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15
Marketplace
Its applications may be mainly
industrial or medical, with some
participation by hobbyists, but such
is the interest it has generated that
IT and office products dealers are
starting to jump on the 3D printing
bandwagon.
Currently the subject of an
exhibition at the Science Museum
(
3D Printing: Printing the Future
), the
process of creating three-dimensional
objects by building them up layer by
layer has caught the imagination of
almost anyone with even a passing
interest in technology.
With 3D printers now available for
less than £1,000, small entry-level
devices have come within reach of
schools, early adopters and technophile
businesses eager to investigate
potential applications of the new
technology.
Photizo Group predicts that
personal 3D printers and associated
consumables will make up 15% of the
total 3D printing market by 2017, with
worldwide sales of personal 3D printers
rising from 50,000 devices in 2013 to
650,000 units in 2017.
Seeking to capitalise on this
groundswell, Staples has started to
sell 3D Systems’ Cube 3D printer and
consumables online and in selected
UK stores. Target customers for the
£999 device include designers, small
businesses, students and children.
The wireless printer is ready to use
straight from the box and is compatible
with Mac or Windows. Users can create
their own designs using Cubify Invent
software (sold separately) or print
from a template. It comes with 25
free 3D templates, with the option to
download additional templates online.
The Cube can print items measuring
up to 5.5 x 5.5 x 5.5 inches in
recyclable ABS or compostable PLA
plastic in a choice of 16 different
colours including metallic silver and
glow in the dark options. Each cartridge
costs £40 or more.
Many more traditional suppliers of
office technology products are likely to
enter the 3D printing market following
a distribution agreement between UK
distributor Midwich and 3D Systems
Partners. Midwich plans to distribute
3D Systems’ full line of professional
and personal 3D print solutions, with a
major focus on the education sector.
Jonathon Francis, Business Manager
at Midwich, said: “Costs now mean that
it is possible for every school in the
country to have some form of 3D print
equipment in the classroom and we
expect demand for this technology to
be high.”
www.3DSystems.com
www.staples.co.uk
www.midwich.com
3D – coming to an office
products dealer near you
Consumers and businesses will have to pay less to send
clothing, shoes and small electrical items this Christmas,
after Royal Mail bowed to customer pressure and expanded
its small parcels format to include shoebox-sized items.
In April Royal Mail introduced Pricing in Proportion to its
parcels business and replaced separate Packets and Parcels
categories with two parcel formats – small and medium –
for parcels weighing less than 20kg. Packages outside these
categories have to be sent with ParcelforceWorldwide.
The small parcels category is much the most cost-effective
option for parcels weighing up to 1kg when sent second class
with delivery in 2-3 days.
According to research by Neopost, Royal Mail’s price of
£2.60 is significantly cheaper than alternative providers, such
as Collect Plus (£4.89 to send Economy with 3-5 day delivery)
and My Hermes (£4.20 with 2-3 day delivery). If you include
discounts for franking, savings can exceed 50%.
However, the original small parcel format was restricted
to wide and flat items measuring no more than 450 x 350 x
80mm (with a few exceptions for tubes and small cubes): taller
items were classified as medium parcels.
Following feedback from eBay, merchants and customers,
Royal Mail has now expanded the category to include items
measuring up to 350 x 250 x 160mm, as long as they do not
exceed the existing 2kg weight restriction.
This will allow customers to send a wider range of goods
under the small parcels category, including clothing and
electrical equipment. Royal Mail estimates that more than 80%
of the parcels it delivers will now be classified as small parcels,
up from 70% before.
Royal Mail says that the change, which was introduced on
October 28, means that it is now the cheapest option (£2.60)
for shoebox-sized items weighing up to 1kg if sent second class.
The Medium Parcel category is unchanged and applies to
items that weigh more than 2kgs or have dimensions larger
than the small parcels sizes but no bigger than 61cm x 46cm x
46cm, and up to 20kg in weight.
www.royalmailgroup.com
Royal Mail has expanded its small parcels
category in time for Christmas
Staples and Midwich jump on 3D printing bandwagon
Small parcels
get bigger