A customer watches a 3D printer working at Bambu Lab's first authorized premium store in Siam Paragon shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand, July 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong)
BANGKOK, July 2 (Xinhua) -- A small plastic boat slowly took shape on a desktop 3D printer at Bangkok's Siam Paragon shopping mall, drawing curious onlookers. Some shoppers paused to film the process on their phones, while others watched as a digital design was transformed, layer by layer, into a real object.
The demonstration was not taking place in a laboratory or factory, but at China-based Bambu Lab's first authorized premium store in Thailand, where consumer 3D printing is becoming increasingly accessible to the general public.
As Chinese innovation becomes increasingly popular in Thailand, consumer 3D printing is emerging as another example of how advanced technologies are finding practical applications in everyday life. Once seen as a tool reserved for engineers and industrial designers, 3D printers are now making their way into homes, classrooms and creative spaces.
"I used to think 3D printing was something only professionals could use," said Kung, a marketing executive in Bangkok who just ordered her first printer after visiting the store.
"Now I realize it's much easier than I imagined. I can't wait to start creating things on my own," she said.
For Sharnon Tulabadi, chief executive officer of 3D Studio, Bambu Lab's official retail partner in Thailand, the biggest change is not the machine itself, but the people who are using it.
"Years ago, operating a 3D printer required considerable technical knowledge," he said. "Today, Chinese companies have made the technology far easier to use, opening it up to families, students and hobbyists."
He said the company's goal extends beyond selling printers, aiming instead to encourage more people to discover practical uses for the technology, from home organization and personalized items to educational projects and creative design.
Thai Tech YouTuber BossKerati, who has more than 2 million subscribers on YouTube and has been using 3D printers for years, believes the latest generation of Chinese products has transformed the user experience.
"In the past, I spent more time fixing the printer than creating anything," he said. "Now I simply design a model, send it to print, and leave it overnight. By the next morning, it's almost always ready. That allows creators to focus on ideas rather than machines."
Bambu Lab's Southeast Asia sales manager said, Thailand has become one of the company's fastest-growing markets in the region, driven by growing interest in creative technologies and smart consumer products.
The company plans to deepen cooperation with local schools, businesses and creative communities, expanding the use of 3D printing across education, design and manufacturing. By combining China's strengths in product innovation and advanced manufacturing with Thailand's growing community of creators and technology enthusiasts, it hopes to inspire more local innovation.
Next month, Bambu Lab and its Thai partner will host a public event featuring workshops and a makers' market in Siam Paragon, where visitors can experience the entire creative process, from digital design and printing to assembling finished products.
As more Chinese innovations move beyond industrial applications and into everyday life, technology is becoming another bridge connecting China and Thailand. For many Thai consumers, Chinese technology is no longer simply a product imported from abroad. It is becoming a tool for creativity, learning and innovation, bringing tangible benefits to people's daily lives while contributing to closer people-to-people ties between China and Thailand. ■
A 3D printer makes a small plastic boat at Bambu Lab's first authorized premium store in Siam Paragon shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand, July 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong)
This photo taken on July 1, 2026 shows Bambu Lab's first authorized premium store in Siam Paragon shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong)
Sharnon Tulabadi, chief executive officer of 3D Studio, Bambu Lab's official retail partner in Thailand, is interviewed by Xinhua at Bambu Lab's first authorized premium store in Siam Paragon shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand, July 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong)
