I was sent an article by a friend about a man who was manufacturing using 3D printing and saw a banner ad link about a 3D printing event at the Javits Center. The ad talked about how 3D machines allowed you to manufacture products.
I was immediately intrigued! I knew I had to learn more because if the company I read about was able to manufacture in Brooklyn, then so could I. Years ago I had a toy company and did all my manufacturing in China. I hated those long 22 hour flights I took at least four times a year and disliked being on the flip side of the Eastern time zone. Manufacturing in the U.S. appealed to me. Maybe, I would consider getting back in the toy business.
But first, I needed to learn about 3D printing. I saw it as my way to enter the toy business.
I attended the Javits Center 3D Printing event and was hooked. Then, in the same week, New York 1 featured a story about a company in a design space who was making spoons for babies using 3D printing. New Lab Design. This prompted me to send the following email to Macro Sea, the company responsible for building out the design space featured in the news report:
I just saw David Belt and Scott Cohen featured in NY1 and I am reaching out to you because I would like to be considered as a business to join your beta group at Macro Sea.
I am trying to manufacture a product with 3D technology and am in the middle of writing a business plan for a new company that would produce products using 3D manufacturing.
I am excited because when I was in the toy business in 1985, all my products were manufactured in China. I attended the recent 3D Printing Conference and Expo at the Javits Center and saw all the possibilities of true just-in-time inventory and the ability to manufacture to real-time market needs.
To know that you are in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, which is in walking distance from my home, is a great coincidence.
I would like to talk with you about possibly being a part of your beta group of companies and tell you more about my company and its products and mission.
Please let me know how I can make an appointment to meet with David Belt or Scott Cohen. I am including my resume (which does not include my new business venture), but gives you an idea about my capabilities and community involvement.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
I included my phone number and received a call from one of the directors of the company. She then put me in touch with the president of Terreform One, Maria Aiolova.
She is a very accomplished architect and designer and her company is “a non-profit design group that promotes smart design in cities.”
We talked about design and 3D printing. I told her about my interests and we continue to communicate. I send her articles about 3D printing and am planning to meet with her in November about some new 3D printers they will have.
During this same time, I saw a CUNY post about Business Meets 3D Digital Design and met Prof. Monica Dean who was at the Javits 3D event at Baruch during a seminar I was attending.
I learned about the course and was excited to know that I could take my 3D curiosity to another level and actually be taught about it! Cheers and excitement!
