3D-printed phone cases debut in U.P.

You want your smartphone to be useful, durable and still look good--but a small business startup in the Copper Country adds another dimension to those attributes. If you also want to support innovative, U.P.-based businesses and buy local, they might have the answer to your next phone case.

Ben Wittbrodt, sole owner and operator WittPrint 3D makes 3D-printed iPhone cases right out of his apartment in Houghton. One case features the U.P., another the entire state, while the third showcases the Great Lakes.

3D printing is an innovative way to create products by addition rather than subtraction, says Wittbrodt. This production method has its advantages, including reducing waste and bypassing the additional tooling process needed to make a new part when using traditional methods, allowing for the creation of small amounts of product to be made and prototypes to be produced at a lower cost.

"Part of the appeal to these cases is that they are made with 3D printing and they are a great conversation piece for people, especially since 3D printing is taking off right now," Wittbrodt says. "3D printing is something I am very passionate about and love telling others about it."

During his undergrad years as a student at Michigan Tech in the material science program, Wittbrodt became interested in 3D printing. Now, as a material science grad student, he is basing his thesis on the same topic, delving into the world of 3D printing on a daily basis.

He first tried his hand at 3D printing for a research project last year. Shortly after he designed and printed a coffee travel mug cap via a 3D printer. In February he created his first cell phone case in a group research project. Following the project, Wittbrodt threw around the idea of taking it a step further by including a U.P. design on the back of a case.

"I mentioned it to a few people and they loved the idea and it snowballed from there," Wittbrodt says.

The idea to sell the product came about in April. Wittbrodt spent the summer refining the cases to make them a perfect fit while he was spending the summer as an intern in Indiana.

Since he launched his company he has sold about 120 cases, mostly through word of mouth, and only recently has he launched his website to increase sales. He hopes to expand his customer base by finding retailers in the area that would like to carry his product in their stores.

Generally, one phone case can be created in 35 to 40 minutes. Each is created out of a strong plastic called polylactic acid or PLA. Wittbrodt even used a dummy iPhone to test the durability of the product. Not until it was dropped directly from five feet above the ground onto concrete, landing directly on the corner of the case, did it break.

Wittbrodt currently creates cases for the iPhone 4/4s and 5/5s. He keeps white, blue, and black material in stock and produces three different designs, but can also make custom cases like a pink ribbon case he made for October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

While for now he is sticking with keeping up with demand for his current designs, he may later add more states to the product line.

He also hopes to add the iPhone 5c case and possibly the Samsung Galaxy S3 and S4 and would like to purchase a multi-color 3D printer for more elaborate projects. He also hopes to increase production and eventually branch out to print cases with just about anything on them--from pictures to logos.

"They offer a unique way to display your pride for the UP, and Michigan," he says.

We couldn't agree more.

Julia Woehrer is a freelance writer, photographer and Internet content manager. She attended the School of Art and Design at Northern Michigan University where she concentrated in photography and minored in journalism. She volunteers at a local no-kill cat shelter and enjoys spending time with her cats, Bella and Macy.