What Fablab Torino does

Fablab Torino (Associazione Fablab Torino) is a non-profit cultural association and digital fabrication laboratory, or makerspace, located in Turin, Italy, within the Toolbox Coworking facility in Via Egeo. Founded in 2011 as Fablab Italia and permanently established as Fablab Torino in 2012, it is the first Fablab opened in Italy. The organization operates as part of the global Fab Foundation network, with formal ties to Arduino (co-founder Massimo Banzi proposed the first Italian Fablab) and Politecnico di Torino. Its core function is providing shared access to professional-grade digital fabrication equipment and training to a community of makers, students, entrepreneurs, and creative professionals.

The lab's product portfolio centers on four machines — a Creality CR-10 S5 FDM 3D printer (500×500×500mm build volume, €5/hour including material), a Matilda CO2 laser cutter (120×90cm area, €1/minute), a Roland CNC mill (30×30cm work area, €40/hour with volume discounts), and a Roland CAMM GX24 vinyl cutter — supplemented by a general tools workshop and electronics bench. Members must complete free Hello World introductory courses before receiving machine certification. The lab also operates as a venue for Fab Academy courses, the SEI Inventor entrepreneurial bootcamp, the annual Torino Mini Maker Faire (10,000+ visitors), and accessibility-focused projects with Hackability.

The business model is straightforward membership-based and usage-based. Four annual membership tiers target distinct segments: Tessera Light (€15, events/access only), PoliTO (€36, Politecnico students only), Studenti (€50, general students), and Base (€100, general members). All tiers include insurance coverage. Members then purchase credits (1 credit = €1) to operate machines. Supplementary revenue streams include space rental for courses and events, donation/sponsorship links, and community project demonstrations. The association is governed by a board elected every two years; current leadership includes President Gianfranco Caputo, Vice President Matteo Giaccone, Treasurer Paolo Cavagnolo, and Secretary Marco Cassino. Headcount is small at 6 employees, and financials are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Fablab Torino

Legal name

Associazione Fablab Torino

Website

https://fablabtorino.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fablab Torino is a non-profit cultural association and makerspace in Turin, Italy, providing shared access to 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC mills, and vinyl cutters through tiered memberships and credit-based machine usage for makers, students, and creative professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Makerspace Services

akta.pro primary industry

Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC)

Keywords

• Digital fabrication lab
• Makerspace services
• 3D printing services
• Laser cutting services
• CNC milling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Turin

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees with four tiers: Light (€15), PoliTO (€36 for Politecnico students), Studenti (€50 for students), and Base (€100 for general members). Membership includes insurance coverage, access to the lab during operating hours, free Hello World courses, and ability to purchase machine credits.
2. Machine Usage Credits: Credits are the currency for booking and using machines (1 credit = €1). Members purchase credits on their membership card. Machine rates: 3D printer €5/hour, Laser cutter €1/min, CNC €40/hour, Vinyl cutter usage-based.
3. Space Rental: The lab rents its spaces for courses and events. Organizations can rent the space by contacting [email protected].

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fablab Torino is a non-profit cultural association and digital fabrication laboratory (makerspace) in Turin that sells annual memberships granting access to professional-grade fabrication equipment (FDM 3D printing, CO2 laser cutting, CNC milling, vinyl cutting) on a credit-based usage system, supplemented by free Hello World training courses, Open Day visits, workshops, and space rental services for events.

Product overview

Fablab Torino is a cultural association and digital fabrication laboratory (makerspace) offering a tiered membership system (Tessera Light, PoliTO, Studenti, Base) that provides access to physical spaces and digital fabrication equipment including 3D printers (Creality CR-10 S5), laser cutters (Matilda), CNC mills (Roland), and vinyl cutters (CAMM GX24). The product portfolio centers on physical fabrication tools and educational offerings, with free Hello World introductory courses required for machine certification, alongside community events, Open Day visits, and space rental services. Members use a credit system (1 credit = €1) to pay for machine time, with the association providing insurance coverage and a shared workshop environment for makers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tessera Light Membership Annual membership at €15/year providing access to the laboratory during events, insurance coverage, community participation, free access to activities, and discounted entry (€2 vs. €5) to Circolo del Design exhibitions. Intended for occasional users without machine usage credits.
• Tessera PoliTO Membership Annual membership at €36/year for Politecnico di Torino students (verified via @studenti.polito.it or @polito.it email). Provides lab access Tue/Wed/Thu 16:00-20:00, free Hello World courses, and machine usage at consumption rates.
• Tessera Studenti Membership Annual student membership at €50/year for students from institutions other than Politecnico di Torino, including all base membership benefits such as full lab access, free Hello World courses, and machine usage credits with insurance coverage.
• Tessera Base Membership Annual full membership at €100/year providing unrestricted lab access during opening hours (Tue/Wed/Thu 16:00-20:00), free Hello World courses, machine usage credits at consumption rates, and insurance coverage valid until December 31.
• Hello World Courses Free monthly courses teaching the basics of digital fabrication (3D printing, laser cutting, CNC milling, vinyl cutting, electronics, and design software). Required for members to obtain machine usage certification. Open to all members and prospective members.
• Creality CR-10 S5 3D Printing Service Usage-based FDM 3D printing service on the Creality CR-10 S5 with 500x500x500mm build volume, 1.75mm filament, 0.6/0.8mm nozzle, 50mm/sec speed. Priced at €5/hour including material. Available to certified members.
• Matilda Laser Cutting Service Usage-based CO2 laser cutting service on Matilda with 120x90cm cutting area, 200mm material height, 0-10mm cut thickness, 1000dpi resolution, and 120W power. Can process wood, acrylic, leather, fabrics, metals, and more. Priced at €1/minute.
• Roland CNC Milling Service Usage-based CNC milling service on the Roland mill with 30x30cm working area and 3/4/6mm collet options. Priced at €40/hour with volume discounts (5% for 10h, 10% for 20h, 15% for 50h, 20% for 100h packages).
• Roland CAMM GX24 Vinyl Cutting Service Usage-based vinyl cutting service on the Roland CAMM GX24 with 58cm width and USB connection, for producing stickers and graphics from vinyl sheets.
• Space Rental Service Rental of Fablab Torino spaces for courses and events. Organizations can inquire and book by contacting [email protected]. Available to external organizations and community groups.

