Imaginarium Leads 3D Printing's Next Big Revolution

Imaginarium is India’s largest rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing centre, a 3D printing company that has revolutionised the manufacturing processes in the jewellery industry. In an exclusive interview with Solitaire, KAMLESH PAREKH, controller – leadership team, reveals plans to launch a game-changing service – an online portal that lets customers order bespoke jewellery from the comfort of their own office/home – at the IIJS this year.

From making Lord Mahavir’s idol and a precise kidney and brain model to recreating the 30 fellow patriots who accompanied Gandhi at the Dandi March to creating interlocked jewellery without soldering... Imaginarium has successfully executed several such assignments. In fact, the company thrives on challenges because it loves to encourage its clients to think out of the box.

Founded in 2009 as a company that introduced 3D printing in India, Imaginarium initially faced difficulties in making the jewellery industry realise the importance of 3D applications for production.

Kamlesh Parekh, controller – leadership team, Imaginarium, elaborated, “Initially, it was very difficult to make a breakthrough as most manufacturers relied on skilled karigars to carve wax moulds by hand, a process that could take up to 30 days. Manufacturers paid advance salaries to their karigars to retain them. The resistance was fierce because everyone feared that the advanced technology could trigger layoffs.” Kamlesh recalls that similar reactions were elicited by the diamond cutting and polishing manufacturers when the first laser cutting machines were introduced.

Today, Imaginarium runs more than 17 machines and caters to the top brass in the jewellery industry, printing 2,000 designs every day for its clients.

“With the consumer becoming more discerning and demanding, she wants to see different designs each time she visits a retail showroom,” notes Kamlesh. “Thus, at the manufacturer’s end, one mould doesn’t even reach the production mark of 500 pieces since they keep introducing new designs.”

Elucidating the advantages of 3D printing, he said that the process allows one to achieve finesse, reduce metal wastage, reduce cost and offer quick turnaround time. Above all, it gives designers complete freedom to explore complex, three dimensional design forms.