3D Printers: Weapons of Mass Creation

3D Printers: Weapons of Mass Creation

We have all heard of 3D Printing very often in the last months, we’ve seen many examples of what is already possible today - and at least I am quite impressed. The rise of 3D Printing stirs one’s imagination, reminds us of Star Wars like scenarios and paves the way for changes in the way we live and work beyond what we can think of today. A fair one-word-description to what 3D Printing is would be: revolutionary (in the sense of, things will never be the same again afterwards). Remember industrial revolution? Take the impact to the world back then and at least double it, then sit back and let your phantasy do the rest. 3D Printing may be just a technology, a new way of producing things to many people - it’s a fundamental shift in the way the world will look like, economies will work and products will be designed, consumed and re-used.

For the sake of a common understanding, there is always a definition to go first before we get on to the details: 3D Printing is a generic term that refers to any of the various processes for printing a three dimensional object. It is also referred to as Additive Manufacturing. In general, a 3D Printer is a device that can produce a variety of goods with no (direct) human interaction bay adding layer-by-layer of a material on top of each other to form a three dimensional objects, following the high level idea of an ink-printer that you have in your home today.

As already indicated above, the question isn’t so much if 3D Printing is to completely transform our lives and workplaces .The question is answered: it will. However, the question yet unanswered is: what exactly is the impact? What happens to us, to our industries, to society and to wealth distribution? There is more to this than just technology, innovation and cost efficiencies.

Below are two typical highlights explaining what we are faced with:

Manufacturing

The impact on the Manufacturing industry is undisputed and many companies in this sector started to adapt in the last years. Just think back in history: In the industrial revolution, machines replaced humans up to a certain point in factories and value chains. This move has almost reached a bottleneck by now. With 3D printing though, we are facing massive changes in every manufacturing company on this planet. Actually - and I am not writing this for effect - what happens to the entire industry when the act of manufacturing is actually done locally by a robot fully automated regardless of the complexity of the product? What about this example, interesting approach: https://localmotors.com/

Transportation (Cargo) and Retail

With the place of production becoming the place of sale / delivery: what about the Transportation industry? It will be challenged, to say the least. Of course all the printers need materials to produce from, which need to be shipped in the first place. The overall traffic will decrease though, just in time delivery is - for the first time - possible. In accordance, the retail business will change dramatically: who needs to send drones delivering packages when you can just pick stuff up in your local 3D Printer office? Or even, at your own printer at home?

The impact on industries, therefore work profiles, employment and corporate strategies is quite significant once we think about it in the context of 3D Printing. We should consider the fact that what was once a large supply chain with many participating companies that were needed to generate products like cars, electronics, etc. will be shrinked into one 3D Printer device with need for raw material to print from and a CAD file.

So what’s next?

Given that there is opportunity for businesses, urge for governments and huge need for educated talent to get this technology and the surrounding environments ready - let’s not hesitate. We need to establish alliances crossing industries and regions to make this technology

affordable, standardized (globally) and usable for all people, not only a selected few.

Most importantly though we need to make sure we do not put mankind at risk by letting it grow uncontrolled. This can only be achieved, if public institutions involve themselves soon. We need to ensure that the progress is not blocked though as well at the same time like it has been in the past too often. We can actually make the world a better place with this technology. Why talk about printing guns all the time? There is way more to this. Let us make 3D printing a weapon of mass creation.