In order to understand the potential of additive manufacturing, it is crucial to understand the technologies behind the processes and the advantages and limitations. Many different 3D technology solutions are covering each step of the additive manufacturing workflow—from design to the implementation of the product. When it comes to the 3D printing landscape of Japan, it is difficult for organizations to optimize additive manufacturing workflow owing to a decreasing population and lack of innovation. The education and the working environment in Japan further make it difficult for people to challenge and make bold decisions. Serving the Japanese manufacturing industry for 160 years, K.K.IRISU empowers organizations to understand, define, and optimize the process for their additive manufacturing workflow. Also, the company educates clients on the latest 3D printing techniques and partners with numerous 3D printing leaders to offer the best fit for the client’s operations. “Our main objective is to educate the Japanese market in additive manufacturing and to continue to be the solution provider for the Japanese manufacturing world,” says Dr. Frank Oberndorff, President of K.K. IRISU.

K.K. IRISU has recently unveiled a dedicated 3D showroom to demonstrate the latest 3D printing technology and exhibit sample parts. The company showcases the technologies developed by numerous partner companies, including BIGREP, BOTSPOT, SHINING 3D TECHNOLOGY, and more that have become essential in the 3D manufacturing landscape. The demonstrated 3D printing and scanning technology enables fast and precise printing of large-scale objects and is suitable for high-end applications like shipbuilding, aerospace, automotive, defense, industrial molding, education, and more. Further, clients can also view and test other pioneering technologies in the IRISU-Showroom, such as skin measuring devices for the cosmetic industry from BIOX AquaFlu, Epsilon, and Canfield ‘Primos CR’, and surface measuring devices for engineering products from LMI MikroCAD.

K. K. IRISU is well connected by other 3D service providers and connects to its partners if needed.

Among the numerous partnerships that K.K.IRISU holds, the recent one is with ROBOZE, a leading Italian 3D printer manufacturer. The partnership helps clients produce functional and finished parts for advanced applications. ROBOZE offers a range of ten high-performance thermoplastic polymers that hold up to even the most hostile environments, to meet and surpass the demands of various sectors. After the intensive training at ROBOZE, the team of K.K. IRISU promotes the high-grade polymer solution to the 3D market in Japan by organizing workshops in its 3D Showroom. Also, the company provides a printing service bureau for clients not ready to purchase a 3D printer or scanner.

As a subsidiary of NTT Docomo, a leading mobile carrier, Docomo Bike share wanted to introduce a new bike-sharing program in Tokyo. The client wanted to stamp the tires of their bikes for a new way of advertising their program. K.K.IRISU helped them with this requirement by using two different 3D printing technologies—Bigrep FDM technology (offered by the company) and Stratasys Inkjet Technology (not offered by the company). The Airless tire was printed using the FDM technology with TPU material, and the stamp was printed with Inkjet technology utilizing elastic-like material. By combining the two technologies allowed K.K.IRUSU to achieve what the client wanted.

Moving ahead with its rich heritage of manufacturing excellence, K.K.IRISU aims to become a leading 3D service provider for both machine-based and printing service. The company will continue to be the solution provider that the Japanese community can rely on while expanding into the Northern and Southern regions as well. K.K.IRISU’s goal is to assist the Japanese market to compete with other countries in manufacturing as well as globally maintain the high standards of the tag ‘Made in Japan’.