2024-09-09 07:47:07
If anything has become clear this year, it is that 3D printing has not yet been able to deliver on its promises. The pressure the sector is under this year is new. Is there still a future for 3D printing? This is the title of a panel discussion in which three experts with a long track record in the 3D printing world will discuss with each other at the Kunststoffenbeurs 2024.
Margie Topp (Windesheim University of Applied Sciences), Jules Witte (<a href="https://www.archyde.com/relaunch-of-shapeways-in-eindhoven-as-manuevo/" title="Relaunch of Shapeways in Eindhoven as Manuevo”>Manuevo / Shapeways) and Bart van As (Ultimaker) will search for answers with discussion leader Franc Coenen (3D Print magazine).
A full-fledged production technology requires a complete ecosystem
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
What went wrong?
More than ever before, the 3D printing industry is in motion this year. Takeovers, bankruptcies, investors who fail to show up. The stock prices of many 3D printing companies have now fallen by 90% or more from their recent peaks. And we are not even looking at the peaks in 2012 and 2013. What has brought us to the current situation? Did the 3D printing companies get money too easily from investors, who in turn were blinded by unrealistic growth figures? Have the printer manufacturers sufficiently realized that a fully-fledged production technique requires an ecosystem: hardware, software, materials, post-processing, support from suppliers, manufacturers with a good service apparatus?
Research world and manufacturers
These are the first questions that the three panel members will look for answers to. Margie Topp is a lecturer in Plastics Technology at Windesheim University of Applied Sciences and specialized in composite materials and polymer technology. The Plastics Technology lectorate has broad experience with 3D printing. Bart van As After his Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering at TU/e, he gained broad experience in industry at Océ, Brightlands Chemelot Campus and, since 2018, at Ultimaker. In the first years he was Senior Product Manager Materials at Ultimaker, since 2022 he has been Director of Process Knowledge Center and MT member. These two panel members bring their expertise from the research world and the 3D printer manufacturers respectively.
And how do users view it?
But what about the users? Where do they see the bottlenecks and especially the opportunities? Jules Witte is Chief Operating Officer of 3D printing service company Manuevo in Eindhoven that focuses on the production of end parts. Manuevo is the successor of Shapeways in Eindhoven. Jules has twelve years of experience with 3D printing of end parts.
Seize the opportunities
The three of them will mainly answer the question in the second part of the discussion what significance can 3D printing have for the plastics processing industry in the Benelux? And what is needed on the supply side to convince the sector of the opportunities that 3D printing offers. Because that is where the future must lie. The future of 3D printing and of the plastics processing manufacturing industry.
The panel discussion will take place on the first day of the Plastics engineering place, Wednesday September 18, at 12:00. You can register do here.
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Is There Still a Future for 3D Printing?
As we stand in 2024, the 3D printing industry is facing unprecedented pressure. With takeovers, bankruptcies, and investors backing out, the sector is under immense scrutiny. The question on everyone’s mind is: Is there still a future for 3D printing?
To address this pressing concern, a panel discussion has been organized at the Kunststoffenbeurs 2024, featuring three experts with a long track record in the 3D printing world. Margie Topp (Windesheim University of Applied Sciences), Jules Witte (Manuevo/Shapeways), and Bart van As (Ultimaker) will delve into the reasons behind the industry’s current struggles and explore the opportunities that lie ahead.
What Went Wrong?
The 3D printing industry has been plagued by unrealistic growth expectations and easy access to investor funding. This has led to a situation where many 3D printing companies have seen their stock prices plummet by 90% or more from their recent peaks. It’s clear that the industry is in dire need of a reality check.
One of the primary concerns is that the printer manufacturers have not adequately realized that a fully-fledged production technique requires a complete ecosystem. This includes hardware, software, materials, post-processing, support from suppliers, and manufacturers with a good service apparatus.
Research World and Manufacturers
The three panel members bring their expertise from the research world and the 3D printer manufacturers respectively. Margie Topp, a lecturer in Plastics Technology at Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, specializes in composite materials and polymer technology. Bart van As, with his background in Chemical Engineering and experience at Océ, Brightlands Chemelot Campus, and Ultimaker, brings a wealth of knowledge from the industry side.
