Necessity, as they say, is the mother of invention. Where there is a problem with no solution, you're driven to harness curiosity and creativity to find the solution. If you’re innovative and resourceful, then you’re always looking for a better mousetrap and a better way to come up with an uncommon solution to a common problem. This ambition has resulted in some of the world's most treasured services, products, and items.
So, what problems were we trying to solve? When we introduced the idea of using 3D printing technology to make 3D-printed urns, which aspect of the industry were we striving to change? After we finalized and launched our business with one-of-a-kind urn masterpieces, what result were we hoping to see?
As we approach the answers to these questions, understanding what 3D printing and 3D urns are will complete the full picture. This new technology is an amazing advancement in manufacturing. Cremation urns are a stagnant product in an emerging growth market demographic due to individuals desiring their own representation of their lives with specific designs. We were eager to bring innovation to a quiet market.
What Is 3D Printing?
Whether you realize it or not, 3D-printed items are found everywhere, and you likely own many of them already. Most people think it’s a brand-new technology, but its roots trace back all the way to the mid-1980s. For more than 40 years, this quiet technological marvel has provided many industries with great-quality materials and products. 3D printing is the most cost-effective way to create a one-of-a-kind item. During the first stages of designing, you can work directly from digital art—most commonly a computer-aided design file—and skip the step of making a mold or blueprint. This simplifies the process and avoids frustrating redraws or reprints, saving time and money.
3D printing is also known as additive manufacturing because most products are made in a process that removes material. Instead of whittling away, or machining, an item, a 3D printer builds by stacking layers of material slowly over time. Fortunately, you’re not confined to print in single-color plastics and can simultaneously use different colors. Material properties have advanced to the point where you can 3D-print in metals, ceramics, food products, and even cell structures. The essence of 3D printing is a new method of creating products, transforming how we plan for and manufacture goods in the long run. Naturally, we thought about how a 3D-printed urn could transform the market.
3D Printing Meets Custom Cremation Urns
Cremation urns, until now, have been the product that time forgot. In 1999, the cremation rate among people choosing cremation over burial was around 10%. It was a rarely seen option in end-of-life care. Today, the National Funeral Directors Association has predicted that by 2035, nearly 80% of Americans will opt for cremation. From convenience to environmental awareness, there is a new trend that the market will respond to. However, the funeral service industry still believes that people choose cremation because they either don’t have, or don’t want to spend, the money it takes to remember their loved ones in a unique and meaningful way. As a result, the cremation urn never evolved. It stayed simply as a vessel to hold material, instead of the symbol of a loved one's life and significance.
Because of these changes and pitfalls, what problems are we trying to solve by introducing 3D-printed urns?
The answer comes from an awareness of the lack of choice and quality options in a growing market. We understand that losing someone you love is not a one-time event. Their influence and impact on your life never ends. For the longest time, cremation urns were limited to a vase or a box. Your choice was limited to whether you liked the blue vase, you liked a floral patterned vase, or you wanted a nameplate engraved on the box. We know that this default cannot be, and isn’t, the only option available to you. From 3D-printed urns to delicately designed custom urns, we can do it all.
Custom 3D-Printed Urns at Foreverence
At Foreverence, our 3D printing provides our customers with the freedom of choice to express themselves and their loved one’s legacy in the most unique and personal way. It’s the culmination of creative thinking and technical know-how to bring innovation to a product that hasn’t changed in literally thousands of years. It’s a memorial for your loved one that you can keep forever.
Whatever you can envision, we can likely create. We can work with you to bring any image or symbol to life with a 3D-printed urn. From guitars and theaters, to animals and landmarks, the only limitation is your imagination. The possibilities are endless. Our team is enthusiastic about creating thoughtful and heart-centered art pieces that will hold your loved one’s remains securely. The memories and closeness that you’ll feel when looking at a custom 3D-printed urn are why we do what we do.
Check out our Custom Urn Gallery. We hope you’re truly inspired by what you see.
We appreciate all the families we’ve served for allowing us to help them in such an important way. Without their trust in our process and their support, we could not do what we do. This is why we feature their 3D-printed urn designs and urns in our gallery – the collaboration between our team and the designer, our client, always results in beautiful custom urns.
