Li Cheng, Chairman of Shining 3D Tech, initially engaged in the chemical fiber textile industry, changed to the 3D printing industry in 2004 with a strong will that he would do something big in this area.
Over the last ten years, he witnessed the development of Chinese 3D printing industry. His company started from elementary consumer applications like portrait printing to industrial manufacturing and to what they have been doing now —— high-end biomedical 3D printing technologies. To some extent, shining 3D Tech presents the general picture of Chinese 3D printing industry.
Regenovo Biotechnology C., Ltd is the subsidiary of Shining 3D Tech, mainly focused on biomedical 3D printing. Specifically, it has been dedicated to researching and developing the 3D printers, material and software for biomedical science. They also provide new technical solutions for regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, drug discovery and healthcare aid.
Last October, Regenovo released the first commercialized 3D printed Liver in China and announced the establishment of the next generation’s 3D printing workshop. Experts say that this not only promoted the research in organ 3D printing but also provided a whole new solution for the selection of new drugs.
Recently, Regenovo has been working on 3D printing of cells. Its chief scientist Xu Mingen says that the biological theory of cells printing stems from a famous experiment. In this experiment, the arterial blood vessels of mice are cut into some cyclic structure, like donuts. By putting these “donuts” together, they will grow into a functional vessel after about 72 hours. This experiment indicates that if we use a technology to pile up the cells according to their structure within the human body, it is quite possible that it can form a functional structure again.
Bioprinting, especially the living organ printing, is probably the most attractive part in 3D printing, but with its difficulties in technique and its length in cultivation period make it hard to estimate the day when it can really generate profit. Even so, every breakthrough in bioprinting affects the capital flow.
To some extent, this could be a big bet for Shining 3D Tech. Regenovo was founded jointly by Shining 3D Technology and Dr. Xu mingen, from Hangzhou Dianzi University. Now Xianlin 3D Tech controls the subsidiary with 50% of its total share.
Early this August, Regenovo purchased 51% shares of Medzone Biotech Co., Ltd. Medzone Biotech is a high tech enterprise engaged in the research and development of biomedical materials and aid. This purchase will promote the combination of Regenovo’s biomedical materials and biological cell printing, forming a whole 3D printing industry chain from materials to equipment and products.
Huang Xianqing, Secretary to the Chairman, says that although it remains unknown when the organ printing could be applied to clinical practice, they could gain steady profit through skin printing, tissue repair printing and biological unit printing for drug use. Organ printing is still a strategic investment. According to the growth rate by now, Regenovo is likely to continue its fast growth in the following months.