User Perspective
Jules Witte, Chief Operating Officer of 3D printing service company Manuevo, represents the user’s perspective. With twelve years of experience in 3D printing of end parts, he will provide valuable insights into the bottlenecks and opportunities that users face.
The Future of 3D Printing
Despite the current challenges, the future of 3D printing remains bright. According to a report by 80 additive manufacturing experts, we can expect to see even more industrialized applications for 3D printing in 2023, leading to exponentially more qualified parts and processes <a href=”https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/what-is-the-future-of-3d-printing-80-additive-manufacturing-experts-forecast-3d-printing-trends-for-2023-220261/>.
Additionally, six predictions for the future of 3D printing highlight the potential for faster, more diverse, and more integrated production methods. By embracing these trends and prioritizing quality, the industry can overcome its current struggles and realize its full potential <a href=”https://www.ascm.org/ascm-insights/6-predictions-for-the-future-of-3d-printing/>.
While it’s true that 3D printing has not taken over much of the manufacturing landscape, with less than one percent of all manufacturing output being 3D printed today <a href=”https://www.northbridgeinsurance.ca/blog/3d-printing-manufacturing/>, there is still a significant opportunity for growth and development.
Seizing the Opportunities
The future of 3D printing and the plastics processing manufacturing industry lies in embracing the opportunities that this technology offers. By creating a complete ecosystem and addressing the bottlenecks that users face, the industry can overcome its current struggles and achieve its full potential.
The panel discussion at the Kunststoffenbeurs 2024 will provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the 3D printing industry. As we move forward, it’s essential to prioritize quality, innovation, and collaboration to ensure a bright future for 3D printing.
what are three uses of 3d printing?
Is There Still a Future for 3D Printing?
The 3D printing industry has been under intense scrutiny this year, with many companies struggling to deliver on their promises. The pressure is new, and the sector is in motion. Takeovers, bankruptcies, and investors failing to show up have led to a significant decline in stock prices, with some companies experiencing a 90% or more drop from their recent peaks [[3]]. The question on everyone’s mind is: is there still a future for 3D printing?
What Went Wrong?
The 3D printing industry has been criticized for getting money too easily from investors who were blinded by unrealistic growth figures. Printer manufacturers may not have fully realized that a fully-fledged production technique requires a complete ecosystem, including hardware, software, materials, post-processing, support from suppliers, and manufacturers with a good service apparatus [[3]]. This lack of a complete ecosystem may have contributed to the industry’s current struggles.
A Full-Fledged Production Technology Requires a Complete Ecosystem
As the three experts in the panel discussion at Kunststoffenbeurs 2024 will discuss, a full-fledged production technology requires a complete ecosystem. Margie Topp, a lecturer in Plastics Technology at Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, brings her expertise from the research world. Bart van As, Director of Process Knowledge Center at Ultimaker, brings his expertise from the 3D printer manufacturers. Jules Witte, Chief Operating Officer of Manuevo, brings his expertise from the user perspective, with 12 years of experience in 3D printing of end parts [[2]].
Future Prospects
Despite the current struggles, the future of 3D printing is promising. There are many exciting developments in the sector, including the acceleration of knowledge development and opportunities in the sector [[1]]. Certain sectors, such as the medical sector, are beginning to embrace 3D printing, including for prosthetics [[3]]. Metal 3D printing, construction industry, and manufacturing sector are some of the areas that are expected to grow in the future [[2]].
Unpacking the Latest Breakthroughs
Recent breakthroughs in 3D printing technology include material advancements, speed improvements, and enhanced accessibility [[3]]. These advancements will be crucial in convincing the sector of the opportunities that 3D printing offers. The panel discussion will mainly answer the question of what significance can 3D printing have for the plastics processing industry in the Benelux and what is needed on the supply side to convince the sector of the opportunities that 3D printing offers.
Conclusion
The future of 3D printing is promising, but it requires a complete ecosystem to succeed. The sector needs to come together to realize the opportunities that 3D printing offers. With exciting developments in the sector and new breakthroughs in technology, there is still a future for 3D printing. The question is no longer “Is there still a future for 3D printing?” but rather “How can we seize the opportunities that 3D printing offers?”