Overview of new products from the exhibition 3D Technologies 3D Print EXPO Japan in Tokyo 2016 / Top 3D Shop Blog

Last week, we were fortunate enough to attend the Tokyo's latest 3D technology exhibition at the Tokyo Big Sight International Exhibition Center, along with several other events dedicated to nanotechnology, robotics, alternative energy sources and other advanced developments.

From the very moment that it became known about the exhibition, my REC colleagues and I unanimously agreed that this event would be a great opportunity to evaluate the development of 3D printing technologies in Japan, as well as to more clearly understand how things are going in 3D industries of Asia, what new players are preparing to enter the market soon in the European market.


Video report from the exhibition:



1. Stratasys / Makerbot: in a prominent place - you won’t miss (USA)



This is the first stand that comes across every visitor to the exhibition. The company Stratasys has invested a lot of money to take the most advantageous from a visual point of view of place in the exhibition. Although it’s worth paying tribute to the guys: they are trying - they are now promoting two brands at once, which were clearly presented on separate displays (unlike, for example, the Frankfurt exhibition, where the main emphasis was on the Strasys brand ).



2. Mutoh Engineering: Local giant (Japan)



Mutoh Industries is an ordinary Japanese conglomerate, a large industrial group with the widest range of activities, including 3D printing technologywhich are responsible for the development of Mutoh Engineering. At the exhibition, they presented a new line of personal 3D printers represented by FDM and SLA devices.



However, it should be noted that 3D printers from Mutoh Engineering are quite low cost. We have not found any reviews regarding these devices, but there is information that it is almost impossible to purchase them outside of Japan.

In short, a typical Japanese approach with a focus on the domestic market. I don’t know how correct it will be to say so, but it seems that Mutoh is too big and influential conglomerate, which is forgiven a lot, and he uses it: he has occupied his small niche in the 3D industry, but he draws on the main income from completely different areas of industry.

It should also be noted that at the exhibition Mutoh Engineering shared the space with 3D Systems , which presented to the public a 3D printer called ProJet 460plus , while Mutoh presented Value Arc MA 5000-S1 devices (which looks more like a bulky metal cabinet, than to a printer) and a 3D scanner of the human body. The second, however, was not quite salable.



The new 3D printer ProJet 460Plus from 3D Systems

3. XYZPrinting: made in Taiwan and ready to conquer the whole world

Without a doubt, the most “friendly-set” booth at the exhibition.

Taiwanese manufacturer XYZPrinting made a good impression at CES, which was held in Las Vegas a few weeks earlier. In Tokyo, they only confirmed their ambition to become the undisputed leader in the consumer segment of the market.

The booth visitors were greeted by super-friendly company assistants who, among other things, knew English well (it’s very rare, believe me - the representatives of the companies didn’t look friendly at most of the stands and, in addition, couldn’t say a word in English ...).



Devices with such curious names as Da Vinci AIO , Da Vinci Junior , plus, the new SLA device: all as one on the displays, in all details - as a result, a lot of attention and interest from the public. I appreciated the action of the 3D scanner , which, although it did not seem to me particularly convenient to use, but produced brilliant results. In its price range, this portable 3D scannerusing sensors from Intel has no peers yet.

4. Polymaker: pushing innovation (China)



Polymaker guys have developed a special biopolymer fiber with properties similar to ABS and PLA polymers. Among other things, their filaments are odorless, biodegradable and can be used at very low temperatures.

5. BuildTak (USA)

And in the immediate vicinity of the Polymaker booth there is another interesting company called BuildTak - a company aimed at solving the most pressing problem that every user of 3D devices faces sooner or later. The BuildTak team has created an “ideal surface for 3D printing” - a product that is a plastic shield that is mounted on the stand of the FDM 3D printer and ensures maximum stability of the printed object. As they say: all ingenious is simple. So here - an excellent solution to an urgent problem. It seems that American companies have nevertheless gathered their fists and look to the future with confidence. Their presence at an exhibition in Tokyo only confirms this thesis.

6. bonsai lab (Japan)



Bonsai lab introduced the BT01 + 3D printer, a truly kawaii kid with great potential. More recently, this Japanese company presented another device called FabPod, which for some reason was absent at an exhibition in Tokyo. It should be noted that bonsai lab works closely with Polymaker in the development of low-temperature fibers that will bring 3D printers to a new stage of development. Definitely one of the most interesting exhibitors with a cool manga-like device.

7. Shining 3D: 3D scanners that will change the rules of the game (China)



EinScan-S from Shining 3D The

guys from Shining 3D presented two new 3D scanners - Einscan-S and Einscan-Pro. Both devices were clearly presented on the displays. Sunny and Rebecca, the representatives of Shining 3D at the exhibition, provided me with the opportunity to work with the Einscan-Pro color scanner, and, I confess, I was simply amazed at the results of its work.



