3D printing has come into our lives to stay. HP has given the latest boost to the sector announcing their first 3D printers by mid 2014.
The 3D printing market is undoubtedly one of the most attractive fields in technology. The arrival of these innovative printers into our daily lives seems closer every day.
And no doubt many of us are eager to have one of these products in our everyday lives. The grand promise of a possible industrial revolution 2.0, destined to transform conventional production and manufacturing processes, have already found tremendous applications in the fields of medicine, fashion or even space research.
This optimism, however, had not yet been shared by any big companies that could support the mass production of 3D printers. So far the industry has been based on small businesses that have done invaluable work in really understanding the great achievements that 3D printing could bring.
HP enters the 3D printing sector
Meg Whitman, CEO of HP, announced recently that the hardware giant would now make an entrance into the field of 3D printers in a big way. This is big news, not only because of the increase in the number of manufacturing companies and improved competitiveness, but because the company’s large size will help further promote 3D printing.
The announcement was made during the Canalys Channels Forum in Bangkok. Whitman said during the event that HP had been following the evolution of the 3D printing market for some time and were «excited» about the opportunities it could offer.
The first 3D printer made under the HP brand will be launched in the middle of next year. It’s an important date for this company because, in the words of its CEO, «we want to lead this business.» Whitman also says that 3D printers are still in their infancy, so the company’s announcement could mean big changes in this sector.
On the one hand, HP’s entry into the 3D printing market is a change of course for the company, which is seeking to innovate and renew its product portfolio. It also means a shift in its business vision, which could allow the arrival of cheaper and faster printers to consumers.
Undoubtedly, the work done by start-ups like Marketbot has made real something that everyone considered utopian: seeing 3D printing as a medium for personalized production and manufacturing, based on previously created designs.
The next revolution in this field could help bring 3D printers into our daily lives. For this reason, HP’s arrival will help improve the sector’s competitiveness.
Pictures | Hindrik S. (Flickr), The Register
