Tinkerine & SBCK Reach Distribution Deal in Asia Pacific Market – Schools to Benefit

Tinkerine’s full line of 3D products is headed to Korea. In what appears to be a highly lucrative partnership for today and into the future, Canadian manufacturer Tinkerine Studios Ltd. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SoftBank Commerce Korea (SBCK). The contract outlines a deal for SBCK to distribute the high performance Ditto™ Pro 3D printer, the Tinkerine U education technology platform, and its printer filament series into the Asian Pacific Region.

Not planning to limit themselves to only this endeavor, the two companies have a long-range outlook for a number of sales and distribution options within the Asian Pacific education, retail, and enterprise sectors. This may be a perfect match, as Tinkerine grows steadily, gaining steam and media coverage, while SBCK is already a big player in the business solution arena. They specialize not only in distribution, but also IT infrastructure, peripherals, devices, and technologies for businesses large and small. SBCK was established in 1991 and is headquartered in Seoul, and is part of the SoftBank group of companies, headquartered in Japan.

The partnership will definitely propel Tinkerine further into the limelight—and further toward becoming a global presence. Tinkerine products in distribution will be keeping good company with SBCK’s other big clients such as Microsoft, Adobe, and Autodesk. This is good news for the 3D industry, as well as an enormous boost for Tinkerine Studios, which began as a small Canadian start-up in 2012. Tinkerine has been on an upward tick since April after a reverse-merger transaction brought in $3.1 million. Also recently added to the “assets” of the company are former MakerBot Director of Distribution, RJ Wafer, to its Advisory Board, and Ben Yan as Channel Manager.

Says Chinchul Yi, Chief Marketing Officer for SBCK, “We see Tinkerine as a catalyst to expedite SBCK’s 3D printing business not only in Korea, but all APAC regions in the near future, through SBCK’s global networks within the SoftBank group companies.”

The company’s main long-term focus is to be the first to provide 3D printers, software, and consumables to the 10,000 plus schools in Canada.  Tinkerine lists at least 15 schools they currently have 3D printers installed in—with the initiative dubbed Tinkerine U. Their hope is to have 3D printers installed in every school in North America—and completion of that goal should make for some very inspired students.

Discuss this initiative, and what it could ultimately mean for education, within the Tinkerine/SBCK forum thread on 3DPB.com.