Updated – 26/05/2016 – Shining 3D headquarters opening pictures – added at the end.
Shining 3D launches its new headquarters in Hangzhou May 25th and it is potentially a landmark moment in the company’s history.
The company is one of China’s 3D printing pioneers and it will now move into a 25,000 square meter facility that will cement its position among the tech elite. This innovation center will put most 3D printing companies to shame.
The company is targeting a position at the head table of the 3D printing and scanning world. It is expanding aggressively throughout the world and is advertising for international partners on its website.
A chance to talk
It has also used the launch to invite 500 of the leading lights of the 3D printing industry to its new headquarters for a conference to discuss the future of the business and potential partnerships. It also has government support as the local authority will launch the Zhejiang 3D industrial zone at the same time.
Effectively the local government will use Shining 3D as the champion for the cause and it has literally everything going for it right now.
The consumer level Einstart is a solid printer, the professional iSLA printer is capable of taking the fight to the big names and the company has an even bigger line up of scanners. They include handheld, desktop, specialist dental scanners and more. It also supplies laser engraving machines and has more than 10 major products on sale, as well as a vast range of high quality printer filament.
Each of Shining 3D’s printers, scanners and engravers has enjoyed the input of 230 Research and Development engineers. They will get a state-of-the-art facility as part of the new building.
The signature dish right now is a scanner
The Einscan-Pro is used by designers around the world and is its signature dish right now. The company is determined to build on its potential, though, and create a stable of famous products that could rival the likes of XYZPrinting in the future.
It simply hasn’t had that kind of impact on Europe or the US to this point. But there’s no reason that cannot change with a solid product line-up, a new HQ and a determined attitude.
Shining 3D’s new headquarters brings manufacturing, sales and a customer experience center under one roof. It will also form the epicentre of what Shining 3D calls Internet+
Technically this Cloud-based ecosystem is online, so it could be anywhere. But this extensive 3D printing platform and online modelling community will be central pillars of Shining 3D’s marketing and sales efforts for the years ahead. So bringing all their staff into one building will help the Chinese company make a major impact on all fronts.
A print service could be the future
The company knows that not everyone needs or even wants a 3D printer in their home and some companies are reluctant to make the jump to full ownership. That’s why the 3D printing center, which is part of the new HQ, is destined to become a pillar of the business.
A team of experts can help companies and individuals realise their dreams with rapid prototyping and limited runs in almost any material. This contract printing service could even expand further into mass production as Shining 3D makes its own advances with the hardware.
The company has 10 printing centres across China and wants to build up to 100 more in the coming years. But the Hangzhou facility can become a true center of excellence.
The best of the best in Hangzhou
It could take on the challenges facing 3D printing, form partnerships with some of China’s more advanced technical community and that in itself will establish the company as leader in the field. It can then reap the rewards of this halo work with increased sales of consumer units.
The new online printing platform will make it easier for client and members of the public to simply upload and order a design that is then delivered to their door. This could change the way we order basic household items as a vast range of designs could be printed on demand. It works for individual clients right through to major automotive companies ordering thousands of parts, so it’s a potentially massive step for the company.
Alibaba is also in Hangzhou and is an inspirational tale for Shining 3D. It changed the way that the Chinese shop and now this 3D printing company can cement its place at the top table and change the way China thinks about manufacturing.
If this headquarters helps it do that, then you’re looking at one of the future global superpowers.
Updated – 26/05/2016:
