Consumer 3D printers are becoming the most popular "new toy" among China's younger generation. The so-called "digital kids," who have been familiar with digital devices since childhood, are enjoying the hobby of creating their own items using generative artificial intelligence (AI), leading to rapid growth in the related market.
Shiao, a 1990s-born office worker living in Shanghai, has recently taken up the hobby of making stress-relief toys using a 3D printer from Chinese company Bambulab (Chinese name: 拓竹科技). She utilizes design files downloaded from the internet to print everything from animated figures to movie merchandise and Gundam robot models.
According to Xiaohongshu, often referred to as China's version of Instagram, 3D printing emerged as one of the rapidly rising interests in China last year. The platform saw a 238% increase in searches related to 3D printing compared to the previous year, with cumulative views of related posts exceeding 1.64 billion.
In the past, users needed to know how to operate specialized design software, but advancements in AI now allow users to easily create 3D models by simply typing in desired shapes or making simple sketches, significantly lowering the entry barrier for general consumers.
At the center of the consumer 3D printer craze in China is the startup Bambulab, founded in 2020 by engineers from the drone company DJI. They applied stabilization technology, originally developed to reduce camera shake in drones, to achieve fast and precise printing performance in 3D printers.
Notably, Bambulab's 'X1 Carbon' series, launched in 2022, has gained the nickname "the iPhone of 3D printers" due to its high output quality and user-friendly design, earning a spot on Time magazine's list of the best inventions of 2022.
According to Chinese media, Bambulab's revenue surpassed 10 billion yuan (approximately $2.2 billion) last year, with cumulative shipments exceeding 1 million units.
Industry experts note that Bambulab's competitiveness lies not only in its hardware performance but also in its software and user ecosystem development.
The design-sharing platform operated by Bambulab, MakerWorld, currently hosts over 2.6 million 3D design model files. Users can download their desired designs via smartphone and send them to the printer, allowing them to create everyday items like smartphone stands or toys in about an hour. Creators who upload designs receive points based on download counts, which can be exchanged for various products.
A Bambulab representative told the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, "While competitors can quickly catch up in hardware, building an ecosystem is challenging in the short term. Our core competitiveness lies in nurturing software and the user community together."
The company is expanding beyond online sales into the offline market. Since September of last year, it has opened stores in Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Nanjing, where it offers free 3D printing experience classes for children twice a day. Family consumers are a key target audience.
Experts analyze that China's strong emphasis on science and engineering education, along with the growth of the AI industry, is supporting the expansion of the consumer 3D printer market. As generative AI and humanoid robots rapidly spread into daily life, the experience of designing and creating items is becoming a new form of play and education.
The market outlook is also promising. British IT market research firm Context predicts that this year, Chinese companies will account for about 90% of the global consumer 3D printer market, with Bambulab expected to hold a 37% share. Context stated, "China has reached a status in the consumer 3D printing sector similar to that of Japan in the consumer electronics market in the 1980s."
Global market research firm QY Research forecasts that the global consumer 3D printer market will grow to $2.1 billion this year, a 16% increase from the previous year, and is expected to expand to $4.7 billion by 2031.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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