Christmas is always coming, and these days the consumer frenzy starts earlier and earlier, which personally I think is a shame. Don’t get me wrong, I do get all gooey around Christmas — the nativity plays depicting the real meaning, the children and the general consensus that everyone tries just a little bit harder to be nicer to family and strangers alike all contribute to the gooiness. I do make a conscious effort though, to keep it at bay until it’s time for the advent calendars. However, I couldn’t help smiling at this one, and going a little soft.
It seems that GE — the huge multi-national that is taking 3D printing very seriously across the corporation — is not immune to some holiday cheer either. The company, in collaboration with 3D Content site GrabCAD, is hosting a competition encouraging the design community members to help improve Santa’s aging sleigh. According to GE & GrabCAD the exploding global population means that Santa needs to deliver more gifts to more children all over the world and therefore he needs a new state-of-the-art sleigh to do it. A complete upgrade it seems. And what better technology to fulfill that remit than 3D printing?
Full marks for entering into the spirit.
So if this post doesn’t make you go “bah humbug!” then you have just under a week to join in. Full rules and requirements for submitting designs can be found here, and the winners will have their design turned into an ornament that will be used as a prize for part of GE’s #3DPrintMyGift holiday campaign.
