November 2017

Zare from Boretto, Italy, has ventured to design a new toothbrush in collaboration with Nussbaumer Design, headed by Christoph Nussbaumer. The result is very unusual – this toothbrush is made from metal. Under the brand name MIO, this 3D-printed toothbrush featuring a timeless design is produced by means of additive manufacturing. One of the technical strengths of 3D metal printing lies in its ability to redefine the function and geometry of products. So it’s hardly surprising that a 3D toothbrush made from metal has a different effect than a common toothbrush. And this holds true even though injection-molded toothbrushes made of plastic have been design objects or years now. When we buy a new toothbrush, today we can find ergonomic designs that combine customisation and functionality, with colors and shapes that are intended to captivate us. Zare’s 3D metal toothbrush goes one step further. In 2013, Zare procured its first 3D metal printer – an M2 cusing from Concept Laser. Thanks to the company’s experience with conventional machining techniques and plastic prototyping, Zare quickly realised the advantages of 3D metal printing, introducing its customers to the new possibilities. Zare breaks the mould Though Zare was already successful in 3D metal printing, the company never really had the idea to create a designer toothpaste made from metal. The objective was to take a normal object of daily use and create a luxury item not yet available that could only be created using additive manufacturing based on its design. In the end the company chose a “customisable” toothbrush made from metal. The production costs didn’t play a decisive role, the focus instead placed on a unique design, exclusivity and user friendliness, in this case ergonomics. At Zare, a company originally from the prototyping sector, these dependencies were ground for a new approach. […]