WhiteClouds 3D Printing Service Capitalizes on Growth of 3D Image Data

WhiteClouds is a forward-looking, creative provider of full-color 3D printing services. It was founded in 2013 with a goal of bringing 3D printing to the masses. Since then, the company has quickly evolved into a cloud-based 3D-printing-as-as-service platform for businesses.

In their facility in Ogden, Utah, WhiteClouds uses a fleet of 3D printers and CNC cutters to create architectural models, prototypes, end-use parts, anatomical models, topographical maps, and video-game models for businesses in  healthcare, architecture, construction, real estate, and entertainment. WhiteClouds can print monochrome or vibrant, full-color models in over 200 different materials.

“Our goal is to be the hub for companies looking to expand their offerings through 3D printing,” said Braden Ellis, chief revenue officer of WhiteClouds. “Nearly every industry can benefit from this technology and we are here to make that possible in a way that is cost effective and easy to implement.”

Within each vertical market, WhiteClouds is building streamlined pathways for converting 3D designs and imaging data into tangible, 3D objects.

A chart on the WhiteClouds website shows how much 3D online content is expected to surge over the next three years in fields such as CT/MRI scanning, video gaming, augmented and virtual reality, architectural plans, prototypes, parts, TV and movies, and branded intellectual property.

In 2016, WhiteClouds acquired companies or built partnerships with firms that were already active in many of these fields.

3DyourMap

For example, the White Clouds’ 3DyourMap service helps users of the DroneDeploy platform for commercial drones convert imagery of topography and terrain into full-scale, colored 3D models. DroneDeploy is the leading cloud software platform for commercial drones and is making the power of aerial data available to everyone, including industries such as agriculture, construction, mining, inspection, and surveying.

According to PwC, the global market for businesses using drones is expected to top $127 billion by 2020. DroneDeploy users have mapped and analyzed over 8 million acres in over 135 countries.

Using the 3DyourMap app from the DroneDeploy App Store, businesses can send some of their drone imagery directly to WhiteClouds’ servers. From there, technical engineers will use different types of materials to produce customized map models.

 

“Businesses are just beginning to see the benefits of integrating drone-capture imagery into planning and implementing new solutions,” said Nicholas Pilkington, DroneDeplay’s CTO and co-founder.

“Transmitting drone data and creating customized, physical models of data gives companies an edge and bridges the gap between digital and physical,” said WhiteClouds’ Braden Ellis. “It has always been our mission to help our business partners push the limits and achieve more with 3D printing.”

3DyourScan

To help provide peace of mind for the 230 million surgeries performed each year, WhiteClouds has launched 3DyourSCAN. Through this service, White Clouds can provide life-size color printed, anatomical models of a patient’s CT/MRI scan.

“3DyourSCAN will help doctors better visualize complex clinical scenarios and improve collaboration among physicians and patients,” said Jerry Ropelato, CEO of WhiteClouds.

The models printed at WhiteClouds’ feature patent-pending “Hinge & Slice” technology that provides the most granular, detailed patient-specific models available to surgeons.

White Clouds 3D medical model
Medical model printed with “Hinge & Slice” technology at WhiteClouds.

Medically related projects already make up 15 percent of annual 3D printing industry revenue according to a recent UPS / Consumer Technology Association (CTA) study. With the 3D printing industry set to value at $21 billion by 2020 (according to the same study), 3D printed medical services and devices are on target to become a bigger and bigger part of the 3D printing landscape moving forward.

Dr. Jay Bishoff, Director of the Intermountain Urological Institute for Intermountain Health Care, sees the technology making “good surgeons into great surgeons. These visual models revolutionize the way we perform surgery by providing insight that even the trained eye could not have seen before.”

“If you put a 3D model of a patient in the hands of a surgeon, they immediately realize the value. It helps in the education of patient and family, training of residents and fellows, and planning surgical approaches,” said Dr. Edward P Quigley III MD Ph.D. from the University of Utah Radiology, Advanced Visualization and 3D Printing team.

3DplusMe

Through the 3DplusMe capture-to-print service, WhiteClouds helps the world’s biggest brands create new products that engage customers. Brands have tapped into the technology to create customized and personalized experiences for top characters, toys, action figures, sports heroes, and more.

3DplusMe has worked with leading brand partners such as Marvel, Hasbro, Major League Baseball (MLB), Major League Soccer (MLS), DreamWorks, and Halo. 3DplusMe also has channel partnerships with Target, Toys ‘R Us, Walmart, and Sam’s Club.

3DyourPLAN

3DyourPLAN brings 2D architectural plans to the next level, enabling building projects of all sizes to be more easily developed and realized. According to WhiteClouds, a relatively small upfront investment in 3D modeling typically leads to real cost savings, and is a more efficient way to generate multiple design options quickly and effectively. The investment in 3D models improves outcomes and maximizes how construction resources are spent.

3D printed models by WhiteClouds enable new homeowners to visualize every design detail before construction begins.

Partnerships and Acquisitions

TeraRecon: WhiteClouds has partnered with TeraRecon, a leading provider of advanced visualization software. Through this partnership, medical experts at 4,000 installations worldwide can print highly detailed patient models directly from the TeraRecon software.

According to Jeff Sorenson, TeraRecon’s President and CEO, “WhiteClouds’ technology gives our customers instant access to 3D printing resources that would otherwise have high barriers to entry. Clinicians have already proven 3D printing to be a useful tool as the medical industry continues to progress towards personalized healthcare. We are excited to work with WhiteClouds to not only make 3D printing accessible, but to also make prints that set a new standard and are remarkable in terms of their detail and realism.”

Anatomy Warehouse: WhiteClouds’ 3DyourSCAN is offered in 190 categories of anatomical models available on the Anatomy Warehouse website. Medical students, medical professionals, and educational organizations also use Anatomy Warehouse to order anatomical charts and posters.

Sandboxr: WhiteClouds acquired Sandboxr, the foremost 3D printer and software developer of video-game collectibles. Through its patented Digital-to-Doorstep platform, Sandboxr serves some of the world’s largest game and entertainment companies, including LionsGate, Nintendo, Microsoft, Amazon, WarGaming, Cartoon Network, and Disney Interactive.

3DPlusMe: WhiteClouds announced the acquisition of 3DplusMe in January, 2016. 3DplusMe was the first company to offer a technology platform for 3D face scanning for 3D printed personalized merchandise with major brands. They also built a technology platform that makes 3D experiences turnkey, repeatable, scalable, and customizable to the brand.

In a press release summarizing WhiteClouds’ 2016 achievements, CEO Jerry Ropelato say, “Our relentless focus on finding innovative ways to improve fields such as healthcare, architecture, gaming, and more has yielded a year of milestones we can proud of. We’ve only just scratched the surface of what advanced 3D printing can do for businesses and consumers alike.”