3D printing: business to business

3D technologies penetrate deeper and deeper into various areas of our lives. Eight years ago, the first 3D printers appeared in Ukraine. Then it was a rarity, today it is a common thing for many businesses. About the features of 3D printers and volume printing, as well as its scope, says the founder of 3DEON Alexander Chumak.

The first 3D printers in Ukraine appeared in 2011-2012. At first, private individuals bought them to print for their own needs. But over time, it became a separate business segment, which formed a new business niche, which, by the way, has still not been mastered.

3D vectors

The 3D printing business can be divided into three segments: 3D printing itself, the sale of 3D printers and the production of 3D printers.

Sale of 3D printers

The first online stores selling 3D printers appeared in Ukraine in 2012-2013. From year to year, this business area has been developing. True, the aggressive expansion of the market did not happen. Today, about 10 companies are engaged in the sale and maintenance of such equipment. There are several dozens of smaller dealers who either resell printers purchased from more powerful competitors, or who have launched a simple site and are waiting for orders to arrange delivery from China.

3D printing

3D printing is being dealt with by more and more companies. And no wonder. This service is quite cost-effective. “The margin of those who print at home is 200-300%, and large firms - 500-600%. In addition, they provide services for 3D modeling and scanning of objects on a special 3D scanner, ”explains Alexander Chumak. - True, there are few 3D scanners in Ukraine, because such a device costs a lot - from 3 thousand dollars. They can scan both small objects and parts for cars, equipment, large objects with an area of 2 square meters. m. "
According to the founder of 3DEON, about 50 companies across Ukraine and 100-150 private individuals are engaged in 3D printing. Most of them are localized in Kiev, Odessa and Kharkov.

3D Printer Production

“The production of 3D-printers in Ukraine is engaged in fifty companies. Most of them are market leaders and are located in Kiev. First you need to develop a prototype. At this stage, engineers are invited who can design and construct the model. This process takes 3-6 months. Then, the finished prototype is tested and, after successful completion, is launched into mass production. Investments in the development of the prototype amount to 3-6 thousand dollars, and in the launch of mass production - from 10 thousand dollars. Despite the fact that 3DEON is still a fairly young company, we have already managed to develop and begin selling 2 models of 3D printers, ”said Alexander Chumak.

About finance

Our interlocutor says that the smallest is the threshold for entering a business with 3D printing. To do this, you need a starting capital of 10 thousand dollars to purchase a sufficient number of printers, supplies, rent an office and run an advertisement. But to launch a company selling 3D printers, you will need twice as much - from 20 thousand dollars.
“I recommend starting with Chinese and Ukrainian printers, since they are the most popular in our country, and their price / quality is optimal. Such devices cost from 300 to 1,5 thousand dollars, - Alexander explains. - American and European counterparts are more expensive - from 2 to 4-5 thousand dollars. And they work, mainly, only on the plastic of their own brand. And he is not cheap. But Ukrainian and Chinese counterparts - on the plastic of any brand. And they print almost the same way as the more expensive European or American counterparts. ”
3D printers come in several forms, depending on the material used for printing: plastic, photopolymer, metal and confectionery.

3D plastic printers

This is the most ancient and common type of printer. For printing, various types of plastic are used. The print area in them is from 10x10x10 cm to 40x40x40 cm. There are also large-sized printers that print products 1x1x1 m. If you need to print a larger model, then print it in parts, and then glue it with special glue, grind it and paint it. Therefore, no joints and seams on the finished product are not visible.

Pros of 3D Printing with Plastic

• A large number of types and colors of Ukrainian plastic (now there are 3 domestic plastic manufacturers) and Chinese-made, which can be used for printing.
• Low cost of printing.
• A large number of various 3D models that can be downloaded for free from the Internet.
• Ability to print two-tone products.
• Cons of 3D printing with plastic
• Slow printing. For example, a product weighing 100 g is printed on average 15-20 hours, a model of ice cream on a stick (original size) - 5-6 hours. Therefore, to establish a system business for 3D printing, you need to have 5-6 printers.
• The absence in Ukraine of color printing with plastic. Although such printers exist in the world, they cost from 5 thousand dollars. Accordingly, printing itself will be expensive.

Photopolymer 3D Printers

Such printers print from liquid photopolymer. They are less common in Ukraine than plastic ones, but recently the demand for them has been growing. Printing from photopolymer is most often ordered by dental clinics (manufacturing of dental crowns, etc.) and jewelers (used to make blanks and prototypes of rings and jewelry). You can also make dentures on these printers.

3D printers for metal

“This is a new segment. In Ukraine, only one company has released such a printer. It should be noted that they are very expensive. They cost from 100 thousand dollars, and the print area is small: 10x10x10 cm. Such printers are usually bought by large manufacturing enterprises to print prototypes of parts on them, ”says the founder of 3DEON.

3D Food Printers

“In Ukraine there is only one manufacturer of such printers. True, outwardly his brainchild has a not very attractive appearance, but it works well. Ukrainian colleagues even presented their printer at a specialized exhibition in Las Vegas. The material for food printers has various fillers that can be made at home, as well as chocolate. The cost of such a printer is from 40 thousand UAH. Now they do not have wide demand in Ukraine. Perhaps because few people know about them. And the manufacturer needs to invest more in marketing. I am convinced that over time the demand for such printers among confectioners, representatives of HORECA will increase, ”predicts Alexander Chumak.

3D construction printers

They are gradually entering the market, but not yet in Ukraine. The material for them is cement with various additives. On such a printer in 3-4 days you can print a nice house of 24 square meters. m (6x8 m) up to 4 m high with the roof.
“Now the niche of 3D construction printers is actively developing. New eco-friendly materials are being developed for them. They differ from other 3D printers only in size - they determine the print area. They cost from 100 thousand dollars. They can be "printed" as elements of decor for a garden, park, landscape design, as well as small houses that can be rented out for vacation, "says Alexander about the business opportunities of the construction press.

3D printing for business

The prospect of 3D printing, like the business of manufacturing and selling printers, is great.
Alexander Chumak lists the areas where 3D printing is actively used today: “Different universities bought printers from me. So, a medical university acquired it for modeling and printing various organs, which are used as visualization in lectures and practical classes. Institute of Physics - for printing cases for devices that they are developing. At the Institute of Chemistry, it is used to manufacture new consumable composite materials for these same 3D printers. They come up with new types of plastic that can be stronger, stronger than those that are currently on the market.”

“Some workshops for the repair of household appliances, service centers print parts for appliances on them. Also on 3D printers you can print small plastic parts for cars, badges and the like. Advertising companies actively print elements of advertising structures, unique souvenir products, etc., and production studios - details for videos, ”Alexander Chumak lists.
Our interlocutor is convinced that the demand for 3D printing will be gaining momentum, since every year 3D printers become indispensable for various industries and facilitate work in various fields of activity.