Ryan Vaz, founder, Infinyt3D is conducting a seminar on 3D printing technology, its applications and technological implications along with Design Tech Systems where experts in the industry will educate enthusiastic entrepreneurs at GCCI auditorium in Panaji on June 9. Bharati Pawaskar meets Ryan Vaz to understand how this rapidly growing concept can offer numerous innovative solutions in a volatile market space
Technology is knocking at the door and one can’t pretend to be asleep. Having its applications and usage from health and medical field to engineering and education, today 3D printing industry is rapidly growing across the globe and with many start-ups showing interest in developing innovative ideas in implementing the technology in various fields; fortunately, India is not behind. The 3D printing technology has gone from a cutting-edge novelty to a growing and popular industry for new start-ups in recent years. The 3D printers create useful products ranging from jewellery and light fixtures to pizzas and replicas of human tissue. In a decade the 3D market is expected to touch 40 billion dollars.
The only authorised re-seller for four major brands including 3D Systems, Solid Scape, Flash Forge and Divide by Zero Technologies, is Ryan Vaz, founder, Infinyt3D who sells the 3D printing machines of these world leaders. Ryan also sells the filaments required for 3D printing – PLA and ABS. The 3D printers he sells can range from Rs 18,000 to Rs 4 crore and it is a consultative sale as Ryan has to understand the requirements of the clients before suggesting a printer applicable for their use. Just like up-gradation, awareness and education is a must in this industry, that’s why Ryan has been holding free talks, workshops and seminars in schools and colleges in Goa – to introduce the 3D printing technology at grass root level.
“In the seminar on June 9, we will be showcasing advanced 3D printing technologies from the world leaders such as Stratasys, Solidscape and Metal 3D Printing from SLM, to demonstrate how the manufacturing industry can leverage these technologies to attain maximum efficiency, and excellent product quality in minimum time and costs,” states Ryan. He is sure that the seminar on FDM, Polyjet, Metal and Wax based 3D Printing technology will make the entrepreneurs understand how they can derive highest ROI, stay competitive and resilient in this volatile market space using these technologies.
Ryan boasts to be the first entrepreneur in Goa who foreseeing the future of 3D printing, ventured in the business in 2013 with Infinyt3D though his interest in this sector was ignited way back in 2003 when the industry was prohibitive and the cheapest machine was sold at more than two crore rupees.
Ryan recalls, “It was a prohibitive industry then, in 2003 and the cheapest machine was sold at Rs 2.1 crore. The patent expired in 2009 and there was a boom in the industry with lots of cheaper machines flooding the market.” Keeping a track of the business development and umpteen opportunities of innovation, Ryan planned to plunge in the business seriously in 2013, launching his company Infinyt3D which today is the first company in Goa that’s been offering 3D printing from August 2014.
“It was self-learning and self-teaching. I held my first workshop in December 2014 and bagged my first order in April-May 2015, which was a cover for a biometric scanner for a company in Chennai,” recalls Ryan who felt the need to make people aware of 3D Printing technology and so went to schools and colleges to organise 90 minute presentation, free of cost. Since 2015 he has undertaken around 40 free presentations in Goa to explain the technology, different methods, career opportunities and where this technology is being used.
“Students have reciprocated very well as they are thrilled to see the uses of the machine and what it can print for them. For children it can give a major boost but in India it is still upcoming and not taken off because of the reluctance of the schools to accept the technology but it can be useful in toys. Prototyping ideas and not stopping only at sketches, children can bring ideas to life. Software like Google Sketch can be used even by a six-seven-year-old kid. There are lot of career and entrepreneurship opportunities for the youth who can translate their ideas into something that’s possible,” shares Ryan.
In his workshops the children make anything from a mango to a bird or even a helicopter from the PLA and ABS. While PLA is not harmful as it is not a petroleum based item. It is based on vegetable product made out of sugarcane, beetroot or corn starch and is edible and easily digestible. It is absorbed by the body. The colours and properties are different, as it’s a biodegradable plastic. The medical industry uses this type of plastic for surgical implants and surgical guides. The dental implants use directly printed ceramic. The stitches used in surgeries are made of such material which dissolves in the body. The body parts in bio-printing are made of PLA and human cells (cartilage tissues).
“However ABS is car dash board material and is stronger plastic, used for engineering purposes. It is toxic and not recommended for children,” explains Ryan. Every automotive industry has a 3D printer and they use it for proto typing and making jigs and fixtures. The other types of material used for 3D printing are gold, silver, titanium, wood, glass, ceramic, rubber and stainless steel. The revolutionary manufacturing process allows start-ups to create fast, affordable prototypes and set their ideas in motion.
Rapid advances in 3D printing and additive manufacturing now enables to better imagine, design, develop, and manufacture the future. The world is changing faster than one can imagine and the future lies in 3D printing. India’s largest users are in the jewellery industry and medical as well as engineering sector. Ryan has trained IFB employees to use 3D printers. In Goa CIBA as well as BITS Pilani has 3D printers. People have individual machines too.
Ryan sells 3D pens as well as filaments for 3D pens which can be used to create designs. These filaments have various properties – they glow in the dark, change colour, are heat sensitive, made of soft, flexible material and are like carbon fibre and wood fibre. “It is an important tool in STEM education which is a more and more accepted curriculum based on 4 specific disciplines – science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Now creativity has also become a part of it making it STEAM. Enhancing artistic abilities in exposing the creative side of a child is a need. Given the right tools children can surprise us. Our Verna office is set up only for internship programmes and field trips for children and we sell 3D pens between Rs 1500-7000,” quips Ryan.
