Staples Steps Into the 3D Printing Industry With Its Own Print Service

Posted by John C Arkin on December 4th, 2012

One of the world’s largest office supply chain store is venturing into a new project that will bring 3D printing closer to consumers.

Staples in-store 3D printing service The Register reports that Staples sealed a partnership with Mcor Technologies which will supply its Mcor IRIS 3D printers in order for the chain store to process 3D printing orders.

Called Staples Easy 3D, the service will allow customers to upload STL, OBJ, or VRML files online via the Staples Office Centre for 3D printing, and either pick up the finished models in nearby Staples store or have them shipped to their address.

“Given our market leadership in commercial print, why would we ever stop at two dimensions?” Wouter Van Dijk, president of the Staples’ European Printing Systems Division, said in a press release. “Customised parts, prototypes, art objects, architectural models, medical models and 3D maps are items customers need today, in a more affordable and more accessible manner.”

The in-store 3D printing service will be initially launched at Staples locations in the Netherlands and Belgium in the first quarter of 2013, and “will be rolled out quickly to other countries.” It will offer consumers, product designers, architects, healthcare professionals, educators, students and others low-cost, brilliantly coloured, photo-realistic 3D printed products from Staples stores.