GE has partnered with 3D printer maker Stratasys to build and commercialize household appliances and accessories.

With help from design firm Local Motors, GE Appliances created FirstBuild, an affiliate that will develop a new prototyping model.

The business plan is to use crowdsourcing to gather ideas (individuals design and submit concepts) and then engineering students from the University of Louisville will work with Stratasys 3D printers at the FirstBuild’s “micro-factory” to rapidly prototype and test the concepts.

FirstBuild has created a global online community where anyone can register and submit design ideas, according to GE spokesperson Kim Freeman. FirstBuild has already run idea “challenges” to prompt feedback from its global online commmunity to solve issues with current or future products.

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