The Future of 3D Printing Just Arrived -- and 3D Systems Corporation Hates It (Motley Fool)
With the 3D printing industry expected to grow by more than 31% per year between 2013 and 2020, and eventually generate more than $21 billion in annual revenue worldwide, there's currently a high incentive for industry players and new entrants alike to improve upon the technology's many shortcomings. After all, compared to many conventional manufacturing processes, 3D printing remains inferior in terms of speed, surface quality, and running costs.
Combine these two dynamics -- bright industry prospects and technological shortcomings -- and it creates an environment in which lots of resources are being focused toward making technological breakthroughs that could push 3D printing further into the realm of larger-scale manufacturing. Depending on what side a 3D printing company sits on when a breakthrough occurs, it can either be viewed as a threat or a competitive advantage.
Unfortunately, 3D Systems (NYSE: DDD ) was on the wrong end of a recent 3D printing breakthrough that claims to drastically improve printing speeds over current technologies by orders of magnitude and produce parts with u...
