Print, Don’t Bin: Philips’ Quiet Revolution in DIY Repair
When a multinational lets you fix your trimmer instead of forcing you to replace it, it might be a signaln that something bigger is about to happen.
Philips Fixables is offering downloadable 3D print files for personal care accessories, starting with an adjustable beard trimmer comb, so consumers can replace parts without tossing whole devices.
Partnering with Prusa Research, the pilot starts in the Czech Republic but files are globally available via Printables. This move could shift product repair from supply chains to desktops—but only if Philips commits beyond this token gesture.
- Only one part (a OneBlade comb) is available so far
- Consumers must follow print specs for safety and durability
- Philips promises more but gives no timeline or guarantees
This is repair-as-a-service, crowd-sourced by customers. Could this model scale up across industries? At least it is a signal that something is changing and that we are moving to an era where we 3D print whatever we need, completely changing geopolitics as I argue in my upcoming book Now What?
Empowering users to fix their gear isn’t just good design, it’s good systems thinking. What other consumer products would you like to repair with a click and a cartridge?
Read the full article on The Verge.
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