Quantifiable outcome

• First digital fabrication laboratory opened in Italy
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Toolbox CoworkingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Fablab Torino is housed within Toolbox Coworking in Via Egeo 18, Turin. This strategic partnership provides the physical space for the makerspace in post-industrial facilities. Toolbox is listed as a Strategic Partner.
• Fab FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Fablab network organization founded by Neil Gershenfeld. Fablab Torino is part of this global network and hosts Fab Academy courses. Listed as a collaborator on the website.
• Politecnico di TorinocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor university partnership for student access (PoliTO membership tier), Fab Academy hosting, SEI Inventor bootcamp collaboration, and joint projects like Zefiro COVID mask. Deep educational and research collaboration.
• ArduinocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArduino was co-founded by Massimo Banzi who proposed the first Italian Fablab. Historic connection with Officine Arduino located nearby. Open-source electronics platform aligned with Fablab philosophy.
• HackabilityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccessibility-focused making initiative that collaborates with Fablab Torino on projects for people with disabilities.
• SEI - School of Entrepreneurship and InnovationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFablab Torino serves as venue and collaborator for SEI Inventor bootcamp, an entrepreneurship program involving students in designing startup ventures from idea to prototype.
• K-wayminorOthersListed as a collaborator/brand partner on the Fablab Torino website.
• IED - Istituto Europeo di DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign school listed as a collaborator, likely for student projects and educational exchange.
• Circolo del DesignminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDesign circle offering Fablab members discounted entry (€2 instead of €5) to their exhibitions as a benefit of Light membership.
• Print Club TorinominorOthers3D printing community group in Turin listed as a collaborator.
• MakpiminorOthersMaker community organization listed as a collaborator on the website.
• SireaminorOthersService company listed as a collaborator on the Fablab Torino website.
• IAAD - Istituto d'Arte ApplicataminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerApplied arts institute listed as a collaborator for design and art-related projects.
• Co-de-iTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign and technology studio that collaborated on the DigifabTURINg robotic arm project alongside Fablab Torino and Officine Arduino.
• Lamatilde Architecture StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture studio that co-designed the 2019 renovation of Fablab Torino space with Fablab and Politecnico design students.
• Officine InnestominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational organization that continues Fablab for Kids activities, originally started at Fablab Torino for teaching children coding, robotics, and electronics.
• virtuaLAB (Politecnico di Torino)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirtual lab at Politecnico di Torino that collaborated with Fablab Torino on Zefiro, a DIY COVID-19 mask for healthcare workers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Treatstock: Online marketplace connecting users with on-demand 3D printing, CNC, and laser cutting service providers. Represents the digital alternative to physical makerspace access for hobbyist and small-business prototyping needs.

Direct peers

• FabLab Barcelona: European Fablab Network peer providing digital fabrication access, training, and community programming. Directly comparable in service model (memberships + courses + machine access) and Fab Foundation alignment.
• Officine Arduino: Turin-based open-source electronics platform and physical space co-located near Fablab Torino. Shares target maker community, open-source philosophy, and historic roots via co-founder Massimo Banzi. Functions as both a partner and a closely adjacent operating model.
• FabLab Milano: Direct Fablab Network peer operating a membership-based digital fabrication laboratory in Milan. Shares the same Fab Foundation charter, tiered membership structure, and target user base of makers, students, and startups.
• Polifactory (Politecnico di Milano): University makerspace at Politecnico di Milano offering digital fabrication, prototyping, and educational services to engineering students. Comparable to Fablab Torino's PoliTO partnership in model and target user base.
• WeMake Makerspace: Milan-based makerspace offering digital fabrication tools, memberships, and educational programming to a similar maker/student/creative-professional community. Closest Italian analog in business model, equipment mix, and target segments.

Broad incumbents

• TechShop (defunct, IP acquired): Former US-based chain of membership makerspaces offering access to professional fabrication tools. Closest scaled analog to Fablab Torino's model, demonstrating both the appeal and the operational challenges of monetizing shared maker spaces.
• Toolbox Coworking: Turin-based coworking operator that physically houses Fablab Torino. Provides shared workspace to startups and makers; broader service portfolio but overlapping target community and mission around supporting innovators.
• Fab Foundation: Global nonprofit that charters and supports the worldwide Fablab Network. Fablab Torino operates under its charter; Fab Foundation sets curriculum (Fab Academy) and standards that define Fablab Torino's service model.

Regional players

• Maker Faire (Maker Media): Global franchise of maker-focused events; Fablab Torino organizes the local Torino Mini Maker Faire edition. Comparable ecosystem-building role and target audience, though operating as an event series rather than a permanent lab.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fablab-torino

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fablab Torino