Did you know that you could print a concrete building or a bus stop? Or a latticed partition for your living room? And even a skirt? This might seem like a scene out of the Mission Impossible series (where 3D printers often steal the scene), but 3D printing is the real deal.  Considered to be the future of manufacturing, as it helps cut material wastage, it is accurate and can reduce manufacturing costs. More importantly, it isn’t an idea that is meant only for Hollywood budgets, because you can make your own 3D design priced at R1,000 or lower. Don’t believe us? We had to see it to believe it on our visit to the country’s first sustainable 3D printing experience centre, WOL3D.

At the entrance of the centre in a mill compound in Kalachowki, we spotted huge cement printed planters, which the décor nerd in us couldn’t get enough of. This sneak peek of the wonders of 3D printing got us excited to expect the unexpected inside. 3D printing isn’t new to India because we’ve come across samples of printed pieces using different materials in various industries. But this is the first centre designed to help experience all aspects of additive manufacturing technology, and in a fun way that can be enjoyed across age groups.