Last year, UPS started a test drive for its 3D printing services program. Six stores in big cities received a professional-grade 3D printer where everyone from entrepreneurs to local artists could come in to a UPS Store and create a 3D print of their idea. Now, after a successful trial run, UPS is expanding their 3D printing services to 23 states and the District of Columbia.
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If you're hoping that your big city has one of the 45 stores that is getting a 3D printer, you might want to check the list. Population doesn't seem to be the only thing that UPS had in mind when choosing stores for their expansion, as two Idaho cities are included while a city like Boston is missing completely. The expansion took the consumer base into consideration, as UPS figured out which communities would have the most potential customers.
According to the UPS website, 3D prints in their machines can take anywhere from a couple hours to as long as an entire day depending on the project. Previous projects they've advertised as bringing to life include the casing for a custom robot and a 3D-printed golf putter.
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"We are committed to offering small business owners, entrepreneurs and consumers high-tech solutions in order to assist with all of their business needs," said Michelle Van Slyke, vice president of marketing and sales at The UPS Store, in a release. "We launched the pilot to evaluate if there was demand for 3D print and we're excited to be announcing an expansion, giving even more small business owners access to high-quality, professional 3D printing. We look forward to being a part of the future of the 3D printing industry."
To celebrate the expansion, UPS is hosting its first 3D Print Week this week, which features a Twitter Q-and-A on Tuesday. The Twitter handles for both UPS and 3D printer manufacturer Stratasys will be answering small-business owners' questions about how they can take advantage of local 3D printing.
