“We want to lead this business. HP Labs is looking at it.” – Meg Whitman, CEO of HP

At the Canalys Channels Forum in Bangkok, HP CEO Meg Whitman finally broke the silence on whether HP would get back into the 3D printing game. ”We are excited about 3D printing,” Whitman said.

Whitman also expressed hesitation about getting in too early. She shared her concerns about how slow 3D printing is today. ”To print a bottle can take eight to ten hours. That’s all very interesting, but it is like watching ice melt,” she said.

HP previously had a partnership with Stratasys that fell through in August 2012.

Read: Stratasys and HP Part Ways on 3D Printer Manufacturing

Wait for 2014

Whitman did not provide a specific timeline on when HP will bring its own 3D printing products to market, but did indicate that 2014 would be their entry timing.

“3D printing is in its infancy,” she said. “It is a big opportunity and we are all over it. We will have something by the middle of next year.”

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