May 21, 2014

Covington-based 3DLT, a platform for 3D Printing As-a-Service, has announced a partnership with Pittsburgh company PieceMaker Technologies to get its 3D designs to consumers in retail stores, allowing consumers to create unique, customized toys using an in-store kiosk. PieceMaker and 3DLT will also cross-promote content and integrate their technologies.

Founded in 2012, 3DLT sources and manages 3D printable content and also provides an online marketplace of designs, which allowing clients to purchase, manage and sell 3D printed goods. The system allows retailers to sell digital files and 3D printed products online and in-store. In March 2014, Amazon launched a new pilot program selling 3D printed consumer goods and 3DLT is one of five companies selected to participate in the program to sell 3D printed items on Amazon.com.


PieceMaker Technologies created a 3D printing in-store kiosk called 'Factory in a Store', built from the ground up for toy stores, allows customers to personalize real products and watch their creation come to life through 3D printing. Toy stores can add PieceMaker to their store with no hardware to buy. The entire supply chain from design to sale is handled automatically as the product is ordered, allowing retailers to offer this service at an affordable price. PieceMaker gives toy store owners detailed analytics and reporting to measure sales and customer engagement.

PieceMaker's first Factory in a Store kiosk is installed at S.W. Randall Toyes and Giftes in Pittsburgh. Here is how it works: From an interactive touchscreen kiosk customers can pick a model from a pre-tested set of designs, mix-n-match a variety of shapes and themes, pick the colors and then add their own personal message or design before sending the design to print. A 3D printer in the Print Station will then build customer's order. Once a piece is finished, the customers can walk out with a finished product. The whole process takes only around 20 minutes.

Under the partnership, 3DLT's content will be displayed in PieceMaker Technologies' kiosks. The tools supplied by PieceMaker and 3DLT will let retailers offer more selection.

"We provide speed-to-market and deliver the total package," says 3DLT CEO John Hauer. "[PieceMaker] is the first-mover in store-based 3D printing. We provide content, technology and production services for retailers. It's very complimentary."

"With PieceMaker's expertise in delivering personalized products and shopping experiences, combined with 3DLT's deep content databases and 3D network, we will be able to help millions of consumers create custom products, right in their local store," PieceMaker CEO Arden Rosenblatt said in a release.


 

Posted in 3D Printing Applications

 

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