In a bid to diversify their ‘creative business’, Island Craft is taking baby steps in the direction towards technological advancement through the use of their 3D printer.

The printer, first bought a year ago, sat in storage until just recently where the team at Island Craft have begun to tinker with it, creating small and handy parts that help with everyday life.

These parts include phone cases, bag holders, and even bottle holders for canoes, all made out of biodegradable plastic. The pieces can be put together by the printer in as little as 30 minutes to as long as 15 hours, depending on the product.

Fletcher Melvin, owner of Island Craft says although they are starting first with small pieces and shapes, he is excited to see what they will be able to make with the printer as they become more familiar with it and discover what it is capable of. “3D printing is really interesting and I think it is going to be the way of the future,” Melvin says.  He describes the printer as a problem solver for the little day to day riffs.

The way the printer works is through filaments that come in big rolls. The filaments get pushed into a heated nozzle like a glue gun, proceeding to print the object onto another plate, slowly building it up until they end up with a piece that can be used for a specific purpose.

The artists are still becoming familiar with the printer as it is something the island has never seen before, but the ultimate goal would be to create architectural models, bits of machinery, or specific car parts that people need but currently have no other option but to order from overseas and wait long periods of time for arrivals.

With the 3D printer, Cook Islands residents would be able to contribute to sustainable technological development and also save waiting time by being able to get their hands on their pieces quicker.

With Island Craft being a creative business, Melvin says the use of modern technology does not make them a non-traditional company, as all their products reflect traditional craft and creative expertise.

The products which come from the 3D printer would do the same in reflecting the creative and sustainable methods that the business treasures.

Melvin says the next step is to attempt to make the plastic for the printer out of recycled plastic bottles.

“I knew there was a lot of stuff we could do with it. It’s restricted by your imagination.

“It doesn’t matter what we are doing as long as we are creating something. It’s all about being able to create more things and to be able to create them here on the island. It’s always great to explore where else technology can go so we aren’t stuck in the same areas.”