Create it REAL launches 3D printing service platform for custom orthopedics

Create it REAL, a Danish 3D printing R&D center with a special focus on orthopedics, is preparing to launch a new digital ordering platform to facilitate access to its custom orthopedic production services. The new 3D printing service, which will be officially unveiled at the upcoming OTWorld trade show in Leipzeig, Germany, aims to streamline the ordering process for orthopedic professionals so they “can focus on the product, not the technology.”

Based in Aalborg, Denmark, Create it REAL has developed a suite of technologies tailored to the design and mass customization of 3D printed orthopedic products. The company’s Embrace Suite, for example, includes CAM solutions for insoles, wheelchair seats and corrective braces. The company’s solutions re-envision how these products are made, turning away from traditional materials and processes, like vacuum molded polypropylene plates for braces, towards 3D printed designs optimized for comfort and performance through variable stiffnesses.

Create it REAL is also known for its Programmable Foam solution, which is used in the production of insoles and wheelchair seats. This solution combines lattice geometries with a bio-compatible 3D printed TPU to create custom orthopedic products that are both comfortable and integrate specific pressure distribution through variable hardness. The company also points out that compared to traditional foam, its Programmable Foam reduces production waste by 90%.

These products and others will soon be more readily available to customers in the orthopedic industry through Create it REAL’s digital ordering platform. Ultimately, the company is aiming to ease the entry into 3D printing for orthopedic end users by providing this service, with the hope that they will eventually invest in their own additive manufacturing solutions.

As part of this strategy, Create it REAL is partnering with orthopedic experts across Europe to establish local printing hubs that are capable of printing custom orthopedics closer to the customer. It has already made progress on this front, through the creation of a local print hub in Athens in partnership with Ortholife, which will serve Greece, Cyprus and the Middle East. Eleftherios Samiotis, CEO of Ortholife, said: “Being the first to establish a local print hub and resell the full spectrum of Create it REAL’s innovative products has been an exciting experience. It has allowed us to lead the market in providing customized, advanced solutions that truly meet the needs of our clients.” Create it REAL is also preparing to launch another 3D printing hub in Ireland with LCS Ltd., a company specializing in custom wheelchair seating solutions, and has an ongoing partnership with Dutch company ShapeMakers, which distributes correction software and 3D prints corrective braces.

On the upcoming 3D printing service portal, Jacob Nissen, CEO of Create it REAL, said: “I’m truly proud of the incredible progress we’re making in transforming orthopedic care and making digital transformation approachable. By continuously innovating, we’re meeting the growing demand for personalized care and staying committed to sustainability and accessible technology. This is an exciting time for us, and really, it’s just the start. We’re eager to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in this industry, ensuring that professionals and patients benefit from our technologies.”

For those attending OTWorld 2024, Create it REAL will be showcasing its solutions at Hall 1, Booth G61.