Japan-based Roland DG, a global manufacturer of wide-format inkjet printers and 3D devices, was once again one of the key sponsors at Fab12, an annual meeting of the global Fab Lab community. This year's event was in August in Shenzhen, China.

The Fab Lab conference takes place each year in a different city around the world, where members of the global Fab Lab network gather for a multitude of events, including discussions on the future direction of Fab Labs, workshops aimed at resolving fabrication issues, and sharing information on efforts and success stories. Roland DG sponsored the event for the fourth time, as the company says it shares the same core concept of Fab Labs, which is expanding the possibilities of digital fabrication in order to unleash the imagination and creativity of people everywhere.

At the event, Roland demonstrated its UV-LED printers and 3D printer alongside other Fab Lab-recommended products, including the monoFab SRM-20, the MODELA MDX-40A and the MODELA PRO II MDX-540 3D milling machines; and the CAMM-1 GS-24 vinyl cutter at a special booth described by Roland DG as“an ideal fab workspace.”

Roland DG also teamed up with Chinese Fab Labs to host workshops demonstrating electronics manufacturing using its monoFab SRM-20 3D milling machine, as well as how to produce a one-of-a-kind earphone cable holder with its monoFab ARM-10 3D printer. The company also highlighted other areas where its products could broaden the potential of desktop fabrication for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education programs for Fab Lab managers and members who are involved in educational and research related fields.

The concept of Fab Lab (fabrication laboratory) is an open workshop offering digital fabrication as well as analog tools with the aim to make “almost anything.” It originally spun out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where last year's conference was held. Currently, there is a global network of almost 1,000 Fab Labs in more than 78 countries.