Expanding the scope of 3D printing

Additive manufacturing (AM) is nowadays used for a wide variety of applications.

- FRANK CARSTEN HERZOG

A green technology, AM is bringing about increasingly disruptive changes in traditional manufacturing strategies. The benefits of a procedure not bound to a specific form, such as geometric freedom, re-engineering, and resource conservation, are complemented by great economic advantages and excellent availability. But the essential merits are not just the copying of conventional parts but rather the new designs and bionic design approaches. Time-to-market as well as quick availability and idle time reduction also come into play. In light of the debate about long supply chains as a side effect of globalisation, AM is also a viable approach for local production. Local production also means that value creation, product development, and product manufacturing will take place closer to the customers. Reducing logistic overhead contributes to achieving climate goals.

AM providers in the industry, however, are currently in a consolidation phase. The enormous growth of the past ten years in particular, its numerous innovation pushes, and the consolidation of prices are taking effect. While major players such as Stratasys, 3D Systems, SLM Solutions, HP, EOS, GE Additive, or MarkForged may feel a stronger effect, small start-up companies are still pushing into a dynamic market with creative solutions. A market that is still far from saturation or fights for survival. For users, on the other hand, things are still going extremely well. That is true for the medical industry as well as others.

Medical 3D printing takes off