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Batman Begins: Launzer.com Kicks off 3D Printed Batman Line

Finnish company 3D Online Factory has slowly been building its 3D printing marketplace, Launzer.com, with a number of licensed 3D printables, including Dibidogs and Year 0: Tactics. And, while MTV 3’s Dibidogs has 50 million viewers worldwide, it is their partnership with Warner Bros. ConsumerProducts that will allow them to capture a much wider audience, as, today, Launzer.com is the first retailer of 3D printed Batman figurines.

launzer.com 3D printed batmanAs the first company to secure official licensing of the DC hero, Launzer.com has made 3D printed Batman figurines available to fans in the EU and ETA area. The figures, derived from Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, are available for 3D print in multicolor sandstone, stainless steel, or white nylon, for those planning to paint the figures themselves – all printed through Launzer partner i.materialise.

Kari Voutila, CEO of Launzer.com and 3D Online Factory Ltd., says of the launch, “We are really proud to be the first to bring Batman alive into the 3D Printing World. Batman has always been a forerunner in new technologies and 3D Printing is a natural step for this super hero.”

3D printed superman from launzer.com
A first glimpse at the Man of Steel from Launzer’s Instagram page.

This is only the beginning for the site. Securing the Warner Bros. deal alone will bring them a whole suite of beloved characters, including those from Looney Tunes and the Superman universe. Launzer says that Batman will be followed by other DC Comic heroes and villains, including the Joker.  Additionally, Launzer is running giveaways on their Facebook and Instagram in which you can win 3D printed DC superheroes by liking the contest-related posts and commenting which character you’d like to own.

Capturing such a significant brand is exciting not only for fans of the Dark Knight and Launzer.com, but for the 3D printing industry as a whole, as it indicates the growing development of the licensed retail space.  Most recently, Ford and TurboSquid brought the car manufacturer’s vehicles to the world of 3D printing.  Giants like Hasbro and Disney/Marvel are getting into the game as well, demonstrating that highly established companies see the value of selling their merchandise as 3D prints. This space is just starting to grow and Launzer has done itself a service by getting some really big names early on.  Their question to competitors might be, “Why so serious?” Or, as I prefer, “Ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?”

Launzer_Batman 3D printed