Norbert Sparrow in PLASTEC West3D, Printing, Automotive and Mobility, Materials, Medical on January 21, 2019

“Speed, reliability, and material science have combined to get folks to think of 3D printing as a viable solution for end use parts and not just prototyping and tooling,” Cullen Hilkene, CEO of 3Diligent (El Segundo, CA), a digital manufacturing services provider, told PlasticsToday in a recent interview. “In 2017, we saw some big announcements by newer kids on the block—HP and Carbon—that kicked the rest of industry into gear with regards to embracing additive production. The move into production and some penetration of the market is the big story line I see for 3D printing heading into 2019. We are beginning to see some real use cases of polymer additive in a production capacity,” said Hilkene.

Here are some other observations from Hilkene on the 3D printing landscape today and how it will evolve in the year ahead.

Concerns about the viability of 3D printers have been largely addressed by new innovations and technologies, according to Hilkene. “You would routinely hear people complain about performance relative to machined or injection molded parts—‘Hey, I’ve got a real problem in the z axis.’ The durability of parts from legacy machines were just not there for production, let alone the economics at any meaningful scale,” said Hilkene. “Now, we’re seeing real polymer applications—none more publicized than Carbon’s work with adidas’ Futurecraft shoes.” In 2019, expect to see more stories and public visibility around the use of additive manufacturing in the production space, said Hilkene, who adds that the exposure “will inspire more folks to pursue additive manufacturing within their own organizations.”