The Silicon Review - Best Business Review Magazine Super 30 Companies of the Year 2019 | Page 68
Leveraging 3D printing to
democratize manufacturing
3DCompare
3
D printing is widely
considered as the future
of manufacturing. Unlike
traditional manufacturing,
where most three dimensional
objects are made separately
and assembled thereafter,
3D printing (or additive
manufacturing) builds a
three-dimensional object
using a 3D printer by adding
successive layers of materials
to “print” an object. The
process is somewhat similar
to the process of printing on
paper, where a printer prints
images on a two-dimensional
background.
Alexander Ziff, CEO
“We aim to become the go-
to website for on-demand
manufacturing services,
which is why we’re working on
creating the biggest database
of manufacturing partners,
with our manufacturing
algorithm we ensuring users
find the right manufacturer to
get their product made.”
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3D printing reduces the
costs and complexity of
manufacturing significantly, in
terms of overhead and labor, in
addition to bolstering the speed
of production. Additionally,
additive manufacturing does
not require any specially
designed parts to churn out
specific objects, since the entire
product is made directly inside
the manufacturing platform,
layer by layer. 3DCompare is an
ambitious startup that aims to
establish a global network of 3D
manufacturing centers for rapid
production and deployment,
keeping affordability in mind.
The company provides an
on-demand manufacturing
platform where customers
can upload a prepared design,
and get their product 3D
printed at one of the numerous
manufacturers 3DCompare
has partnered with. These
manufacturing centers are
spread across the globe and
handle the manufacturing of
whatever the customers order.
Furthermore, 3DCompare has
also partnered with delivery
services that take care of
packaging and shipping.
3DCompare does not own
any manufacturing centres
but plans to become the go-to
destination for individuals as
well as businesses that want to
get products manufactured. The
business model is similar to that
of Uber and Airbnb. Uber does
not own a single cab of its own,
but still is the world’s largest
cab company. 3DCompare
will not directly own a single
manufacturing center but plans
to become ubiquitous in the
manufacturing and 3D printing
industry.
Founded in the United
Kingdom, the founder of
3DCompare faced all the
challenges that are typical
of launching and running a
budding enterprise. He had to
hire the right people who would
contribute to the development
of the platform, in addition to