3D printing of toys – a passing trend or a new branch of the AM business?
The Atomic Layers: S5E28 (00144)
Atomic Layer of the Day:
For several months now, the topic of 3D-printed toys has been making waves. This isn’t about prototyping or printing a few models at home for personal use, but rather full-scale industrial production.
Recently, Guillaume de Calan, CEO of NanoE, sparked a lively discussion on LinkedIn with his post about the future of 3D-printed toys. Shortly after, Edward Wakefield published an article on VoxelMatters detailing the operations of Jinqi, a Chinese company producing tens of thousands of 3D-printed toys daily.
The question is - does it make sense?
Many of us have seen videos or photos showing hundreds of Bambu Lab or Creality K1 printers churning out colorful dragons, eggs, spinners, keychains, or modular figurines. While most of these operations are based in China, similar setups are appearing in Europe and the U.S.
For owners of 3D printers, these gadgets often provoke a smirk of skepticism. Many have printed such trinkets, only to see them gather dust on shelves. But turning this into a business? Really? Who buys these things?
Apparently, a lot of people. Enough to fuel the rapid growth of companies dedicated to producing these simple toys on a massive scale. Some 3D printing farms now boast thousands of machines.
The global market for 3D-printed toys, though still relatively small at an estimated €100 million, offers a fascinating glimpse into a niche that could revolutionize production in the toy industry.
A prime example of this trend is Jinqi, a company based in Yiwu, China. In 2023, they launched their "dinosaur egg" toy—a relatively simple but colorful and creative product that became a bestseller in Europe and the U.S. Known for its unique design, vibrant colors, and playability, the toy resonated with customers who enjoy hands-on assembly.
Jinqi currently produces about 30,000 toy sets daily, with over 70% of their products exported. In 2023, the company operated 500 3D printers. By the end of 2024, that number had grown to 3,500, with plans to expand to 10,000 in the coming years. This rapid growth underscores the scalability of 3D-printed toy production.
Western companies like Slant 3D in the U.S. and 3DKFactory in France are attempting to replicate this model, focusing on small-batch production for custom orders. However, the segment faces several challenges, including economic viability compared to traditional injection molding and intellectual property (IP) concerns.
3D printing is particularly advantageous for small and medium-sized companies entering the market. The high costs of molds for injection molding often act as a barrier, but 3D printing offers an affordable alternative for low-volume production.
On one hand, 3D-printed toys present a world of possibilities. Personalized toys, board game figurines, and prototypes are just a few of the potential applications. On the other hand, there’s a risk of overproduction and market saturation. Currently, 3D-printed toys often serve as festival souvenirs or novelty items, and large-scale production of more complex toys struggles to compete with traditional methods in terms of cost.
Chinese printing farms like those in Yiwu demonstrate the potential scalability of this market. Producing simple, visually appealing toys has found a strong audience internationally. However, long-term success in this industry hinges on creating unique, hard-to-replicate designs that avoid direct competition with cheaper, traditionally manufactured alternatives.
If this trend turns out to be a bubble, a market correction could lead to a flood of second-hand 3D printers and a collapse in the production of silk-based filaments.
But if the production of affordable, festive toys proves sustainable, many of us may have missed out on a massive business opportunity.
Atomic Layer from the Past:
12-28-2015: 3D Systems announced the discontinuation of Cube 3D printers and the Cubify brand.
News & Gossip:
Japanese researchers at Tohoku University have developed a groundbreaking Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) process for multi-material 3D printing. By optimizing scan speeds, they minimized brittle intermetallic compounds in steel-aluminum alloys. This advancement enabled the creation of durable, lightweight automotive components, including the first 3D-printed suspension tower, showcasing potential across various industries.
Read my latest column at VoxelMatters: “The sale of expensive 3D printers is a marathon, but the economy forces a sprint”.
And by the way - guess who still didn’t write a word about Nexa3D on their websites…?