Quocirca’s latest Executive Briefing report, Additive action: 3D printing as an accelerator for digital manufacturing, examines recent market developments and identifies the opportunities and potential of 3D printing as a key enabler of Industry 4.0.
Whilst 3D technology itself has been around for decades, the 3D printing market today is a very different place, Quocirca states.
3D printing technology has undergone seismic change over the past few years, progressing from primarily being used for prototyping, to actual production. Due to improved economics, manufacturing accuracy and predictability, 3D printing is gradually approaching the point where it can compete with traditional manufacturing methods for certain applications. Now, at the precipice of its next phase of maturity, the sector is undergoing further massive transformation, shifting from low volume production to full scale, digital manufacturing.
Major patent expiries since 2009 resulted in new players entering the market, making 3D printers affordable for the first time. Quocirca explains that more recently traditional print manufacturers including HP, Xerox and Ricoh entered the additive space. Their arrival was a worry for the incumbents, as these deep-pocketed giants could deploy billions in gaining the technological edge, this in turn forced all manufacturers to push the innovation envelope harder than ever, according to Quocirca.
The report explains that the role of additive manufacturing technologies will continue to grow in importance as technological development continues to refine existing applications and expand possibilities for new ones.
Whilst it is clear that the potential to change the way in which products are made, from conception to implementation and delivery, will have far-reaching impacts on business ecosystems, technological convergence and sustainability, these changes will not happen overnight.
Quocirca adds that there is uncertainty around regulation, largely due to the fundamentally different way 3D printed parts are constructed. Worker expertise is another concern, the new design paradigm will require new talent pools if the complexity and functional possibilities are to reach their true potential. There are also the long-term cost horizons for mass manufacturing to be factored into the decision-making process.
The report continues that from both a supply chain and sector perspective, the importance of a well-informed and systematic approach to developing a 3D printing strategy is paramount. A pure technological focus will not be enough to succeed in this emerging industry. 3D printing requires a change in thinking and working with the right people with the right approach is critical to exploit the technology’s full potential.
Quocirca is a global market insight and research firm specialising in analysing the convergence of print and digital technologies in the future workplace. Learn more about Quocirca’s Executive Briefing Report on 3D Printing or download the free Executive Summary.
