One of the most important changes promised by 3D printing and additive manufacturing technologies is the full optimization of the supply chain by eliminating the… supply. The vision is that more and more companies will not need to have an inventory but will be able to produce an item on demand when the customer purchases it. This means stocking and inventory costs will be slashed as soon as the technologies will allow it. And this is where Formeo comes into the picture.
The Swedish start-up founded by three partners, all with an engineering background and a passion for 3D printing, is going to provide the software infrastructure to go from purchase to 3D printed delivery in the most streamlined way possible, while establishing a highly secure cloud 3D printing network that can guarantee copyright protection.
“Our main focus is to make companies, not just individual creators, realize the benefits that 3D printing can offer them,” says Formeo co-founder Christoffer Lejon. “Our vision is to create a completely integrated system that prevents models and products with IP rights to be distributed and copied over the internet”.
Formeo’s platform would integrate digital purchases and 3D printing manufacturing into an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system in a way that will be tailored to be compatible with how each customer company already operates today. “It will not depend on a change in customer behaviour,” says Lejon, “it just changes how the company provides its services for its customers.”
This means that a retailer would be able to have its products 3D printed on-demand by a 3D printing service provider. The platform will not initially support home 3D printing because it will focus on higher quality requirements. The primary technology that will be used is likely to be selective laser sintering (SLS).
“We are currently in an initial phase and have begun collaborating with a Swedish home appliances manufacturer. We also have close relationships with both desktop 3D printer manufacturers and manufacturers of industrial additive manufacturing systems, and we have a strong network that includes researchers, entrepreneurs and developers within the industry,” Lejon said.
The company is coming out of stealth mode, and Formeo is projecting it will take about a year for the service to go live with its first commercial partners. It will be facing off with a growing number of software platforms that aim to streamline the supply chain or offer advanced cloud based 3D printing solutions. Formeo wants to stand out by offering a solution truly catering to a company’s specific needs. My personal opinion is that some of these projects should join forces and unite to offer the ultimate solution. From what I have seen, it is already within reach.
