HP Innovation Journal Issue 11: Winter 2018 | Page 47

WIIVV SANDALS
At the nexus of SoCal surf culture, San Diego is most
definitely a flip-flop sandal kind of town. So it makes sense
that it is home to Wiivv (pronounced “weave”), a company
that uses Multi Jet Fusion to create customized insoles
for sandals that are shaped to your foot. The company
developed a smartphone app that enables users to upload
photos of their feet and then digitally map them for beach-
ready shoes that offer a perfect fit. (Former HP Imaging
and Printing Group head Vyomesh Joshi is an early
seed investor.)
NIVELLIPSO DENTAL ALIGNER
Switzerland’s nivellmedical AG is pioneering one of the
fastest-growing trends in tech—DIY dental care and ortho-
dontia. What makes nivellmedical a standout is its use of
Multi Jet Fusion to 3D print a series of custom-made, clear,
biodegradable plastic dental aligners that, with minute
adjustments over time, will gradually straighten a
patient’s teeth.
HOW WE WALK
THE 3D TALK
Driving digital transformation from within
Tech companies often talk about “eating their own dog
food”—an insider term for using your own products.
But HP takes it one step further with its own use of the
acclaimed Multi Jet product family. Leveraged across HP’s
business, this solution offers the company a firsthand look
at the transformational benefits of 3D printing technolo-
gy—like the efficiency and flexibility of additive manufac-
turing for on-demand replacement parts, or the sustain-
ability benefit of shipping pixels and electrons around the
world rather than heavy goods. Speed to innovation and
speed to market are inherent in a platform that requires no
retooling to create prototypes or produce goods—rather, a
blank canvas is ready for the manufacture of each
new element.
A prime example is use of the Jet Fusion 300 and 500
full-color 3D printers; the Jet Fusion has been billed as
“the printer that prints itself.” That’s a bit of a misnomer,
but it points to the fact that something like 140 different
custom plastic parts inside are produced with the HP Multi
Jet Fusion printer system itself. However, it’s not just
HP’s 3D printers that see the benefits of having the tech
in-house. In one of its (traditional paper) printer lines,
the company was able to lower the cost of producing a
key part by 50% and reduce its carbon footprint by 95% by
leveraging digital design and manufacturing.
HP is just at the tipping point of
what is possible with 3D printing
technology, but early indicators
are pointing to amazing outcomes
for both HP and its customers.
This article originally appeared on the Garage by HP.
Visit garage.ext.hp.com for more stories on how
technology is improving our world.
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