3D Printing: From Classrooms…to Companies and Beyond!
Last week, I was given the opportunity to participate in an MIT short program on Additive Manufacturing. Specifically, I was part of the panel: Future of Business Models for Additive Manufacturing, where I was able to discuss the enormous impact 3D printing can have on business as we know it.
At our core, NVBOTS has been committed to democratizing 3D printing through a focus on education. After all, in order to truly leverage the power of 3D printing, the next generation of scientists, engineers, designers and inventors need to be trained on design for 3D printing. By placing a focus in this area, we are able to radically shift innovation cycles and fuel economic growth….which takes us to 3D printing’s value in the commercial sectors of today – and tomorrow.
In general, 3D printing is headed where the most value is created with regard to innovation and is already impacting business models in areas such as the aerospace, automotive and medical industries. For instance, in healthcare, prosthetic hands and limbs are being created with 3D printing; a 3D-printed skull has been known to save a woman who would have died otherwise; and a baby was able to breathe again thanks to a 3D-printed splint. Also, in bio-printing, there is promise for 3D-printed organs, which could completely eliminate the necessity for organ donors. In the aerospace industry, 3D printing technology can support innovation in materials reduction, resulting in lighter planes (ultimately reducing fuel requirements). And the list goes on…
Bottom line: with additive manufacturing, companies are able to make significantly more sophisticated parts and enhance products in ways never before thought possible, while bringing an entirely new level of customization to the product development process. In addition, advanced manufacturing is paving the way for the development of new 3D printing innovations and NVBOTS is excited to lead the charge in this area.
As part of our leadership, we are proud to participate in thought-provoking events such as the one hosted by MIT last week, where powerful ideas are shared and new concepts are discovered. In fact, we had the pleasure of treating program participants to a post-program reception where we were able to demonstrate first-hand how 3D printing (via our own NVPro) can fuel disruptive innovations within their own particular industries. The conversations were inspiring and new connections were made.
In the coming months, we look forward to furthering the conversation around the business impact of 3D printing and rapid prototyping. Want to be part of the discussion? Feel free to contact me and the NVBOTS team with questions or comments at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you!
-AJ Perez, CEO
