On 3D Printing

In the face of a global financial crisis, the European Union is having its share of challenges to grow the economies of the EU member states. The European Commission has a new plan for reviving the declining manufacturing sector which has lost 3 million jobs. The plan calls for member states to invest heavily in 3D printing.

In a leaked paper seen by Reuters, 3D printing is highlighted as a path to job and GDP growth.

The paper which outlines the bloc’s future industrial policy said the commission wants to raise manufacturing from 16 percent to 20 percent of EU GDP by 2020 using new techniques such as 3D printing which builds objects using instructions from a printer.

Enthusiasts for 3D printing say it will revolutionise manufacturing in electronics such as mobile phones and save millions in costs as it would be as cheap to produce one phone as it would be to make thousands.

Some predict that in the more distant future households will have such printers to make mundane objects such as shoes.

Other initiatives for growth include biotech, green vehicles and smart grids.

Via Reuters.

EU Commission program photo by sararasmussen used under Creative Commons license.

Top 10 Countdown: Most Popular 3D Printing Stories in July 2012

August 3, 2012 News

Here are the top 10 most popular stories On 3D Printing brought you in July 2012.

10. America Will Lead the Future of Manufacturing, China Will Follow

9. Infographic: Go On, Print a Liver – The Evolution of Bio 3D Printing

8. Enter the 3D4D Challenge to Win $100K and Change the World

7. Come to London for the Olympics, Stay for the 3D Print Show

6. Always Wanted Your Own Action Figure? 3D Print Your Face [Video]

5. 3D Printing Architecture From the Cloud with 3D Model-To-Print Service

4. Shapeways Opens NYC 3D Printing and Distribution Center

3. 3D Printing Industry Will Reach $3 Billion by 2018 – Report

2. Designed to Win: 3D Printing Could Help Athletes Break World Records

1. 3D Printed Rocket Fuel Espresso Cup Goes Viral, Boosts Sales

Thanks for reading in July!

Stratasys and HP Part Ways on 3D Printer Manufacturing

August 1, 2012 News

Stratasys and HP have discontiued a manufacturing and distribution agreement for 3D printers. This either means that HP is preparing its own line of 3D printers, or is opting out of the 3D printing market entirely. Stratasys does not see this as a hit to their financial projections, but the market reacted by initially lowering their share price.

From the Stratasys press release:

Stratasys, Inc., a leading manufacturer of 3D printers and production systems for prototyping and manufacturing applications, today announced that Stratasys and HP have agreed to discontinue their manufacturing and distribution agreement for 3D printers, effective at the end of 2012. Stratasys does not expect the termination of its agreement with HP to have a material impact on its financial results for the current year and intends to work closely with HP to ensure a smooth transition for customers.

“Stratasys has enjoyed a productive relationship with HP, and moving forward, we will continue working towards our goal of achieving broader 3D printer usage worldwide,” said Scott Crump, chief executive officer and chairman of Stratasys. “As the market for 3D printing technology grows, Stratasys is focused on further developing our independent channel distribution initiatives to expand our distribution reach even further. Our recently-announced merger with Objet will help grow customer awareness of the many opportunities to deploy 3D printing and rapid prototyping techniques and will allow us to implement an even broader distribution channel with a more extensive geographic reach.”

Under the terms of the definitive agreement signed in January 2010, Stratasys developed and manufactured for HP an exclusive line of 3D printers based on Stratasys’ patented Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM(R)) technology. Later that year, HP began a phased rollout of the 3D printers in the mechanical design (MCAD) market in select European countries.

HP CEO Meg Whitman photo by TechShowNetwork used under Creative Commons license.