Makerbot is continuing to make news just a few months after being acquired by Stratasys. They released their first 3D scanner earlier this year, priced at $1400, and are poised to continue making a push for consumer level 3D fabrication machines and accessories. The newest development is an addition of a big time advertising firm, as seen in this AdAge article. This is a pretty good sign that the push to market their newest lines to consumers is something to be taken seriously.
Currently the Replicator 2 has a list price of $2200, still out of the range of many consumers. I would be surprised if there is not something signifcantly cheaper within the year. With competition from the $1400 Cube by 3DS it is likely that Makerbot is doing everything possible to roll out a lower cost version of the current Replicator, the addition of a consumer focused advertising agency may be a sign of them gearing up for a new launch.
The agency, Droga5, is nothing to scoff at either. A 3D printer may not be ideal for big time TV campaigns but what really is these days? Droga5 can certainly bring some creative ideas and has shown the ability to execute large scale multi-media campaigns. With a client list that includes such heavy hitters as American Express, Coca Cola, and Unilever (to list only a few) there are ample opportunities for cross promotional fun as well.
It will take some time to get everything together but 2014 should be another interesting year for 3D printers. Let’s just hope someone finds a way to deliver a quality machine at a truly consumer level price.