London-based 3D printing service bureau Batch.works has unveiled its first full homeware collection developed using 3D printing. With pieces designed in partnership with studios UAU and Bold Design, the collection was 3D printed using FDM technology at Batch.works’ east London headquarters.
The homeware range features lighting, containers, candle holders and vases made entirely from bio-based PLA plastic, and plastic reclaimed from water bottles and packaging. Batch.works founder Julien Vaissieres states, “People are becoming more and more aware of the impact of mass production and the fossil fuel plastics that are directly related to climate change.”
“Batch.works is bringing a more environmentally friendly option to the market by using recycled and renewable materials, and local manufacturing. Our innovative production process eliminates waste – we keep all our plastic waste to turn them back into products”
Bringing eco-friendly 3D printed products to the consumer
Batch.works is start-up formed in 2016 by Julien Vaissieres, a former architect, with the goal of utilizing the capabilities of 3D printing, including its speed and efficiency, to create affordable and eco-friendly products. Since then, the company has delivered on its goal, releasing a collection of 3D printed biodegradable stationery previous to its new homeware collection, in collaboration with international stationery store Paperchase. The stationery set included paper clips, pen pots, and ballpoint pens made from bioplastic and was 3D printed using Ultimaker 3D printers. Batch.works’ 3D printed stationery set has also been nominated for the Consumer Product of the Year category in the 2019 3D Printing Industry Awards; you can view the other nominations and cast your vote here.
The company has also taken part in the SPARE PARTS: Rethinking Human Repair exhibition at Kings College London earlier in 2019. Batch.works helped Cellule, a London-based collaborative design studio, to produce customized 3D printed hearts for the exhibition which aims to explore methods of creating body parts that can live independently from the human anatomy.
Vaissieres provides insight on the overall vision of Batch.works, explaining: “After printing over 15,000 products over the last two years – and working with global companies including Paperchase and Spaces – we want to bring Batch.works products to the consumer.”
“Our aim is to disrupt production and the manufacturing industry by streamlining the process in an efficient and eco-friendly way, controlling every step of the design fabrication and packing.”
International expansion in the works for Batch.works
The 3D printed designs created alongside design studios UAU and Bold Design represents Batch.works’ first international collaboration. UAU is based in Warsaw, and its pieces are inspired by the shapes and textures of sea urchins, taking after their spiny, dotted form. Bold Design on the other hand is headquartered in Paris, and its input comes in the form of different sized polygonal cylinders that act as containers to store a multitude of things within the home. Each of the 3D printed homeware products come in a range of pastel colours.
“We met Julien from Batch.works after discovering his work on Instagram, as our fields were pretty similar,” says Bold Design. “It felt right to do something together, as our two companies are complementary. We love to explore and experiment with the limitations of tools, and find out how to express potential.”
This initial collaboration with UAU and Bold Design forms a part of Batch.works’ plans for the Batch Market platform, where it aims to work with more international studios. The Batch Market intends to provide designers the chance to submit their product ideas to Batch.works for review, where the company will then select the most innovative designs for production.
Furthermore, the company is looking to launch smart factories in various cities around the world, as part of its plan to upscale its product capacity by by 500% by 2020. These factories will allow products to be 3D printed on-demand using sustainable materials, with the aim of eliminating waste from the manufacturing process. Vaissieres adds “Not only will this establish a new standard for 3D printing and product design, we aim to revive the possibilities of local manufacturing using recycled and responsibly sourced materials.”
Does Batch.works win your vote for Consumer product of the year in the third annual 3D Printing Industry Awards? Help decide this year’s winners now.
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Featured image shows Batch.works homeware collection in Ocean blue. Image via Batch.works.
