Collin Boring, the founder and CTO of YOUNGSTOWN-3D printing company Rugged 3D, was looking for a suitable location to relocate his company from San Francisco to other places-and found that Youngstown Business Incubator was the best choice.
“I would have gone to the moon if that is where this type of ecosystem would have been,” he said. “It’s really important to me to put my company and its future somewhere where I know it can succeed. And that’s here,” he said.
Boring and YBI announced on Tuesday during a panel discussion on additive manufacturing and advanced manufacturing that Rugged 3D will be relocated to the incubator, chaired by YBI CEO Barb Ewing.
The so-called “ecosystem”, boring refers to other additive manufacturing companies already in business incubators, such as JuggerBot 3D, Fitz Frames, Freshmade 3D, and Strangpresse.
Pauling, who was born in Guangzhou, said that another part of the “ecosystem” is available resources, such as legal advice, grant writing, and internships through Youngstown State University.
Tech Block
The company moved its manufacturing plant and offices to a 5,000-square-foot facility at YBI’s Tech Block Building 5, the former Youngstown Vindicator office building purchased and refurbished by YBI.
Rugged 3D manufactures parts at another plant in northeastern Ohio, but plans to eventually manufacture them in Building 5.
Pauling used to run his company in San Francisco, the “Tech Capital of the World”, which was not where his company was located.
“We realized we needed to be surrounded by people, businesses and an ecosystem that supports additive manufacturing, heavy industries, including the military, manufacturing, oil and gas and other similar heavy applications,” he said.
“This is truly an amazing place to be as an additive manufacturing company,” he said.
The company currently has only two employees, but it is expected to double this year and expand to eight by the end of 2021.
YBI is also home to America Makes, which is America’s leading partner in additive manufacturing and 3D printing research and innovation.
3D printer
Boring showed reporters two 3D printers produced by his company-one weighing 62 pounds and the other weighing 110 pounds.
He explained that the inspiration for the company came from his brother, a Marine Corps pilot, who told him “His helicopter has been grounded for 3D printing in the wild.”
They learned that the military uses 3D printers, but sometimes they get damaged. They believe that 3D printers need to be “reinforced.” His printer is difficult to damage.
“I have thrown both of these downstairs multiple times. Both have a full shock-absorbing system,” he said.
What that means is “the entire 3D printing system is fully suspended inside” so the internal parts do not come in contact with the case, he said.
Military personnel in a wartime situation or in an aircraft, for example, cannot bring every tool and the spare part they may need with them, he said.
“You can’t bring every replacement part or every tool with you. Inventory is extremely precious. The space you have needs to be used for ammunition, firepower, medicine and food — things that are mission-critical,” he said.
Rugged 3D plans to develop additional types of 3D printers in the next 18 months, including one that will print bombs and grenades. “You need to have the capability in the field and not wait months for it to arrive in the field,” Boring said.