A new technology is set to revolutionise the manufacturing industry.

3Dify, based in Brighton, is developing how to replicate the human form using 3D printers following its runaway success at Brighton Digital Festival last year.

The firm is believed to be the only one in the city using 3D printing equipment, which has been used to create a gun in the US, build houses in China and create functioning human body parts suitable for transplant.

The firm is based in Wired Sussex’s Fusebox in New England House home to several high-tech start-ups.

The company built a 3D body scanner for the Digital Festival where hundreds of volunteers walked inside a giant sculpture of a pregnant woman to be scanned and then watched themselves being reborn on a 3D printer as a mini sculpture.

The firmhas since been working on a prototype 3D body scanning booth and how technology can create lifelike animated and virtual reality characters.

3Dify co-founder and director Kati Byrne said: “Brighton doesn’t have big companies in the automotive, medical or space sector which is probably why there are notmany industrial 3D printers in town.

“The consumer facing technology - desktop 3D printers and scanners is still classified as emerging and up until very recently it was mainly innovators, makers and very early adopters who were experimenting with it.

“The technology is great for one-off customer products, personalised items or pieces that have a very intricate design that can’t be produced in any other traditional method.

“The 3D printing technology has been around for about three decades, but more behind the scenes rather than in the public eye but over the past fewyears the technology has suddenly grabbed everyone’s attention as it has become more accessible and more affordable.”

The University of Brighton has led the first UK project to teach primary schoolchildren 3D printing skills.

Tim Katz, principal lecturer at the university, said: “Many young children are digital natives, growing up with technology from an early age but primary schools lack the expertise and the budget to engage children in a comprehensive digital design and manufacturing experience on their own.

“This project is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK and aims to bridge this gap.”

For more information visit www.3dify.co.uk.