One of the most impressive — and seemingly fastest growing — 3D printing start-up companies is 3D Hubs. The premise behind the company, originating from the Netherlands, is a global network of localized 3D printers providing straightforward and easy access for anyone. Now the company has announced a significant marker of its success since launching about a year ago, namely the growth from 500 to 5000 3D Hubs locations worldwide in more than 80 countries. This, the founders believe, testifies to 3D Hubs achieving critical global mass, and translates to the 3D Hubs printer network now providing 3D printer access to more than 750 million people globally within 10 miles of their home.
To see how this translates geographically, 3D Hubs has provided a recent map showing the more than 5,000 3D Hubs global printer network locations. It is perhaps not surprising to see condensed hubs across North America and Europe, but it also illustrates an impressive geographic spread, with a couple of holes still to fill.
In terms of the densest populations, by city, Milan comes out on top with 89 3D printers, closely followed by New York with 81 printers and then Amsterdam, Los Angeles and Antwerp. London and Paris are also in the top 10, with three other Dutch cities.
The multitude of locations offers choice and the distributed model of 3D Hubs enables everyone to start 3D printing. Examples of products recently produced on the 3D Hubs printer network include Go Pro® camera housings, designer decorative 3D printable housewares by Francis Bitonti Studio®, drones, and medical prostheses — not mention the SambaCan, a special World Cup 3D printable.
