Mayku is a new British hardware startup backed by Innovate UK, the Arts Council and the Design Council. They build desktop factories. Founded by Benjamin Redford - a designer and inventor. And Alex Smilansky - a product designer and digital strategist in June 2015.
The idea for Mayku was formed while Ben was developing Projecteo - the tiny Instagram projector. His experience of designing a product in London, manufacturing it in China and reshipping it all over the world from the US had a lasting impact on him. It struck him that these large industrial machines could be miniaturised. At that time Alex was leading the strategy team at Mint Digital, a product development studio in London and New York. They met for a drink to discuss the idea and Mayku was formed. Their mission - to make manufacturing local, simple and accessible to all.
The goal of Mayku is to empower people to make their own things. Whether artistic, functional or frivolous, its aim is to nurture a culture of contemporary folk objects. They have big plans - by miniaturising mass manufacturing processes like injection moulding, vacuum forming and rotational moulding they hope to help the world make things locally again.
Their first two machines are: The FormBox, which turns plastic sheets into 3D shapes. And the RotoBox, which casts hollow objects out of pourable materials. They work effectively alone, and together they form the start of a mini production line.
To join us and learn more about our mission, please visit Mayku.me
Video made by Don and Magnus - cargocollective.com/donandmagnus/
Sound design by Cassini - cassinisound.com/
