A long work
There must have been sleepless nights, nights at work, nights innovating. Nights when passion and dedication became the only drivers. To create his first 3D printer, Marco Zani did not count his of hours. Fascinated by these machines forever, he decided one day to build his own, piece by piece. “I always thought this technology could change the world,” he says. A certainty that leads him to work tirelessly. An engineer by training, he develops his first 3D printer for his personal projects. “Then I saw that the region, Emilia-Romagna, launched a regional competition on the food revolution. Seeing technology as limitless, I associated 3D printing with nurturing.” His project was successful. Up for grabs? Its 3D printer was unveiled at the Milan World Expo in 2015. An incredible opportunity that prompted him to perfect the first “ONE” model for its official presentation during this important event.
Three 3D printer models
From an idea, Mark One has become a reality. A unique start-up that can “design and develop custom 3D printers with industry standard, hardware and software configuration.” Mark One offers companies a 360-degree service.
“The goal is to optimize the machine in relation to the needs and requirements of the company.” Depending on their needs, everyone will choose the printer that best suits their needs. Three models are on the market today. The simple and flexible ONE model is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses and industry enthusiasts. This is followed by MK 653 and MK 333, “two larger and more ambitious machines at the industrial level.” The former was created to make large parts in monoblocks with the use of technical materials. The second, “our current state-of-the-art machine, ” offers high performance for reliability, precision and versatility.
In any case, the machines are capable of printing all types of technical and soluble materials. Once
Printer decided, room for training. A key part during which Mark One teaches customers how to get the most out of the machine. “We train technicians within the company so that they know how to take full advantage of this technology.”
A direct contact that continues from the first phase onward, keeping them up to date on technology developments both at the level of HW SW and process innovations. “Because we believe that the 3D printing revolution lies not only in the machine, but rather 360 degrees, if we master this technology.”
Promising projects
Thanks to the high flexibility of its printers and the realization of unique solutions, Mark One caters to a variety of sectors: from automotive to aerospace, from the medical environment to industrial automation through design. A prime example, Mark One is the world’s first 3D printer to enter the pits of the official GRT Yamaha team in the superbike circuit to do real-time production. Another important collaboration is with the Polytechnic University of Milan.
“We use one of our printers to create parts of the Supersonic rocket.” Mark One does not stop there. The future teems with projects and opportunities to be seized. “We are registering a patent for the production of carbon fiber materials that will reduce costs and time by 50 percent,” says Marco Zani. Two new machines are being developed for printing highly technical materials such as PEEK, which is biocompatible, resistant to high temperatures and has high mechanical performance.
A model the startup will present this November at the Formnext trade fair in Frankfurt. The innovation and futuristic character of Mark One are no longer to be demonstrated. The startup would now like to open up to the foreign market. For those interested, Marco Zani and his team will make a stop in France, at Magny-Cours, Sept. 28-30 for the World Superbike Championship. They will be happy to introduce you to the fascinating world of 3D printers.
