The global manufacturing industry, which is valued at $12 trillion, offers great potential for 3D printing.
This was the sentiment shared by Hewlett Packard (HP) leadership executives during a plenary session at the HP Global Innovation Summit at the Sant Cugat Experience Centre in Barcelona yesterday.
The event, now in its second year, brings together industry analysts, customers and executives, as well as the media. This year, officials gathered to explore emerging technology trends, immersive computing and the role of 3D printing in the fourth industrial revolution.
Traditionally known as a PC and printer company, in 2015, HP decided to shake-up its original form and establish two separate companies: HP Enterprise and HP Inc. HP Inc focuses on printers and personal computers, while HP Enterprise manages the higher growth servers, storage devices and services units.
According to HP, as part of its future business strategy and vision, it will leverage 3D printing as it looks to disrupt the trillion-dollar manufacturing industry.
Helena Herrero, MD of HP Iberia, said for the past two-and-half years, the company has been laying the foundation and through the reinvention, HP was able to accelerate growth. "Behind the success are the right strategy and a culture that fosters innovation.
"Short- and mid-term opportunities are compelling. Although there are very good examples for consumer applications, HP really believes that potential is in the commercial space. Technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, Internet of things, blockchain, to name a few, unleash the power of the fourth industrial revolution and we want to have a say there."
Ramon Pastor, VP and GM of HP's 3D Multi-Jet Fusion Business, explained that 3D printing and other technologies that give shape to the fourth industrial revolution aim to change the way the world designs and manufactures.
However, according to Pastor, the 3D industry is still very small and the market is currently valued between $5 billion and $6 billion.
In terms of the IDC's Worldwide Semi-annual 3D Printing Spending Guide, global spending on 3D printing, including hardware, materials, software and services, will be nearly $12 billion in 2018, an increase of 19.9% over 2017.
The IDC report also reveals 3D printers and materials will account for roughly two-thirds of the worldwide spending total throughout the forecast, reaching $6.9 billion and $6.7 billion respectively in 2021.
Pastor believes there are key factors that will influence how fast 3D printing penetrates the market. These are: product capabilities, material price, material selection, design for additive, new supply chain, and standards and policy.
Half of the printers HP sells are used to produce final part manufacturing applications. According to Pastor, until now, 3D printing filled a need to deliver prototyping but that has changed.
"3D printing is the only manufacturing technique that doesn't impose any geometrical constraints for your design. Therefore, you can design products that were not possible before, more efficient, lightweight and provide better performance.
"The more we educate the designers to think differently and to think without constraints, the faster we will move to 3D printing."
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