine. Just come into the service center and Staples will
take care of the job for you. They’ll have the equipment there. They’ll
have people who specialize in 3D printing available. They’ll be ready to
go for any of your 3D printing needs, just like they’re ready for any of the
jobs you already bring into the copy and print center. To demonstrate at
our panel event, Staples displayed models of phone cases, chess pieces,
figurines and jewelry that they can print in the store.
(they sell those too) just like there’s no need to buy a regular printer,
scanner or copy machine. Just come into the service center and Staples will
take care of the job for you. They’ll have the equipment there. They’ll
have people who specialize in 3D printing available. They’ll be ready to
go for any of your 3D printing needs, just like they’re ready for any of the
jobs you already bring into the copy and print center. To demonstrate at
our panel event, Staples displayed models of phone cases, chess pieces,
figurines and jewelry that they can print in the store.
“We believe that literally millions of small businesses and
customers could benefit from the technology,” said Damien Leigh, senior vice
president of business services for Staples.
“We wanted to educate businesses so they can get involved with 3D printing at a
fraction of the cost because right now they don’t understand it.”
customers could benefit from the technology,” said Damien Leigh, senior vice
president of business services for Staples.
“We wanted to educate businesses so they can get involved with 3D printing at a
fraction of the cost because right now they don’t understand it.”
So give credit where credit is due. Staples is
bringing their brand to 3D printing. The company is investing in this
technology. They’re hoping to expand these services nationwide.
They’re training their people to understand the intricacies of 3D
printing. They’re partnering with a well-known company in the industry.
They’re buying equipment and promoting the service. They’re putting
everything into place. Like Ray Kinsella, they’ve built the field. And
now all they need now is is…customers. Entrepreneurs. Business
people with ideas.
bringing their brand to 3D printing. The company is investing in this
technology. They’re hoping to expand these services nationwide.
They’re training their people to understand the intricacies of 3D
printing. They’re partnering with a well-known company in the industry.
They’re buying equipment and promoting the service. They’re putting
everything into place. Like Ray Kinsella, they’ve built the field. And
now all they need now is is…customers. Entrepreneurs. Business
people with ideas.
Will they come? I have no idea. Where’s James
Earl Jones when you need him?
Earl Jones when you need him?
Besides
Forbes, Gene Marks
writes daily for The New York
Times and weekly for Inc.com.
Forbes, Gene Marks
writes daily for The New York
Times and weekly for Inc.com.
Blog Publisher’s
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Personally, I don’t
believe that Staples has done all that good of a job in the Copy/Print
business. It will be very interesting to
see if Staples can do a better job with 3D printing services …. but I don’t
expect that will be the case.
believe that Staples has done all that good of a job in the Copy/Print
business. It will be very interesting to
see if Staples can do a better job with 3D printing services …. but I don’t
expect that will be the case.
Reprographics 101 
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