When we explain 3D printing to people for the first time there is a look of confusion on their face – “So.. do you need glasses to see it?” is a common question.

As the scope and potential of 3D printing dawns on them their eyes widen and the questions come thick and fast – “can you print in metals?”, “can you print circuit boards?”, “can you print in chocolate?” (the answer is yes to all these).

The questions dry up and the ideas then start flowing – “I could design my own jewellery!”, “I could print a custom car!”, “I could make really personal gifts!”.

Beehive hatched from the hive after a conversation about the future of manufacturing. The end of it went something like:

“So even though these days we make tens of thousands of identical copies of stuff that doesn’t quite meet our needs, in the future we can make tens of thousands of individual products that meet each individuals needs.

“Well…. Why wait for the future? Let’s do it now!”

Welcome to Beehive.