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Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1222419
APRIL 2020 BCBUSINESS 63 ISTOCK ■ PRINT ON DEMAND British Columbians are just starting to explore the many uses for 3D printing, but they've had the service at their fingertips for some time. 3DSmith Studios in downtown Vancouver and Burnaby's Forge Labs opened their doors in 2016. Both places help customers print everything from tires to action figures, though the latter is more suited to industrial jobs. It's not only big cities getting in on the fun; earlier this year, rural Canada's first 3D metal printer arrived at Midas Lab in Trail. ■ BUSINESS MODEL Entrepreneurs are now building businesses around 3D-printed products. Vancouver-based shoemaker Casca Designs, for example, prints custom soles based on the buyer's foot. Uploading photos to Casca's app generates a 20,000-point 3D model of your feet that the company uses to shape your shoes. Also from Vancouver is startup YodelTech, whose flagship product, YodelUp, a smart watch for the winter sports crowd, is partly 3D-printed. ■ HOME IMPROVEMENT Can 3D printing solve the housing crisis? B.C. engineer Paul Tinari claims that his printer can assemble a 2,700-square-foot home in 24 to 48 hours. Tinari is still a ways away from putting that belief into action, but he plans to start by building houses on a First Nations reserve on Vancouver Island. We're sure the construction industry won't have any complaints about that. • ON T R E N D ANOTHER DIMENSION 3D printing is hot off the presses by Nathan Caddell We have a bold vision for the future. Join our team at technicalsafetybc.ca/careers Everything we do has the safety of British Columbians in mind. Are you passionate about working for a purpose driven and innovative organization? C M Y CM MY CY CMY K diversity ad test.pdf 3 12/10/2019 9:51:38 AM Untitled-107 1 12/11/19 10:34 AM Employee Benefits are evolving. Are you? Over the years, Employee Benefits have remained relatively unchanged while employee needs have shifted dramatically. Time to catch up? Maximizing Employee Benefits requires rethinking the traditional. Today's needs are diverse and require flexibility and inclusion. Every organization is different. Shouldn't your employee benefits plan support your unique needs? 104–6351 197 Street Langley, BC V2Y 1X8 OFFICE 604.888.4521 TOLL-FREE 1.877.777.5552 ascensionbenefits.com AscensionBenefits-1/3sq.indd 1 2019-12-02 2:05 PM