3D Printing at Your Door

摘要

The 3D printing market raked in $3.07 billion in 2013, achieving its highest compound annual growth rate (34.9%) in 17 years, according to industry research and consulting firm Wohlers Associates. While there is still plenty of room for growth, there are a number of 3D printers out there not living up to their full use potential. Enter 3D Hubs, a company based in Amsterdam that looks to bring people in need of 3D printing together with 3D printer owners via decentralized, local manufacturing. Founded in 2013 by two former 3D Systems employees, the company now has Hubs all across the globe - from New York to Tehran. In fact, the company recently opened a second office in its New York community, which has 636 end users who can access 140 local 3D printers. "We have now built the biggest decentralized production there is," says Filemon Schoffer, head of community at 3D Hubs. The network boasts over 8,000 Hubs, with new printers being added daily, according to Schoffer.