China’s 3D printers are gaining popularity among US consumers, but can they shake their geeky reputation?
- Elegoo, founded in 2015 in Shenzhen, makes consumer-level 3D printers that weigh as little as 9 kilograms for prices as low as US$200 to US$300
- The company says its main clientele consists of gamers, cosplayers and film buffs, but other people can find its technology useful too
Elegoo, founded in 2015, makes consumer-level 3D printers that weigh as little as 9 kilograms for prices as low as US$200 to US$300. They are manufactured out of a 25,000 square metre factory in Shenzhen, China’s southern tech hub.
“Our goal is to lower entry barriers, bringing the fascinating technology of 3D printing to the general public’s garages, basements and table tops,” co-founder and chief marketing officer Kevin Wang told the South China Morning Post in a recent interview.
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Wang said 3D printers were previously confined to university STEM departments and industrial facilities, but strides in the technology could make it as relevant a household item as a traditional 2D printer.
The company said it has sold over 1 million units since 2018 and has grown to over 500 employees, shipping to over 70 countries and regions through online marketplaces, including those run by Shopify, Amazon.com and Alibaba Group Holding, which owns the Post. Over half of the sales come from the US.
Although Elegoo’s compact machines can generally only print items no larger than a shoebox, individual parts can be printed and then assembled into larger items, offering endless use cases, the company said.
“Any idea you have, any item you want customised or cannot buy from the open market, 3D printing solutions can make it possible,” said Wang.
