Menlo Park UPS Store becomes 4th in nation to offer 3D printing

The UPS Store in the Sharon Heights Shopping Center in Menlo Park is home to one of the first 3D printers in a retail location in the nation. UPS plans to test offering 3D printing services in six U.S. stores, two in California (the other is San Diego).

“The primary reason we are doing this to assist small businesses,” said Daniel Remba, Small Business Technology Leader of the The USP Store, who was visiting the Menlo Park store. “3D printing is used to prototype new products as well as customize parts for existing products.

“We chose this location because we believe customers will travel to use 3D printing and it’s freeway close. We also have an outstanding franchisee in store owner Bharat Patel.”

The Sharon Heights UPS store, which opened in 2002, is just one of six that Patel owns. Once employed in the corporate world, he appreciates “the challenge that owning your own business provides.”

While the target customer is small business owners, Remba says consumers may find it of use, as well, especially those with a engineering background.

“One customer at the San Diego store  designed a collar that clamps on an underwater flash light he uses in scuba diving to filter light,” Remba said. “He used the engineering skill of his day job to make something for his recreational use.”

Photo caption: Daniel Remba, Small Business Technology Leader the The USP Store and Bharet Patel, owner of The UPS Store in the Sharon Heights Shopping Center in Menlo Park pictured with 3D printer and some of the items it produced.