We spoke with Cesar Rodriguez who told us the tale of how he started up a 3D printing operation, Ideaz 3D in Hermosillo, Sonora.
If you don’t know, Hermosillo is a major city of 900,000 people, comprising the population and industrial hub of Sonora, which borders southern USA.
Rodriguez began his 3D printing adventure by using and selling small quantities of 3D printing equipment, including Ultimakers and Replicators as many have done elsewhere. But after doing some deeper market research, realized there could be a serious business in 3D printing.
With a launch fund of only USD$80,000, Rodriguez and team rented a building, in which the lower level was converted into Ideaz 3D’s showroom with five 3D printers on display. Aside from equipment sales, Ideaz 3D performed figurine scan/print, printed phone cases and similar basic 3D services.
Then things changed. It turns out that Hermosillo has a major manufacturing sector, particularly in automotive parts, as Ford Motor Company builds three different models in Hermosillo. But where does Ford get parts for these cars? From local manufacturers, who need to design the parts by prototyping.
Rodriguez realized this was a market even better than consumers, and thus Ideaz 3D began focusing on industry – and education. Today the company sells significant amounts of gear to local manufacturers and the university, specifically for prototyping.
Selling machines in larger batches means simplified importation of equipment from the USA, as Ideaz 3D can fill entire trucks with 3D printers and bring them across the border with a single customs operation. This lowers the price for their customers.
It seems that 3D printing is thriving in Mexico, as it is everywhere.
Via Ideaz 3D
