Jonathan Jaglom, a high-profile govt within the 3D printing world, started his profession at Objet and climbed the ranks by senior roles at Stratasys earlier than ultimately main Makerbot. Tied to the identical investor group that initially backed Objet, Jaglom is now steering a brand new enterprise: flō. This Israeli startup is zeroing in on a singular area of interest throughout the optics {industry}. Whereas corporations like King Kids and Materialise have aimed to disrupt body manufacturing, and Meta’s acquisition of Luxexcel has centered on creating optically clear lenses, flō is carving out its personal path by specializing in lens coatings.
The corporate intends to deploy inkjet-based 3D printing method to use distinctive, multi-material, multi-layer coatings to lenses. This modern method jets materials at a voxel degree, permitting for distinctive precision. Materials is strategically positioned solely the place wanted, enabling the creation of lenses with distinctive functionalities, particularly tailor-made for explicit makes use of.
Past making lenses extra useful, flō goals to supply the ophthalmic and eyewear sectors a better, extra environment friendly course of, serving to companies to differentiate themselves within the market. Think about lenses with particular coatings designed for wakeboarders to enhance imaginative and prescient on water, or for pilots to higher distinguish contrasts within the sky. This sort of innovation may spawn new fashions and functionalities, inspiring recent causes for shoppers—whether or not athletes, informal wearers, or professionals—to buy eyewear.
From an financial standpoint, the chance is important. The ophthalmic coating market alone is estimated to be price round $15 billion and encompasses not simply eyewear but in addition coatings for photo voltaic panels and client electronics. A versatile digital course of like flō’s may, subsequently, have monumental financial implications. Within the eyewear sector, unsold stock stays a perennial difficulty. Thus, a extra adaptable, on-demand manufacturing technique can be a game-changer. Moreover, the potential for upselling present clients with specialised variations—like a coating optimized for nighttime driving—signifies that differentiation is of particular curiosity on this market. In comparison with present analog “dipping” processes, prices may very well be saved, whereas manufacturing is made extra environment friendly and environmentally pleasant.
¨flō’s platform equips ophthalmic labs with one holistic system that permits them to simply introduce a wide range of coating options. Our imaginative and prescient is to supply a versatile, ever-evolving, unified platform in order that clients can generate no matter coatings wanted. Prices are reduce down by minimizing stock bills, gear prices, waste, and the necessity for labor-intensive coating necessities,” Jaglom advised 3DPrint.com.
flō CEO Jonathan Jaglom.
“Provided that flō makes use of a digital method in its coating course of, outcomes are extra predictable and human error is enormously lowered permitting for top of the range coatings to be persistently generated from the flō platform. Some coatings, resembling photochromic coatings, can’t be finished on the lab-level and must be ordered from the lens producer,” Jaglom added. “This creates extra price for ophthalmic labs. flō’s platform permits for a number of coating options, offering flexibility, and eliminating the necessity for top mounted prices and labor. Our expertise permits customers to customise coatings in shade, gradient and even in graphic design and we goal to supply true mass customization all the way down to the person.”
Jonathan was interested in flō as a result of it “solves actual world issues utilizing digital expertise.” He believes that the agency can actually disrupt the eyewear market. However what about finish clients? Will this assist them?
“Due to our digital expertise utilizing [AM], clients can have a spread of choices that they by no means got here throughout earlier than, and for much less cash. Tints could be finished in no matter gradient desired and no matter shade chosen. Moreover, graphic arts could be utilized,” Jaglom mentioned.
Past eyewear, Jaglom sees flō as being uniquely centered on utilizing “additive to place supplies which have each optical readability and performance on non-flat surfaces.” In that manner, he sees alternatives in client electronics, medical units, automotive and protection.
I recognize that flō isn’t simply one other “3D printing is cool” startup, neither is it an OEM relying solely on the expansion of the additive manufacturing market. What excites me is that flō is tackling real points in different industries. To me, additive expertise is a method to an finish, not the top itself. On this case, flō has the potential to dramatically rework the ophthalmic lab panorama by providing a expertise that might yield actual price financial savings, enhance time-to-market, and provide flexibility and new product strains. This sort of industry-specific focus may, if profitable, considerably develop the attain of our market.
I’m of the assumption that the longer term is far more about companies like flō, which goal to unlock the advantages of 3D printing for different markets, somewhat than simply preaching to the choir with machines designed for many who are already converts to the expertise. So you may guess I’ll be conserving a detailed eye on Jonathan and his endeavors.
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