Authorised Rhino Reseller & Industry Solutions Partner | 3D ANZ
When evaluating professional design software solutions, it is important to understand the distinction between the software developer and the specialist companies that deliver industry-focused expertise and services around that software.
Robert McNeel & Associates — Software Author
Robert McNeel & Associates is the creator and publisher of Rhino 3D software.
Rhino is best understood as a highly flexible, general-purpose 3D modeling platform designed for a broad horizontal market. Rather than focusing on a single profession or industry, Rhino provides a powerful geometric modeling environment that can be adapted across many design disciplines.
This flexibility has helped Rhino become widely adopted in industries including:
- Architecture
- Marine design
- Industrial design
- Jewellery design
- Footwear
- Engineering
- Fabrication
- Computational design
- Product development
- Education and research
A key part of Rhino’s success is the open ecosystem fostered by McNeel. Through Grasshopper and an extensive developer framework, Robert McNeel & Associates actively supports a global community of third-party software developers who create specialised applications, plugins, and workflows for specific industries and professional needs.
This approach allows Rhino to serve as a common design platform while enabling deep specialization through industry-focused tools developed by independent software partners.
Robert McNeel & Associates is responsible for:
- Core Rhino software development
- Product innovation and updates
- Licensing systems and software distribution frameworks
- Developer tools and APIs
- Official product documentation
- Supporting the wider Rhino developer ecosystem
Rhino®, Grasshopper®, and related technologies are intellectual property developed and owned by Robert McNeel & Associates.
3D ANZ — Specialist Reseller, Consultant, Training & Industry Solutions Partner
3D ANZ operates as an independent reseller, training provider, and specialist solutions partner serving customers across New Zealand and Australia.
While McNeel develops the core Rhino platform, 3D ANZ focuses on helping customers apply Rhino and associated technologies within real-world vertical industries and professional workflows.
3D ANZ works across a range of specialist design sectors, supporting both Rhino and selected third-party applications built for Rhino-based workflows. This includes collaborating with industry leaders, educators, studios, manufacturers, consultants, and production teams to help implement effective digital design processes.
Examples of industries supported by 3D ANZ include:
- Naval architecture and marine design
- Jewellery and fine object design
- Architecture and computational design
- Industrial and product design
- Digital fabrication and CNC workflows
- Visualisation and design communication
- Advanced manufacturing
- Design education and research
In these vertical markets, 3D ANZ provides services such as:
- Software sales and licensing guidance
- Local technical support
- Industry-focused training
- Workflow consulting and implementation
- Integration of specialised Rhino plugins and tools
- Support for educational institutions and enterprise deployment
- Guidance around hardware and production workflows
This relationship reflects an important distinction:
- McNeel develops the horizontal platform
- 3D ANZ helps customers apply that platform effectively within specialised vertical industries
Why This Distinction Matters
The Rhino ecosystem combines the strengths of a globally developed core platform with specialised regional expertise and industry knowledge.
This structure benefits customers by providing:
- A stable and widely adopted core design platform
- Access to specialised third-party industry tools
- Local expertise and implementation support
- Flexible workflows adaptable to changing technologies and industries
- Direct engagement with experienced practitioners and solution providers
Understanding the distinction between software author and reseller also helps clarify responsibilities and value:
| Area | McNeel | 3D ANZ |
|---|---|---|
| Software Development | ✓ | — |
| Product Ownership | ✓ | — |
| Licensing Platform | ✓ | — |
| Developer Ecosystem & APIs | ✓ | — |
| Third-Party Plugin Framework | ✓ | Supports & Implements |
| Local Sales & Licensing Assistance | Limited | ✓ |
| Industry Workflow Consulting | — | ✓ |
| Training & Education | — | ✓ |
| Regional Technical Support | Limited | ✓ |
| Vertical Market Expertise | Platform Level | Industry Specific |
Together, Robert McNeel & Associates and 3D ANZ represent a collaborative ecosystem that combines globally developed software innovation with specialised local expertise, industry knowledge, and implementation support across a broad range of creative and technical industries. Our combined focus is to provide best in class design to manufacture productivity solutions at an affordable cost.