Entrepreneur builds ‘game-changing’ business through 3D printing

Posted by on 14 Feb 2022

A Rochdale entrepreneur believes he can transform the world of business through the power of 3D printing.

3D printing specialist Addisol has gone from strength to strength since signing a five-year lease in 2020 for a unit at Rochdale Council’s Logic development at Kingsway Business Park.

The company has worked extensively in manufacturing, construction, mining and dental sectors. CEO Mason Rowbottom owns the business with his father Chris and said 3D printing is quicker, more efficient, more cost effective and better for the environment than the alternatives.

“3D printing is so versatile but even now people don’t understand what a game-changer it is,” he said. “We’ve done everything from create one-off prototypes for manufacturers to face masks for the healthcare sector during Covid to making a prop for a major movie. The potential is limitless.”

Addisol is also using 3D printing for two consumer brands it’s started calledFigifam and Lithagram.

Rowbottom explained: “We have a 3D scanning booth that uses 109 different cameras to create an image of the customer and produce a 3D colour model. We also make 3D pictures and Christmas decorations.”

However it’s in distributed manufacturing that the entrepreneur wants to make the biggest difference because of the benefit it would have on the environment. Distributed manufacturing is a decentralised form of manufacturing that uses a network of geographically dispersed manufacturing facilities.

“You don’t have to get your manufacturing done in China and shipped back to the UK,” Rowbottom said. “By getting your manufacturing done locally you can reduce your carbon footprint.”

The 29-year-old first got into 3D printing while studying engineering at the University of Huddersfield, where he got a 1st class honours degree.

“It was 2012 and I entered an eco design challenge,” he recalled. “I was trying to make a bracket that would enable bikes to be stored in a locker in an upright position in a city centre location to save space.

“I was struggling and did some research on 3D printing so bought a clunky 3D printer for £100 and made the bracket on that. It really opened my eyes to its potential.

“My interest grew from there and as the technology improved so the possibilities of what it could be used increase too. That was the background to launching Addisol, which is a consultant, designer, product developer and 3D printer under one roof.”

3D printing uses computer-aided design (CAD) to create three-dimensional objects through a layering method and is also referred to as additive manufacturing. The process involves layering materials, like plastics, resins, composites or bio-materials to create objects that range in shape, size, rigidity and colour.

Rowbottom said: “It’s been an amazing year since we moved into Logic at Kingsway Business Park. The great thing about 3D printing is can you produce much smaller batches so you don’t have the same costs associated with injection moulding.

“We have faster lead times but can produce everything from one-off prototypes to 5,500 parts in 24 hours and there’s less packaging so it’s good for the environment.” At the start of the pandemic the company opened up its 3D hub at Logic to supply much-needed PPE to the NHS and other organisations as frontline staff battled Covid. Addisol currently employs four staff but has ambitious growth plans and Rowbottom said Logic was the perfect place to base their business.

“It’s the perfect location for us,” he said. “It’s right next to the M62 and Rochdale is such a welcoming place to base a business.” Logic is a development of 11 industrial units at Kingsway Business Park and is managed by Rochdale Development Agency (RDA), on behalf of the council. Other tenants at Logic include KP Industries and Commercial Blinds and Glazing.