When it comes to a brand new industry or invention, it?s common to hear pundits hype them as ?paradigm-shifting? or ?category killers.? In the case of 3-D printing, it may not be possible to hype this new technology enough, as it?s already proving to be a game-changer across a surprisingly wide variety of industries. That?s why I want to bring your attention to a new company in the 3-D printing game?Makism 3D Corp.?trading over-the-counter under the symbol MDDD (Get it? Three D?s!)

First of all, if you?re not familiar with 3-D printing, it?s important to understand both its current applications and why it holds out so much promise. Also known as ?additive manufacturing,? 3-D printing refers to the process of making a solid three-dimensional object from a digital model. The object is created using an additive process in which successive layers of material are laid down in different shapes to form the final product.

Although the technology has been available since the 1980?s, it wasn?t until earlier this decade, around 2010, that 3D printers started to become widely available commercially, gaining the attention of the financial markets in the process. According to Wohlers Associates, a consultancy firm, the market for 3D printers and services was worth $2.2 billion worldwide in 2012, up 29% from 2011. Because the technology has such a wide-range of applications?including industrial design and production of all stripes, engineering and healthcare, just to name a few?the size of the 3-D printing market could continue to grow exponentially going forward.

Enter Makism Corp., a 3D printing start-up based in the United Kingdom whose goal is to bring 3D printing to the mass consumer marketplace?part of what?s called the ?Maker Movement.? In late-November, the company announced that it was about to launch its flagship line of home and office 3D printers, which the company has dubbed the ?Wideboy.? Ready to use out of the box, the Wideboy is being designed to ?empower organizations and individuals to affordably create high quality individually manufactured prototypes, parts, and objects, rapidly and with a high degree of precision,? the company said.

The flagship model Wideboy is a large A4 format dual extruder 3D printer optimized for the reliable utilization of common PLA and PVA support material. Its features include large A4 format build areas, multiple extruders, a 3 year parts warranty, and pre-calibrated functionality in an attractively designed package. The Wideboy provides many of the features of the larger printers in the company?s product line-up, which include the Wideboy Pro and Mega models. The projected price for the Wideboy is $1,499.

According to Makism management, the larger Wideboy Pro and Mega models offer the same high quality components as the Wideboy, but with advanced professional features such as temperature controlled enclosures, heated build platforms, and carbon filtration which enables users to safely and reliably employ a wider range of fabrication materials. All printers come with USB and Wi-Fi connectivity, dual extruders (the Mega offers up to four extruders as an option), high-precision 2 and 5 phase stepper motors, a user-friendly interface, and 3 year parts warranty.

In reference to the launch announcement, Makism CEO Luke Ruffell stated, ?We anticipate that the first Wideboy will be available in February and we are aiming for the Pro and Mega models to respectively roll out in March and April. We are currently taking email addresses at our website (www.makism3d.com) from consumers who wish to get on our pre-order advisory list, and will be in touch with further information including purchasing options as soon as they can be made available. The interest to-date has been exceptional.?

As you might imagine given the recent concentration of attention on 3-D printing, and investors? enthusiasm for the shares of industry-leader 3-D Systems (DDD), MDDD shares have begun to attract a fair share of interest themselves