There has been a number of 3D printing service marketplaces springing up over the past year or so. Some, such as Additer, focus specifically on service providers with desktop, consumer-grade 3D printers. Others, like SupplyBetter, source suppliers of all types of 3D printing services, from industrial SLS to consumer FDM/FFF. RP Marketplace is a new site that differentiates itself by focusing specifically on industrial rapid prototyping services.
Say you’re looking for a professional 3D printing service bureau to manufacture a prototype for a project. Only, it’s difficult to know what the market price for such services are and how to get the best deal for your print. There are a slew of rapid prototyping firms with a range of industrial 3D printers, but you don’t know how much they charge per printed inch without submitting a quote request to each one. RP Marketplace takes all of the guessing and legwork out of the equation, so that you can simply submit your project, receive a variety of bids, and pick the supplier that you think will work best for the best price. Couldn’t be simpler, but for further clarification, watch the video below:
RP Marketplace, based in New Jersey, has been sourcing its suppliers for the past two months. Now that the marketplace and its 25 supplier companies are ready for the public, both suppliers and buyers will be able to use its online platform to post projects, receive bids and fund and manage projects through an escrow payment system. RP Marketplace also allows buyers to post project milestones, which can be funded and reached individually throughout the course of a project. That way, if you’re unhappy with your first supplier or need a different type of RP process for your next step, you can go with a new service provider.
The company’s CEO, Steven Jaffe, explains the niche he believes his company to fill, “Our goal is to streamline the process of sourcing professional rapid prototyping services for small to medium size businesses that don’t have the time or money to setup and maintain top-of-the-line machinery needed to produce professional prototypes. One of the ways RP Marketplace has done that is by integrating helpful tips into the bidding and hiring process. These not only educate Buyers about the types of rapid prototyping services available, but also provide useful information about the suggested materials and printers, as well as what differentiates each Supplier.” Once the company has gotten situated with its current offerings of 3D printing and design services, RP Marketplace will expand to include 3D scanning, rapid injection moulding, and rapid casting.
Since the 3D printing market has developed significantly over the past couple of years, business opportunities are becoming more nuanced. When, before, one could simply start a printables repository to be a part of the action, now, more specialized services are being offered to take advantage of the boom. Take, Gravity 3D, for instance, which is a talent agency devoted specifically to 3D printing. While RP Marketplace may seem to fill a specific niche, that doesn’t mean that there won’t be similar competitors, however. And, even if such RP service marketplaces saturate the US market, there will be opportunities to pursue such business models abroad, as the closer your 3D printing bureau is to you, the faster you’ll get your print.
Just some things to think about ….
Source: RP Marketplace
