3d printing royal mail 2018
A very specific topic!
In 2018, Royal Mail, the UK's postal service, announced a partnership with 3D printing company, Makerversity, to explore the potential of 3D printing in the postal industry.
Here are some key points from the partnership:
- 3D printing services: Royal Mail launched a 3D printing service, allowing customers to send 3D printed items through the postal network. This service was initially available at select post offices in the UK.
- Makerversity's expertise: Makerversity, a London-based makerspace, brought its expertise in 3D printing and design to the partnership. They worked with Royal Mail to develop the 3D printing service and provide training to postal staff.
- Printed items: The initial focus was on printing small, lightweight items such as phone cases, jewelry, and toys. The service used Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology, which is a common 3D printing process.
- Benefits: The partnership aimed to increase accessibility to 3D printing technology, making it easier for people to create and send 3D printed items. It also aimed to reduce the environmental impact of traditional manufacturing processes.
- Future plans: Royal Mail and Makerversity planned to expand the service to more post offices and explore the use of other 3D printing technologies, such as Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and Stereolithography (SLA).
The partnership was seen as a significant step forward in the adoption of 3D printing technology in the postal industry, and it paved the way for future innovations in this area.
Here's a news article from the time:
"Royal Mail partners with Makerversity to launch 3D printing service" (The Guardian, 2018)
I hope this information is helpful!