EinScan-Pro from the 3D Shining

Einscan-Pro is very easy (. Only 0.8 kg) and is simply incredible scanning speed - just 15 seconds I "shoot" in the color of the human face. The software also does not cause complaints. The only drawback is that the scanner does not see dark places well by analogy with ARTEC, but these are trifles. Among other things, devices from Shining 3D are very flexible to use and can be used in several configurations (like a hand-held device, on a tripod or on a rotating platform).



Hand-held 3D scanner EinScan-Pro

8. MASS PORTAL (Latvia)



MASS PORTAL is a manufacturer of 3D devices from Riga (Latvia). I did not meet representatives of the company, but I got acquainted with their development - the Pharaoh ED printer . The appearance of the device causes only positive feelings. A solid machine enclosed in an elegant metal frame. The models that I saw are also pleasing to the eye. The only negative is the very large price tag.

9. German RepRap printer and filament from Recreus (Germany) The



German company RepRap introduced several devices at once, including 3D printers X1000 , X400and X350. The presentation was supported by their Japanese distributor, IK Works. At the same booth, a new filament from Recreus, a Spanish manufacturer of fiber for 3D printing, was introduced, which became famous for the release of Filaflex, a material created on the basis of thermoplastic rubber. It seems that the guys are not standing still and are expanding their product line. Recreus is also developing its 3D printer. Such versatile Spaniards!

10. Smile Link (Japan)



A new manufacturer of 3D printers from Japan presented to the public a device called the Nt100, although, it should be noted, they are also involved in the production of filament. Interest is caused by the fact that their Smile Link works only through the OctoPrint cloud technology, which is built into the Chrome browser by the standard. A wireless 3D printer, just imagine! My attempts to start a conversation with company representatives ended in failure - no response. Obviously, they are not particularly interested in having their devices test dark horses from "foreign" companies. The verdict is: you need to learn Japanese ...

11. Ninjabot (Japan)



Another Japanese brand. Ninjabot presented one miniature 3D printer with the DLT-80 signature stamp and one large NJB-777 3D printer. Basically, this company manufactures FDM devices, machines using the well-known to many people architecture PRUSA I3. The NinjaBot team seemed really nice to me. Plus, they make smart phones!



New NinjaBot NJB-777

12. Filament for 3D printing from Kyoraku (Japan)

Kyoraku is a Japanese industrial conglomerate that has only recently entered the market for 3D devices with its filament. I did not manage to check the fiber in practice, I did not find any reviews - but now, at least, we know about their existence!

13. Rhombus (China)



3D printer from Rhombus

From Hong Kong with love. Like NinjaBot, Rhombus presented 2 models - large and small. The large one was equipped with two extruders, due to which it could print two objects at the same time.

14. Carima (South Korea)



SLA 3D-printer from Carima

A very interesting South Korean manufacturer. I have already come across several Carima devices intended for corporate clients. Carima has earned a reputation for its ultra-fast printing technology, which they called C-CAT (abbr. From Carima-Continuous Additive 3D Printing Technology). Their latest development, the DP 110E, also uses this revolutionary solution, which allows their devices to run up to 400 times faster than other similar printers.

15. Moment 3D Printer (South Korea)



3D printer from Moment

Another representative of South Korea with a very interesting brand is a desktop 3D printer from Moment. Appearance at 5, but a little expensive.

16. iFACT (South Korea)



Hercules LCD 3D printer from iFact. The add-in at its top also serves for printing.

And, perhaps, the last brand for today - again from South Korea - is iFact with a line of SLA 3D printers. We could not find at least some information about the company on the Internet, but by all indications - they make serious cars for a serious business. The brochure that I took in contains information about the device with dimensions of 340x190x290 mm. Hercules (this is what the printer is called) uses an LCD power source through which photo-polymerizes liquid fibers.

Additional photos from the exhibition:



























































































Summing up, I can conclude that our visit to the Tokyo exhibition turned out to be very eventful. First of all, we understood what a gap lies between the western and eastern approaches to doing business. At the exhibition, we often had to feel like strangers, whom they would not let close to individual stands. However, much here, probably, can be attributed to the language barrier.

Another interesting point was the difference between American / European companies that promote their brands in every possible way, and Asian companies that do not seem to worry at all about whether their product is advertised online, whether it will be exported abroad or will forever remain the property of local markets. The culture of doing business is fundamentally different from what is being preached in the same Silicon Valley.

On this review comes to an end. We hope that, thanks to our review, you have learned something new for yourself - or at least discovered a couple of new names for yourself.

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