A New Model for Optical Production
Paloceras announces the opening of its MicroFactory in Helsinki, a new centre for high-end optical production that brings digital design, advanced 3D printing and precise hand finishing under one roof. The MicroFactory shortens the design-to-production cycle from twelve months to two weeks. It allows the brand to create expressive eyewear in both small experimental runs and refined larger batches.
Digital Precision Meets Hand-Finished Craft
Frames inside the MicroFactory begin as digital models. They are produced with next-generation 3D printing machinery. Afterward, they are sculpted, smoothed, and completed by hand. This approach preserves the tactile qualities of traditional craft while expanding the capacity to produce consistent, high-quality pieces at scale.
Full Local Control, From Design to Finetuning & Finishes
Local modelling, printing, and finishing give Paloceras full oversight of quality, energy use, and materials. This allows the brand to operate with intention rather than excess.
Advancing Finnish Manufacturing
“Bringing precision-made production, Finnish manufacturing and full in-house control together feels genuinely new,” says Erwin Laiho, Industrial Designer and Head of the Paloceras MicroFactory. “We can refine every detail and push the material further with each iteration, developing experimentation and consistency side by side.”
The MicroFactory restores optical production to Northern Europe at a time when most manufacturing has moved elsewhere—but technology has now developed to provide alternatives at industry-level standards.
Technology Has Caught Up
“We have explored 3D printing for years, but the quality was never at the level we demanded,” says Mika Matikainen, Creative Director and Co-Founder of Paloceras. “The technology has now matured. The release of our first 3D-printed product, Hydroceras, proved it, with opticians around the world placing orders after seeing it in Paris.”
What Comes Next
Following a sold-out debut, Hydroceras returned in December 2025 as a full Made in Helsinki edition with refined details and two new colourways. In 2026, the MicroFactory will introduce unprecedented designs, bespoke concepts and artist-led collaborations.
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