24 entrepreneurs John Cousins – in 3D and in the flesh
John Cousins is founder and MD of isodo3D, an innovative 3D printing company based at The Science Centre, Chilworth, Southampton. 3D printing is big news because of the potential which it offers as an application. Cousins set it up a year ago, building on a 19-year career in telecoms, sport, print, media and the IT marketplace. His past includes the role of operations director at Peach Telecom, but he is no stranger to founding and growing entrepreneurial companies. isodo3d provides 3D content-to- print solutions including 3D printers, print materials and cloud sourced on-demand custom parts for professionals and consumers alike, with materials including plastics, metals, ceramics and edibles. The company also provides integrated software and hardware tools including scan to CAD and inspection. Product designers, architects, dental laboratories and anyone who uses 3D CAD are discovering the benefits of embracing 3D printing technology
If you could see into the future, you might predict the rise of 3D – and it’s no longer the stuff of sci-fi. Technology that quickly and economically allows people to print small, detailed parts for casting, prototyping and end-use is far removed from the 2D world in which John Cousins grew up. The son of a bingo caller, he was born in north Yorkshire but spent his early childhood and teenage years in Weston-Super-Mare. Not overly academic, he enjoyed the creative arts, a portent of things to come, and joined the Sea Cadets at 13, before beginning his career in the Royal Navy. Knee injuries put paid to that as a long-term option, which is why he moved into telecoms. Cousins has two sons, an electrician and a singer/ songwriter, an interesting mix of his own practical and arts genes. A loyal Saints supporter, keen golfer and outdoors type, Cousins suffered a sciatica-related problem in 1998 which led to six months off work. That led him to think about life-changing ideas, improvements and 3D. He’s been doing so ever since, as he told writer Sue Hughes (a veteran of 2D publishing technology).
surgical procedures. It’s important for patient engagement too, and of course a swifter operation means less chance of infection and overall, quicker recovery.
It’s a piece of kit
which will become as well known and used as a smartphone.
Why 3D printing after a long time in telecoms?
Well, I’ve been around long enough to see telex evolve into fax, then analogue move to digital and the development of the world wide web. 3D printing is going to be revolutionary and change everything.
What drives your entrepreneurial spirit?
To me, an entrepreneurial spirit is a way of approaching situations where you feel empowered, motivated, and capable of taking things into your own hands. You also need to create a vision that everyone gets behind and empower innovation in pursuit of the vision. I would add that having the right mindset can make the difference between success and failure and being able to feel fear but the courage to ’go for it’ anyway.
What can 3D printing do?
Nearly everything. The only limitation is your mind. One example is shaving hours off operating time, because if a surgeon has a 3D model of a particular patient’s bone, say a broken femur, he knows what he can do and how to approach or adapt
www.businessmag.co.uk What’s the commercial value?
Companies are bringing work back in-house because of the time saving, in many sectors. Hours, not weeks, equates to massive cost savings. The business that embraces 3D has stolen a massive march on its competitors because it makes the route to market much faster.
How important has your past experience in the development of new companies and corporate identity – and marketing – been to isodo3D?
When Pure Telecom was sold I knew I wanted to work for myself; it was a bit of a gamble with a young family but I know
If you look at a ring, a jewellery model,
it used to take a week to produce and cost €25; that can be done in 1.5 hours and cost €1. I’m not talking about mass production, but 3D can be used to produce a product and prove it for size, quality, standard and similar factors. It’s reverse engineering, to take an object and create a 3D file, then construct or adapt it in any shape or form. It brings new issues with it, however, such as who owns the IP.
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – DECEMBER 14/JANUARY 15
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