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3D-Printed Crab Houses

UK Property Site Zoopla Created an Ad Featuring New Homes for Hermit Crabs

— August 15, 2017 — Marketing
UK property website Zoopla created a new ad called 'Crab World' that features real hermit crabs moving into 3D-printed shells with homes on them.

The ad features hermit crabs moving into shells created with 3D printing in collaboration with special effects company Artem Ltd. Since the project would be much more challenging and resource-consuming with traditional model-making, the team selected additive manufacturing for the creation of highly realistic hermit crab shells that would actually attract real crabs and not harm them. As Artem's Simon Tayler says: "With Stratasys’ multi-color, multi-material 3D printing, we were able to mirror every curve, bump and nook of a shell’s natural shape, including the interior."

For Crab World, more than 20 small-scale houses were created to resemble popular UK architecture styles from country cottages to town houses.
Trend Themes
1. 3D Printing in Advertising - The use of 3D printing in advertising allows for the creation of highly realistic and attractive products.
2. Sustainable 3D Printing - The application of 3D printing for creating eco-friendly and non-harmful products, as shown by the 3D-printed hermit crab shells.
3. Real Estate Marketing Innovations - The use of unique and creative advertising concepts, such as the 'Crab World' ad, to showcase properties and attract potential buyers.
Industry Implications
1. Advertising - The use of innovative advertising techniques, like 3D printing, can revolutionize the way brands promote their products and services.
2. Manufacturing - The adoption of 3D printing technology in manufacturing can streamline production processes and enable the creation of customizable and intricate designs.
3. Real Estate - Exploring creative marketing strategies, including unconventional advertisements, can help real estate professionals stand out in a competitive market.
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