A number of – a really big number – of sites for 3D printable content have popped up in the past two years. Trying to distinguish between them all can be quite difficult, but Solidry has a defining characteristic that sets it apart from the rest: all of the prices for 3D models are in Rupees. Based out of New Delhi, Solidry is, I believe, the first 3D printables marketplace from India.
Solidry is a sleek looking site already populated by more than a few designs. As a service bureau local to India, the company can 3D print the models and ship them out for a few hundred Rs. Every print is offered in a wide variety of colors and, if you don’t see something you like, you can upload your own design to have the Solidry team print it for you. Many of the designs on the site are taken from Thingiverse and attributed to their original creators so, in the case that you own your own 3D printer, you can always click on a model’s original link and print it yourself.
The company was started in June 2013 by Pranav Prakash, Shantanu Raghav and Shirsendu “Troy” Karmakar’s, a team of engineers that had full-time gigs at places like LinkedIn and SlideShare. Karmakar tells NDTV Gadgets how the idea got started, “We got hooked onto the concept when we first heard about it during our engineering days. We wanted to purchase a 3D printer, but it was not cost effective. As a result we decided to build it all ourselves. That was the inception of Solidry, in June, 2013. We are focussing not only on popularising 3D printing but also in creating customised products for people and retailing them.”
In addition to acting as an online marketplace and service bureau, Solidry is in the process of building New Delhi’s 3D printing community by hosting events that spread the word about the technology. The team explains, “3D Printing is one such technology, which most Delhites are unaware of. In our effort to make people more aware of 3D Printing, as well as to boost the maker community, we organize workshops, events and demos for the public.” This past June, they held their first event at entrepreneurial co-op, Stirring Minds, where the engineers demonstrated the building of a 3D printer, how the technology works, and how to 3D print your own designs. Three days later, the crew took the show to Bakheda with Indian crowdfunding site QREOH.
It seems like the company is well-connected with other Indian Makers, which could aid them in locating Solidry at the heart of the 3D printing community in the country. And, by teaming up with some of India’s other start-ups and organizations – like 3D printer manufacturer Brahma3 or non-profit ProtoPrint – or by obtaining funding from iMakr.VC, the company could secure that position.
