Why equipment matters to our vision
Our vision is simple to state: Ideas travel. Opportunity stays local. A design can move across the world in seconds, but the object itself should be made nearby, by a local business, and delivered locally. You can read more about that ambition in our vision.
Between the design and the doorstep sits a machine. In our planned service-node model, printing equipment and materials are intended to be provided through the platform, while participating merchants contribute a suitable workspace, electricity and hands-on care. That makes the printer one of the most important decisions we will take. A merchant’s reputation, a customer’s trust and a creator’s work all pass through it.
So we are not looking for the longest specification sheet. We are looking for equipment, and suppliers, that make careful local production dependable.
What we care about
These are the topics we expect to explore with any supplier. None is a formality.
Print capability that fits real work
We want to understand what a machine does well, and where its limits are: build volume, achievable detail, supported processes and materials, and the kinds of objects it suits. Equipment that is right for the work matters more than equipment that does everything on paper.
Repeatable quality
Our planned workflow asks merchants to quality-check every piece, photograph finished work and present it for customer acceptance before delivery. That only works if the same file, material and settings produce consistent results across machines and locations. Calibration routines, stability over long runs and predictable behaviour are central to our thinking.
Safe operation
Service nodes are intended to be ordinary local businesses, not specialist factories. We want to discuss enclosures, thermal and electrical safety, ventilation guidance, fault handling and the documentation a merchant would need to operate equipment responsibly.
Maintenance and spare parts
A printer that cannot be repaired quickly is a node that cannot serve its community. We are interested in routine maintenance requirements, the availability of wear parts and spare parts, how long a model is expected to be supported, and how repairs would be handled. Who would bear equipment upkeep in a future arrangement has not been decided, which is exactly why we want to understand it in detail before anything is agreed.
Technical support for merchants
Merchants handle the released production plan, material changes, quality checks, packaging and handover, as described in Making locally. When something goes wrong, they need clear guidance and a reachable person. We would like to hear how you support operators, in which languages, and how quickly.
Honest compatibility claims
We value suppliers who tell us plainly which materials, slicers, file formats and integrations have been tested, and which have not. Claims about compatibility, performance or environmental benefit should be backed by evidence. Being honest about what is ready is one of our values, and we hope to share it with the people we work with.
We are not looking for the longest specification sheet. We are looking for equipment that makes careful local production dependable.
What a supplier could gain
We are early, and we would rather say so than overstate the opportunity. What we can offer is genuine and specific.
- A voice in a developing open network. We support the direction of 3D Printing as a Service: open protocols, interoperable standards and participation across companies. Suppliers who join the conversation now can help shape how equipment fits into that ecosystem. See open collaboration for more.
- Real-world feedback from local production. As planning moves forward, equipment would be judged in the conditions that matter: small workspaces, mixed jobs, careful operators and customers who check what they receive. That feedback can be valuable to any manufacturer.
- Openness, not lock-in. Open by design means participants keep their brand and their freedom to leave. We are not building a closed channel, and we do not expect suppliers to be exclusive to us.
What we would discuss first
An initial conversation would be practical and exploratory. We would expect to cover:
- The equipment you offer and the kinds of local production it is designed for.
- Tested materials and settings, and any known limitations.
- Safety features, certifications you hold and operator documentation.
- Maintenance schedules, spare-part availability and expected support lifetime.
- How you support operators, and in which regions, including our development focus in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
- Openness of firmware, interfaces and data, and how your equipment could work with open standards.
Compatibility, support responsibilities and commercial terms would all need to be evaluated and agreed before any participation.
What we will not promise
Clear, fair responsibilities start with clear expectations. This page is an invitation to talk. It is not an announcement of selected suppliers, a tender, or a commitment to purchase any equipment or quantity. We cannot guarantee orders, volumes or timelines, and applying does not create any obligation on either side.
Where we are today
Equipment selection and supply arrangements remain in development. Our service-node model, merchant workflow and platform, TALODI.network (opens in a new tab), are being planned; no equipment has been chosen and no supplier partnerships are in place. What exists today is a clear set of priorities and a genuine wish to learn from people who build and support machines for a living. If that describes you, we would like to hear from you.
