Aldi Australia Gets on the 3D Printing Bandwagon with the Cocoon Create 3D Printer and Pen

At one of my previous jobs, I worked right down the street from an Aldi store. The discount supermarket was a favorite in the area for its low prices; I liked it in particular because it had these excellent guacamole-flavored tortilla chips that I couldn’t find anywhere else. Chances are there’s an Aldi near you; the company has over 1,300 retail locations in the United States alone, and 4,000 stores worldwide.

What I didn’t realize was that my local Aldi was one of the smaller ones. While it only sold groceries, other locations have home and garden departments, automotive products and more. Now Aldi is about to begin selling 3D printers, following in the footsteps of other discount retail corporations like Sam’s Club. Starting this week, Aldi retail locations in Australia will begin carrying the Cocoon Create 3D printer, an affordable desktop device from consumer product developer and wholesaler Winplus Australia.

“This is the first real consumer-friendly-priced printer that we’re bringing to the masses,” said Matt Burnett, senior manager of product development at Winplus. “We’re envisioning this going out to hobbyists, students, people creating toys and decorations, students and industries.”

The Cocoon Create, which retails for $499, is a brand new printer that will be available exclusively through Aldi locations in Australia. It’s a sturdy, user-friendly and versatile printer that supports the company’s proprietary PLA, ABS, HIPS and PVA filaments. It prints via USB or SD card, and comes bundled with Cura software. Specifications include:

• Dimensions: 400 x 410 x 400 mm
• Print volume: 200 x 200 x 180 mm
• Layer resolution: 100 – 400 microns
• Filament diameter: 1.75mm
• Maximum printing speed: 70mm/s
• Print surface: Heated bed

The large build volume makes the Cocoon Create an appealing printer; it also boasts a 3-point bearing system for added stability and smoother prints. The proprietary filament line, which Aldi will also offer when the printer hits shelves tomorrow, includes the aforementioned filament types, as well as a few specialty filaments like a conductive filament and a wood filament. A roll of basic PLA or ABS will cost you $34.99 for a 1kg spool; as of right now, it looks as if only PLA will be carried in Aldi stores (others can be ordered online).

Aldi will also be carrying the Cocoon Create 3D Pen, a 3Doodler-like instrument with adjustable heat settings and adjustable speed. The pen, which also requires Cocoon Create’s proprietary PLA filament, is designed, like the printer, for ease of use. It will be sold for $79.

While the Cocoon Create 3D printer and pen are only being sold in Australian Aldi locations, others may soon be on board; according to Aldi, their German retail locations may soon be adding 3D printers to their stock. Keep an eye on US locations as well; as more mainstream and discount retailers begin offering 3D printers, it’s unlikely that Aldi will want to lag behind. Discuss this great new sales trend in the Aldi to Sell Cocoon Create 3D printer forum over at 3DPB.com.