The Kerala-based printer has recently invested in the new CubePro Duos 3D printer and is upbeat about the product.

 

Shaji Damodar, director at Reflections Offset Prints, said, “The future of 3D printing is bright and in the future, the 3D technology will be applied in many fields like engineering, architecture, and medical (dentistry and orthopaedic). With this new investment, we will be catering applications like photo-typing, modelling, and designing. Our focus customers will be product designers, R&D of existing manufacturing companies and students who are into designing.”

 

Shaji, who started his printing business in 1995, said, “Except packaging, most of the paper applications like brochures, pamphlets and books to a certain extent are going to be paperless due to digitalisation and the impact of visual media. We have started with 3D printing because the 3D technology will be highly applicable in many fields and in the near future, it will be also considered as a business diversion.”

 

With the offset printing business as the main platform, the firm has few key clients such as Marico Industries, Bull Machines and Fluid Control Research Institute (FCRI). Today, the company is focussing on the industrial segment.

 

Talking about the experience of selecting the right 3D printer Shaji, said, “As a matter of fact I was in search for a 3D printer for a couple of years. As the technology is advancing, the cost of machinery is also soaring high. So I had to wait till I found the right machine at an affordable price and this machine just fit into our requirement. One of the reasons to go with this machine, as the machine filaments are fully covered, the products will have high quality and consistency.”

 

According to Shaji, being a new technology, it might take some time for the customers to realise the potential of the 3D printing. But soon, the 3D printing will prove to be highly useful in many fields. “Most of the demand comes from the designers and the modelling industry,” added Damodar.

 

While talking to PrintWeek India, Shaji, who is also passionate and car enthusiast, was restoring his father’s (C Damodaran) car, Ford Cortina 1969 model. This car was displayed at the Moto Expo, 2016 organised by Malayala Manorama, the Malayalam news daily and Nehru Group of Institutions, held at Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium Ground, Palakkad in Kerala from 29 to 31 January 2016.

 

Traditionally Damodar family had a rice mill business. During 1993, the family had seen a printing press with desktop publishing, which inspired, Shaji, to invest in a press. In 1995, Shaji started a printing unit as a business diversion, which soon became a full-time business in 2000.

 

The CubePro Duos 3D printing systems with Plastic Jet Printing (PJP) technology does multi-material and triple colour printing with a high-resolution at 70-micron layers or 300-microns for high-speed drafting. Its controlled-climate chamber and largest-in-class build volume bring the prints to new heights. There are three different material options to choose from the strong ABS, compostable PLA, and durable nylon. 

 

The machine has been installed by the Chennai-based Monotech Systems, who manufacture a range of printing equipment in multiple segments besides being the Indian representative of several overseas manufacturers.

 

Akash Kumar of Monotech Systems, said, “We are focussing on the market, wherever prototyping is required and with a target in jewellery, automobile, real estate, engineering and construction markets.”

 

Monotech Systems had displayed the new CubePro 3D printer at the recently held Media Expo show in Mumbai.