Dec 8, 2014 | By Alec

Who would have guessed that postal services – which many labelled as doomed in the 21st century – could play an instrumental role in 3D printing's ongoing manufacturing revolution? Well, they are. A number of postal services have already started offering 3D printing on-demand services that deliver to your doorstep, and just a month ago the Swiss Die Post began incorporating 3D printing into its repertoire as well.

It looks like the British Royal Mail is the next to follow. From now until January, the British public will be able to purchase and print 3D files through the Royal Mail's website and through MyMiniFactory.com as part of a trail to test the technology's commercial potential. A varied list of 3D printable objects can already be found on the Mail's website, including magnets, keyrings, phone cases and pencil cases, all in the range of £5 to £45.

Interested consumers can even upload their own designs for printing. These objects will then be 3D printed and delivered to your doorstep by the Mail's postal services, though they can also be picked up at the iMakr Store in London, the company hired to provide printing services throughout December.

The items will reportedly be printed on Zortrax M200 and Ultimaker 2 3D printers at selected Royal Mail and iMakr locations and at a pop-up store in central London. iMakr's CEO, Romain Kidd, cheerfully revealed that 'iMakr is excited to bring to Royal Mail its expertise in 3D printing by offering customers an introduction into 3D printing through one if its Central London delivery offices and a selection of objects from MyMiniFactory.com. Royal Mail customers will find unique objects created by the best community of designers for 3D printing, a market in rapid development for which MyMiniFactory.com is delivering key 3D printable content and products like MyMiniFactory TV.'

Chief Customer Officer of Royal Mail, Mike Newnham, explained the reasoning behind this trial: '3D printing is an emerging technology that has many applications and offers an innovative way to create unique or personalised objects. It can be prohibitively expensive for consumers or small businesses to invest in a 3D printer, so we are launching a pilot to gauge interest in 3D printing to sit alongside Royal Mail's e-commerce and delivery capability.'

Like many postal services, the Royal Mail has seen its profits plummet in recent years, and are likely hoping that this new service will boost their appeal somewhat. It can therefore be logically expected that the program could be expanded into a permanent service if successful. If demand is large enough, other 3D printing locations throughout the country could thus be opened.

If Royal Mail continues with the program, the delivery company to get in on the ground floor of a technology that I'm sure will ultimately revolutionize product delivery in the long term. If the pilot indicates great interest in the technology and the program, there is the possibility that it will be expanded to other Royal Mail locations.

Any British readers looking for unique Christmas presents? Then be sure to check out the lists of available options here. Delivery times can be anywhere from one to five days, so be sure to order yours before it's too late.





Posted in 3D Printing Services

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Flamekebab wrote at 12/8/2014 4:10:22 PM:Where can users upload their own designs on the Royal Mail site? I can only see the option on MyMiniFactory and that isn't for private on-demand stuff.



