"3D Printing" 3rd of 12 #bizTrends for 2012 Forget 3D televisions, the next wave of digital disruption will likely arrive in the form of increasingly affordable 3D printers. In 2012 savvy manufacturers and retailers will harness existing and emergining 3D printing technologies to add value through personalization and differentiate their products and services . And they can do it all while delivering on demand instant gratification at affordable prices.

1. #3 Printing in 3D 1 2 business trends for 20 12
Forget 3D televisions, the next wave
of digital disruption will likely arrive
in the form of increasingly affordable
3D printers.
In 2012 savvy manufacturers and
retailers will harness existing and
emerging 3D printing technologies to
add value through personalization
and allowing them differentiate their
products and services. And
businesses in the same way that CNC
businesses can do it all while delivering on
(computer numerical control) machines did
demand instant gratification at affordable
for large manufacturing in the 1950s. CNC
prices.
machines enabled inventors to harness
emerging computer technology and
consumer ready engineering software. Using CNC technology,
In January at the 2012 CES show, 3D Systems Inventor and computer aided manufacturing
Corporation (NYSE:DDD) introduced the first pioneer, John T. Parsons was able to machine
of its kind consumer 3D printer. Priced at highly complex components for helicopters in
$1299 and weighing in at 9 pounds, The a comparatively small facility, on a low budget,
Cube™ will empower small businesses and small labor force, and no tooling costs.
consumers to create low cost, in-house, one
off models, samples, and prototypes at the
touch of a button.
Also referred to as 'additive manufacturing',
in 2012 3D printers will empower small
"Our approach on product development will change
the world forever. MP3 changed the music industry
forever, digital cameras did the same for
photography and digital printing enabled everybody
to become a publisher – now the same transition is
already occurring for consumer products as well...
people will be able to create their own products
with great ease ... [un] bound by the selection they
can find in stores." (Freedom of Creation, 2012)
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2. #3 Printing in 3D 1 2 business trends for 20 12
Medical
Combining existing medical technology
including MRI scans, companies like Bespoke
Innovations are able to print in 3 dimensions
one of a kind prosthetic limbs. Each limb is
customized for and in conjuction with each
client to specifically address their needs,
lifestyle, size, and personalities. The company
website boasts that their products "are
specialized coverings that surround an existing
prosthetic leg, accurately recreating the body form through a process that
uses three-dimensional scanning to capture the unique leg shape ...
[which] not only return the lost contour, they invite an expression of
personality and individuality that has never before been possible."
(Corporate Website, 2012)
Industrial Design
Freedom of Creation has been a pioneer in the 3D printing business. They
work with artists, designers, and companies to transform CAD files into
dimensional reality. Their products are featured in universities and
museums around the world and their client list includes the likes of Nike,
L'Oreal, LVMH, and Hyundai. (Images from FOC website)
Shapeways offers consumers on
demand printing in a myriad of
materials at truly affordable prices.
From $0.18/cm3 for ceramic all the
way up to $20/cm3 for sterling silver.
Other materials available include
glass, sandstone, stainless steel,
alumide, and a high density poly-
nylon. With relatively easy, step by
step guides Shapeways has the
possibility to become a virtual
Kinko's for 3D printing combined
with Etsy-like retail opportunities
for industrial designers.
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3. #3 Printing in 3D 1 2 business trends for 20 12
architectural
Contour Crafting combines robotics, CAD drawings, and 3D printing technologies to build complete
structures. They have been working in conjunction with USC, Cal-Earth, the National Science
Foundation, and Office of Naval Research. In addition to labor savings and construction speed,
Contour Crafting highlights their ability to reduce environmental impact and eliminate job site
worker safety hazards.
aerospace & automotive
Projects which have high value but low volume
manufacturing benefit enormously from the new
economics of additive layer manufacturing (ALM). Which is
why aerospace, defense, and specialty automotive
companies are embracing new 3D printing technologies.
