Science Center’s Maker Studio Capacity Doubles with Record Donation from Leading European 3D Printer Manufacturer, Ultimaker
Science City now has one of the largest installations of 3D printers, supporting growing demand for STEAM education
Ultimaker, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of 3D printers, based in the Netherlands, recently gifted nine new 3D printers valued at nearly $21,000, to the Maker Studio at Kansas City's Science Center, Science City.
The printers have been added to the existing six Ultimaker 2 models currently utilized in the Maker Studio, bringing the overall total to 15. In addition to three more Ultimaker 2's, the newly donated models include the Ultimaker 2 Extended, a 30-centimeter tall printer designed for complex prints and Ultimaker 2 Go, the company's smallest, lightweight printer. The generous donation will allow better support of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) education during walk-up workshops and demos, school field trips, professional development programs for teachers, special events such as Make48™ - the 48-hour invent-a-thon weekend scheduled for October 2-4 at Science City - and more.
We are excited to bring our new Ultimaker 3D printers to the Maker Studio. 3D printers are an excellent new learning tool and now everyone that comes into the Maker Studio can experience this new technology.
We couldn't be more grateful to Ultimaker for this tremendous gift. These easy-to-use and reliable machines will allow us to serve more children, adults, and families in the Greater Kansas City metro area. With these models, we not only have the ability to print items up to one foot tall but most importantly, because of their size, we gain the portability that will make it even easier to deliver and support Science City's hands-on programming.
Thanks to this donation, Science City now boasts having one of the largest installations of 3D printers in one education-focused, publically accessible location.
Donations like these validate that companies all over the world have taken note of the Science Center's ability to deliver leading-edge programming. We can't thank Ultimaker enough for helping us promote STEAM education and entrepreneurship to the 200,000 annual Science City visitors and beyond.
To make plans to visit Maker Studio, visit unionstation.org/sciencecity.
About Union Station Kansas City, Inc.
Union Station Kansas City is a historical landmark and civic asset renovated and reopened to the public in 1999. The organization, driven by its mission of science and history education and entertainment, hosts a variety of world-class traveling exhibits and annual community events and celebrations. Union Station is home to several permanent attractions, including Kansas City’s Science Center; the popular Model Railroad Experience; the Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium; the Regnier Extreme Screen Theatre, the region’s largest screen 3D movie theater; H&R Block City Stage featuring live theater, and a selection of unique shops and restaurants. Union Station is also home to prominent area civic organizations and businesses. Visit www.unionstation.org for details.
Since 2011, Ultimaker has built an open and easy-to-use solution of 3D printers, software and materials that enable professional designers and engineers to innovate every day. Today, Ultimaker is the market leader in desktop 3D printing. From offices in the Netherlands, New York, Boston, and Singapore – plus production facilities in Europa and the US – its global team of over 400 employees work together to accelerate the world’s transition to digital distribution and local manufacturing.