2020 brought a\nhost of massive changes forcing most of us to adjust in both our personal and\nwork lives. During this global pandemic, additive manufacturing has become\nimperative to helping, and has also been the topic of growing news coverage.\nThis was not surprising to anyone within 3D printing though because our\nindustry is built to adapt to changing market conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Founded in 2007\nwith production sites in New York and the Netherlands, our company is\nwell-known for producing products at scale using multiple 3D printing technology,\nmethods, and materials. The Shapeways team is privileged to operate with a\nunique perspective in relation to business to business (B2B) or business to\nconsumer (B2C) needs for customized products that would not have come to\nfruition successfully via any other technology except<\/em> additive\nmanufacturing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As we enter 2021,\nfierce competition in the industrial marketplace and new demands from savvy\ncustomers are paving an on-demand manufacturing landscape, leaving businesses\nto navigate exciting but previously uncharted territory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Innovative and newly emerging 3D software programs will play\na large role in refining and automating the design and production process, allowing\nusers to make changes almost effortlessly. Use of 3D printing software can mean\nthe difference between production of a quality 3D printed product or an\ninferior one. Additive manufacturing software assists in processes such as\nnesting, build preparation, tray planning, and file repair, and the use of comprehensive\nsoftware will mean a better outcome in terms of performance and functionality,\nwhether you are proto-typing or fabricating production parts meant to last for\nthe long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scalability should prove to be more applicable than ever in\n2021, as a wide range of companies with their eyes on the future integrate 3D printing\nand other resources into their businesses. With proper scaling and detailed\nattention to workflow, companies can factor in those inevitable highs and lows\nthat accompany question marks in the economy\u2014especially with the roller-coaster\nride challenging many smaller organizations due to the pandemic. Businesses\nmust continue to grow, but in the coming days and months, flexibility will be critical\nas commercial infrastructure and technological solutions must be carefully\nconsidered in terms of economic cycles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After producing more than 12 million parts, using over 10 different technologies and more than 75 different materials, our team at Shapeways is well aware of the benefits of digital manufacturing as it has transformed the creative and manufacturing process for designers and engineers around the world. Tremendous impacts have also been made in numerous industries; for example, in the medical field<\/a> 3D models and devices now allow for patient-specific treatment which basically changes everything for patients in need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Surgeons are able to diagnose and treat serious conditions\nusing 3D printed medical models and guides, along with offering better\neducational tools not only for medical students, but also in supplying visuals\nfor the patients who are being affected\u2014and their families. Prosthetics and a\nvariety of implants are also being fabricated to improve the quality of lives\nfor many patients who may have been struggling to function in daily life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Markets for eyewear, dental products, and hearing aids have\nalso been heavily disrupted by 3D printing, and we will see this type of\ninnovation seeping into other areas as smart, competitive business owners are\nintent on leveraging new technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Individuals and companies of all\nsizes are respectively being forced to reshape their careers, workflow habits,\nand business practices due to restrictions caused by the viral pandemic;\nhowever, many organizations were already interested in the idea of integrating\nadditive manufacturing, despite common (and understandable) uncertainties about\nhow to implement new technology and processes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 3D printing has proven to be\nextremely useful in manufacturing of on-demand parts related to COVID-19 though,\nwhether for personal protective equipment (PPE) or devices such as ventilators\nand associated parts, and in fact, individual designers and established\ncompanies networking within the 3D printing community have been able to help\nmanufacture items when supplies were critically low globally. Companies just\nentering the 3D printing market may be interested in targeting customers from\nthe medical industry as well as fabricating smaller items that become popular\nwith consumers beyond this year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At Shapeways, we have become\ndedicated to fabrication of numerous 3D printed items related to COVID-19 like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Other existing businesses may also\nbe shifting their 3D printing services to on-demand, on-site manufacturing of\nPPEs and devices, even completely moving away from more general offerings for\nthe time being. Individual designers have invented many helpful new components,\nand members from the 3D printing community continue to work together too,\nmaking an inspiring impact worldwide as critical needs continue to be made\nknown. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 3D printing is an intuitive choice for high mix, low volume\napplications where on-demand parts are required\u2014as well as consolidating\nassembly into as few pieces as possible with the use of larger print beds and\nsuitable materials. With the onset of COVID-19, supply chains were enormously\naffected, making it difficult not only to continue with normal business\npractices and manufacturing, but also transportation and delivery nearly\nanywhere. Businesses engaged in 3D printing have a true edge in terms of supply\nchains, however, and this will continue to become more apparent as parts can be\nprinted at facilities closer to end-users, if not completely on site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the past few years, we have seen some stunning headlines as large companies like HP<\/a> and GE<\/a> have continued to invest in additive manufacturing and collaborate with many other entities, along with participating in ongoing collaborations, consolidations, and purchases to include companies like DSM<\/a>, recently purchased for \u20ac1.6 billion by polymer supplier, Covestro<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Progressive technology like 3D printing is shining like\nnever before, leaving industry leaders and venture capitalists to pour enormous\namounts of money into the 3D printing space\u2014even as economic question marks may\nremain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you are an architectural\ndesigner, structural engineer, or own an industrial company, if you are\ninterested in benefitting from some of the classic rewards 3D printing can\noffer. Some benefits include greater return on investment, faster turnaround,\nand the ability to make products never possible before. Your needs may be based\non prototyping, manufacturing functional components, or diving into numerous\ninnovative endeavors, but with the proper hardware, software, materials, and 3D\nprinting education, you could change the course of your business (and the\npotential for greater success) in ways never previously imagined. Contact one\nof our 3D printing experts to find out how additive manufacturing can meet your\nmanufacturing needs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 2020 brought a host of massive changes forcing most of us to adjust in both our personal and work lives….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":161,"featured_media":41188,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[510],"tags":[2621,850],"class_list":["post-41169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-3d-printing-industry","tag-2621","tag-additive-manufacturing"],"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/blog_2021_predictions.jpg","yoast_head":"\n3D Printing Software Becomes Critical<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3D Printing is Leading the Future<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
COVID-19 is Not Going Anywhere<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Supply Chain Agility will Ramp Up<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Investment in 3D Printing\nAccelerates<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n