Amazon is now venturing into the world of 3D printing thanks to a patent they just secured. The company has just recently unveiled their plans for printing and delivering custom products on demand. While Amazon has worked with 3D printing before, this patent allows users new levels of control over the final product.

Amazon is already one of the largest digital distributors in the world and yet this new venture represents a milestone in multiple ways. While they’ve had 3D printing related options available before, the new patent allows customers to place orders with 3D printing service providers. Basically, users place orders and instructions for their custom item with a 3D printing facility, through Amazon. This then allows Amazon to pick up the order and deliver it to either a home or for pick up from one of their stores.

This new model is not just good for individual customers but for companies as well. It has the potential benefit for companies looking for items that are difficult to find in stock. Therefore, printing with a detailed instructions can allow them to create the part or product. This is far more desirable than searching for it far and wide.

Amazon clearly sees potential in these new forms of supply chains. It’s easy to see why. The ability of this new system to greatly decrease their inventory costs is a big bonus. On demand customised production also gives viewers an item with their exact specifications and personalised touches. Clearly, Amazon is leaning hard onto the customisability angle.

The Internet service giant has been edging towards ideas within the realm of additive manufacturing for a while. They have filed multiple patents that complement their wider interest in 3D printing. For example, they have workshopped the idea of trucks that produce the object requested for delivery as they are moving towards the destination.

Amazon, like Google, are taking note of the world of additive manufacturing. These tech giants have the digital expertise to greatly change the state of how 3D printing operates as a model of production and disrupt the traditional mode of buying or ordering items, in much the same way both companies did to online shopping and advertising among others.