OPT Industries introduces ‘world’s first’ roll-to-roll 3D printing system for magnificence and private care sector

The Massachusetts-based superior manufacturing firm’s platform permits for automated, steady manufacturing of micro-scale buildings with out the necessity for conventional tooling or molds, that are options which will enchantment to manufacturers looking for flexibility, sooner lead instances, and home manufacturing options.

“Not like conventional 3D printers, we produce at micron-scale decision in a steady course of, enabling 24/7 lights-out manufacturing with options fantastic sufficient and quantity excessive sufficient for magnificence purposes like lashes and applicators,” Jifei Ou, CEO and Founding father of OPT Industries, instructed CosmeticsDesign US.

The corporate’s know-how helps a shift away from inflexible manufacturing fashions by decreasing dependency on handbook labor and abroad provide chains. “Our clients are real-world examples of manufacturers which might be efficiently embracing this new strategy to fabricate merchandise domestically, and for the primary time magnificence manufacturers can entry true mass customization at scale,” he stated.

Functions in lashes and applicators

Presently, OPT Industries is manufacturing two essential product classes: false eyelashes and beauty applicators, together with brushes for mascara, lip, and forehead merchandise.

Within the lash class, the corporate has utilized shape-memory supplies and gentle, versatile microstructures to allow customized curl patterns and designs not potential by typical manufacturing. “There’s no want for tooling or hand meeting, gluing or warmth fusing, ” stated Ou, which “means sooner lead instances, decrease upfront prices, and extra design flexibility for manufacturers.”

For applicators, the know-how permits engineering of “bristle shapes, hole buildings, and floor textures on the micron degree,” he defined, with the purpose of enhancing utility efficiency and product pickup.

Accelerating velocity to market

Based on Ou, one of many platform’s core benefits is its potential to assist manufacturers reply to shopper tendencies with shortened growth cycles. “As a substitute of ready months to reply to tendencies, manufacturers can now transfer from concept to manufacturing in weeks,” he stated.

Utilizing false lashes for instance, he famous that conventional manufacturing processes typically contain abroad prototyping and manufacturing with minimal order portions and lengthy lead instances. “With OPT’s platform, we are able to design, take a look at, and produce new lash kinds in a matter of days. No tooling,” he stated.

Case examine: TAD Magnificence

One instance is OPT’s collaboration with US-based model TAD, which used the platform to develop a line of DIY eyelash extensions. Ou stated the road grew to become the primary eyelash product manufactured within the US, incorporating vertical microstructures for simpler utility and a proprietary shape-memory materials.

“Individuals describe the lashes as ‘light-weight, gentle, and extremely natural-looking.’ One reviewer stated they’ve ‘by no means discovered a lash that holds a curl this properly,’” he famous. From the model’s perspective, the power to go from idea to manufacturing shortly whereas sustaining management over design was a key profit.

Sustainability advantages

Along with velocity and suppleness, OPT’s platform could supply sustainability benefits by on-demand manufacturing and diminished materials waste. “Our course of is digital and additive, that means we use solely the fabric wanted, and no waste from molds or tooling,” stated Ou. He added that the system consumes much less power than conventional injection molding and eliminates emissions tied to abroad transport.

He additionally highlighted the platform’s position in stock administration, explaining that on-demand manufacturing allows manufacturers to attenuate overproduction and keep away from holding extra inventory.

Future outlook

Wanting forward, OPT Industries plans to broaden its purposes to areas resembling “microneedles and skin-contact applicators, the place type, perform, and security all matter,” Ou stated.

The corporate can be investing in capabilities for personalised product growth. “Think about customized lashes, magnificence instruments, and even nails made to fit your needs, identical to a dentist tailors a retainer or aligner,” he added.

Ou positioned the corporate not simply as a producer however as a collaborative know-how companion. “In the event you’ve ever thought, ‘This design is simply too advanced to fabricate,’ or ‘Our present vendor might by no means make this,’ that’s the place we are available,” he concluded.