Uruguayan company Sur 3D was recognised at the Las Vegas CES 2017 technology show for software that allows anyone to design a product and have it in their hand in minutes using 3D printers.
Every year, the Digital Trends portal selects a company to award the prize for Latin American innovation. This year it was awarded to Sur 3D mainly for Selva, a programme that offers children and adults the possibility to design sweets, print them on the spot and eat them.
Founded in 2013, Sur 3D partnered with The Magic Candy Factory, the world's first manufacturer of 3D candy printers, to bring the system to more than 100 candy shops in New York, Dubai and various European cities. This is what Alejandro Lozdziejski, an engineer and one of the founders of Sur 3D, told El País.
"The award we received was given by the news portal Digital Trends, which is an American portal based in Portland. (Some of its members) go all over the fair and give out innovation awards in different categories. Our category is 'best Latin innovation' and includes all Latin American countries but also Spain," Lozdziejski explained.
CES is a consumer technology event that brings together leading companies from around the world. It is held every January in Las Vegas, Nevada; this year it was between 5 and 8.
"The booth we had offered a demonstration of the technology. There people could design their own fashion accessory using our software, and once they were happy with the design they had made, they would press a button and the machine would print it out so they could wear that fashion accessory that was created in less than 10 minutes," described the Uruguayan, who co-founded the company with architect Martina Moring.
The company has also worked with Pancakebot, the first 3D pancake printer, to generate the first selfies printed on pancakes. Yes, it makes it possible to print selfies in batter with two clicks, according to its developers, in one of the firm's most curious applications.
At CES, Sur 3D also presented a product for designing and printing toys. "We really had an excellent response. There were a lot of people, a very long queue at our stand," said Lozdziejski.
"We were able to see how this idea is also of great interest to fashion brands that want to start using this technology to offer more personalised products," added the Uruguayan engineer. The trend, he said, is towards each person having a unique product in the world. He is committed to offering tools so that anyone can create their own.
Sur 3D was originally created with the aim that anyone could have access to making their own 3D printed objects without any knowledge of printing technology.
At first they made the machines, but then they specialised in the software part. Currently, users with 3D printers can access the Selva programme at www.selva3D.com. In any case, their target audience is firms that want to use it as part of their proposal to the public, said the Uruguayan.
TAILOR-MADE TREATS IN MINUTES
The software created by the Uruguayans is used by Magic Candy Factory, an international giant that developed a machine for children, adults and the elderly to design their own candy and obtain it to taste in just minutes. The company's software has been used by more than 100 retailers around the world, according to its creators.
Source: El país
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