Rockets and experimental airplanes with billion dollar price
tags might be a thing of the past if EADS has anything to do
with it. With an information page sounding more like the
opening to the TV series The Bionic Man, EADS boasts "Research & Technology (R&T) plays a central
role in EADS remaining competitive by being more innovative, better, cheaper and faster in
delivering products than its competitors." (EADs, 2012). (Photo of EAD's X3 hybrid helicopter.)
Dream cars used to be million dollar babies that were more for show than anything else. With 3D
printing, designers and engineers can print out the cars of their dreams in record time and for much
lower costs. With the global auto market increasing, US manufacturers can use this technology to
develop country and market specific vehicles for tradeshows. And in the higher end automarket,
vintage car enthusiasts can get their motors up and running using 3D printing to build extinct parts.
And the even higher end of the auto market,"Formula 1 is a sweet spot for the technology as they
use high value, low volume parts... Rumor has it that since Daimler is a major shareholder in EADS,
several parts of the 2011 Mercedes GP car could be built using ALM." (Marriage & Ruttner, 2011)
Illustration courtesy of Jim Hatch ©2012
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4. #3 Printing in 3D 1 2 business trends for 20 12
Home Furnishings
3D printers, like computer engraving, and
embroidering can give retailers an edge on
their competition by offering uniquely
personalized products. Monogrammed and
personalized towels and canvas tote bags can
now be embellished with additional hard
printed personalized details.
William Sonoma, Inc (NYSE: WSM) parent
company of Pottery Barn and West Elm has
been working hard over the past year to
improve
efficiencies in their
operations in order
to expedite custom configure so much of their lives and
personalized the authenticity of what they do and the
orders and quality... is made in Portland.... That allows
eliminate them to have a lot of differentiation in finish
inefficiencies. They and scale. ....And we are cognizant of not
see personalized trying to go too fast because they are a small
gifts as a great market differentiator in an company and we want to make sure that we
increasingly promotional gift giving do everything without swamping them."
environment, and will likely increase the SKU While Rejuvenation is not currently using 3D
count of their personalized products as the manufacturing currently, it is an enormous
efficiencies take hold. opportunity to scale output to meet new
demand while remaining within the existing
In Fall of 2011, William Sonoma, Inc acquired logistical parameters. (Images from
Rejuvenation. With roots in architectural PotteryBarn.com, WilliamSonoma.com &
salvage, Rejuvenation specializes in Rejuvenation.com)
historically accurate reproductions of
hardware and home furnishings. William
Sonoma CEO Laura Albers
noted during the company's
3rd quarter 2011 earnings call
that Rejuvenation has "a
product line that is I think is
going to be increasingly
relevant as people want to
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5. #3 Printing in 3D 1 2 business trends for 20 12
resources
“Will 3D Printing Revolutionize Manufacturing?” Peter Day, BBC July 27, 2011
“Manufacturing the Dream: Game Changing new Production” , Ian Hardy, BBC News December 06,
2010
Video Interview with Abe Reichental, CEO 3D Systems on Bloomberg West, April 7, 2011
Forbes, "How 3D Printing Will Make US Self Sufficient" by Diane Carlson, July 11, 2011
"The Great Eight: Trillion-Dollar Growth Trends to 2020" from Bain and Company. Sept 09, 2011 by
Karen Harris, Austin Kim and Andrew Schwedel
Business Insider "The Next Trillion Dollar Industry: 3D Printing", by Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry, Feb 25,
2011
Society of Manufacturing Engineers, "The Father of the Second Industrial Revolution" ,
Manufacturing Engineering, August 2001.
Technovelgy, "Lunar Contour Crafting - Print A Moonbase
X3 Photos June 2011 Paris Airshow, Dillards , IndianDefense.com
EVO-The Thrill of Driving, "Forget carbonfibre - metal is getting a whole lot cleverer. find out more
and see video and pics here" January 2011
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a Trend Report from Design | Intuition by Katie Hatch ©2012
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6. #3 Printing in 3D 1 2 business trends for 20 12
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