Jan 6, 2016 | By Kira
What happens when two leaders in personalized, high quality and scalable 3D printing services join forces? We’re about to find out. WhiteClouds, operator of the world’s largest full-color 3D printing lab and operator of 25+ professional 3D printers, today announced the acquisition of fellow Utah-based 3DPlusMe, a leader in branded and personalized 3D capture-to-print experiences.
The acquisition will allow WhiteClouds to expand its full-color 3D printing services into the entertainment sector, where 3DPlusMe already has a strong presence, having worked with big-name clients including Marvel, Hasbro, MLB, Dreamworks, Halo and more.
WhiteClouds is known for its 3DaaS (3D-as-a-Service) platform, which provides a turnkey, scalable system to bring personalized and customized full-color 3D printed products to the mass market. The company manufactures high-quality, full-color 3D models and products, including detailed 3D printed video game characters, realistic entertainment models, functional prototypes and 3D printed architectural models.
Following a major expansion into a new 60,000 square foot facility, as well as the installation of 14 new full-color 3D printers from 3D Systems (effectively making the young company the largest full-color 3D print services provider in the world), WhiteClouds announced that it would be expanding its 3D printing services into four key industries: architecture, entertainment, prototyping and 3D printed medical applications.
WhiteClouds full-color 3D printing facility
As for 3DPlusMe, it claims to be the first company to introduce a mobile technology platform for 3D face scanning for 3D printed personalized merchandise—namely, personalized 3D printed toys, action figures, sports heroes, video game or movie characters, and more, with major brands. For example, 3DPlusMe worked alongside Hasbro, Disney and Walmart to launch the ‘Super Awesome Me’ campaign, a personalized 3D printing experience that allowed kids and Marvel comic book fans to personalize a 3D printed Marvel action figure with their own 3D scanned and 3D printed faces.
3DPlusMe’s turnkey, scalable and customizable technology has also been used at events such as San Diego Comic Con, and MLB World Series, and the company has formed additional partnerships with major retailers including Walmart, Target, and Toys ’R’ Us.
Thus, WhiteCLouds’ acquisition adds 3DPlusMe’s leading brand partners and retail distribution channels—which fall primarily in the sports, gaming, and entertainment sectors— to its already-impressive portfolio, fulfilling its goal of becoming a leading 3D printing hub for entertainment-based companies via its 3DaaS platform.
“3DplusMe has helped the world’s biggest brands create new products that engage customers through their one-of-a-kind technology for 3D capture-to-print,” said Jerry Ropelato, CEO of WhiteClouds. “Being able to combine both of our expertise furthers our position as the world’s leading provider for 3D services and technology. Through this combination, we bring the complete solution with our 3DaaS platform for brands and businesses, especially on the entertainment side, where demand is skyrocketing.”
“We’re excited to partner with WhiteClouds and become a key part of their success in consumer," added Cydni Tetro, CEO of 3DplusMe. "We have an aggressive model for growth and partnering with WhiteClouds helps us scale our technology and empower more brands to use 3D-printing to create innovate products and engage their customers."
Entertainment and 3D printing are increasingly crossing paths these days, with TV network Syfy and MakerBot having just recently announced a 3D printing partnership, and Disney making significant inroads into 3D printed robotics for use in filmmaking, merchandising, and more.
WhiteClouds and 3DPlusMe will be present at CES 2016 from January 6-9th in order to introduce customers to their newly combined 3D print offerings.
Posted in 3D Printing Service
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