Creality is undoubtedly one of the best-known consumer 3D printer brands. In CONTEXT’s latest 2024 report, the Chinese manufacturer was listed as having the largest market share for entry-level 3D printers. And this is not surprising.
Creality, celebrated its 10th birthday this year, and the company has had a remarkable evolution from its beginnings to the present. From the launch of the CR-3 in 2014 to the new K2 Plus multicolor 3D printer, which was exhibited at Formnext this year, garnering a huge interest from attendees. But that’s not all. Over the years, the brand has positioned itself as accessible and flexible, open to everyone, with a specific mission: to make 3D printing usable by everyone, to make simple objects up to the most noble projects.
We talked about this and much more with Creality CEO and co-founder Adun Ao, who told us about the brand’s long road and their secret to coping with changes in the 3D printing industry while maintaining a stable and successful brand.
3DN: Could you introduce yourself and tell us when your connection to 3D printing started?
Adun Ao, Creality’s co-founder and CEO
I am Adun Ao, co-founder and CEO of Creality. During my time at university, I was deeply impressed by the 3D printers reported in technology news. Back then, most of our graduation projects were done by hand, and many complex ideas were difficult to realize. 3D printing offered a perfect solution to this challenge. I realized that it represented the future, a way to improve social efficiency, revolutionize manufacturing and bring people’s wildest ideas to life.
However, the majority of 3D printers available were industrial-grade and prohibitively expensive. I have always thought that for this technology to become widespread and reach households, it needed to be affordable. With this in mind, in 2014, I and a few partners founded Creality, entering the FDM 3D printing field and defining our mission as “evangelists of 3D printing”. From the start of the business until now, we have remained committed to popularizing 3D printing and ensuring that this technology benefits as many people as possible.
3DN: Where is Creality positioned in the 3D printing industry? How has Creality contributed to it?
We immediately positioned ourselves in the market as an accessible, versatile brand, open to everyone from makers to professionals. Today we are proud to say that our machines are used all over the world, in over 100 countries. That is why we have never stopped working hard, and investing in research and development, which is instrumental to our success.
At Creality, we believe 3D printing can transform ideas into reality, empowering users to bring their visions to life. Our aim is to make this process even smarter, offering the most advanced, cost-effective products. Currently, our desktop 3D printers are widely used in toy and figure manufacturing, industrial prototyping, design concept realization, education and the medical field. These and other cases have been shared with us by users all over the world.
Creality has always been committed to collaborating with both upstream and downstream 3D printing partners and fostering innovation among users for shared growth. We are eager to share our supply chain and resources to build a robust ecosystem that benefits our users, the 3D printing community and society at large.
3DN: Creality is celebrating its 10th anniversary: what have been the most important milestones since launching your first FDM printer in 2014?
During the last 10 years we have reached several milestones, together with our users. Listening to them and responding quickly has been one of the most important principles behind Creality’s rapid growth over the years.
The CR-3 3D printer was our first step, back in the now distant 2014. A long journey began from there and we launched different versions of it throughout the years. It was the CR-7 in 2015, and the CR-10 in 2016 that truly marked a turning point. Users expressed the need for more affordable options, and helped shape our next releases. In 2017, we launched the Ender-3 series, which has garnered a strong market reputation due to its cost-effectiveness and reliable 3D printing quality.
Creality’s solutions
We have reached other major milestones over the years. For example, the launch of our Kickstarter campaign for the CR-6 SE in 2020, which raised an impressive $4,379,129. Also, the birth of our platform and community Creality Cloud in 2021, which was designed to allow users to unleash their creativity.
Currently, we have over 150,000 m² of self-owned manufacturing and R&D facilities, with annual shipments reaching millions.
3DN: We can say that Creality’s goals also include a social mission: to use 3D printing to improve people’s lives. How is this possible?
At Creality, we believe that we can make the world a better place through the popularization of 3D printing technology worldwide. Aligned with our commitment to social responsibility, we actively advocate for sustainable development and support meaningful charitable initiatives. For instance, in Brazil, we donated hundreds of 3D printers to 250 local schools in the Robótica Espacial initiative promoted by Brazil’s Ministry of Education, which helped students to cultivate digital technology skills. Additionally, in Musoma, Tanzania, we donated 3D printers to clinics, enabling the creation of low-cost prosthetics and orthotics for children and adults with disabilities.
But our charitable projects don’t stop there. We believe that as a global company, we have a responsibility to take on these challenges. We invite talented and capable individuals to join us in using 3D printing to create positive change in the world together.
Creality’s humanitarian project in Tanzania
3DN: How has the 3D printing market evolved over the years? How has Creality adapted to these changes and maintained its position?
The 3D printing market has transformed dramatically over the years from a niche technology for hobbyists and tech enthusiasts to a widely accessible tool. It has applications in education, design, and even professional and industrial manufacturing – just think of the technology’s established use for prototypes and end parts in industries such as dental, jewelry, and even industrial sectors.
As the market matured, we began to notice a wider range of users interested in 3D printing looking for plug-and-play solutions with minimal configuration. In response, Creality introduced the K1 series, which emphasizes high printing speed, intuitive usability and smart features that cater to users who prioritize convenience and efficiency. This change has not only broadened our user base but also enabled us to respond to the emerging needs of the consumer market.
Today, new trends continue to shape the industry, such as multicolor and multi-material printing, and this is why we launched the K2 Plus.
3DN: Can you tell us more about Creality’s new multicolor 3D printer, the K2 Plus? How will it bring new innovations to the multicolor printing sector?
With the K2 Plus 3D printer, we wanted to bring further development to the multicolor 3D printing sector. Currently, there are few multi-color 3D printers available on the market, and those generally have small print volumes. Unlike these models, the K2 Plus offers the ability to print in up to 16 colors while providing a generous build volume of 350mm on each axis, positioning it among the top-tier printers in its class.
One of the standout features of the K2 Plus is our proprietary Step Servo Motors technology, which ensures high-speed printing and stability while maintaining print quality. Additionally, the K2 Plus operates at a remarkably low noise level, below 45dB, creating a more comfortable environment for users during operation.
Furthermore, this large-format multicolor printer optimizes material usage during bulk model production, significantly reducing average material costs and providing substantial savings for users. We believe that the K2 Plus will not only enhance the multicolor printing experience but also empower creators by making high-quality, vibrant prints more accessible than ever.
Creality K2 Plus 3D printer
3DN: Formnext 2024 concluded last week. What were the top products you presented at the event?
Alongside our flagship model, the K2 Plus, for our V3 and V3 Plus users, we have partnered with Co Print to introduce a multi-color kit that enables these older machines to also achieve multi-color printing. This collaboration ensures that even our older machines can benefit from the latest advancements in multicolor technology, helping our users to maximize their investment and unleash their creativity.
Creality’s booth at Formnext 2024
3DN: Any last words for our readers?
As champions of the 3D printing industry, we are dedicated to delivering a comprehensive product and service ecosystem. We thank our users for their ongoing support and pledge to give back through superior products and charitable initiatives. We hope to help everyone’s dreams come to life and make the world a better place. Join the Creality community today and take advantage of our special Black Friday deals, available until December 2nd.
What do you think of the new solutions presented by Creality this year? Let us know in a comment below or on our LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here, the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.
Source：3D Natives