Comments on: 3D-Printing: Growth or Value?

By: Mitch HC

Mitch HC — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 01:37:03 +0000

50% GROWTH, 50% VALUE. In my opinion, 3d printing is one of the most amazing innovations in the digital world today. Think about printing realistic depths that you've captured using those 3d scanners/white light scanners!

By: ortodonti

ortodonti — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 19:56:57 +0000

Growth ! if you ask my opinion

By: @Nalij

@Nalij — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 06:05:18 +0000

Actually, DDD already does produce systems for the medical and dentistry fields. http://printin3d.com/solutions/healthcare

By: Don

Don — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 03:29:04 +0000

I'd have to say a combination of both. Used properly, especially in the manufacturing sector, 3d scanning can increase the efficiency of churning out high value products, thus making the company grow.

By: Harold Gardner

Harold Gardner — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 15:29:40 +0000

Crazy new technology that is going to change the way a ton of stuff gets made. I suspect that it will develop along 2 prongs. Specialized high end that will become even more expensive, but much cheaper than current techniques. Inexpensive mass market for consumer use.

By: @chrispycrunch

@chrispycrunch — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 17:44:19 +0000

Do you think these companies will grow towards mass market or towards a niche market (medicine, dentistry), or both?
LED (Cree) was used to illustrate what happens when a niche product tries to grow towards the mainstream. LED for street lamps was growing everywhere. Few investors understood the importance of government support in fueling the demand. When government support dropped, Cree was (and is currently undergoing) a need to grow on the consumer segment side. They acquired Ruud to do so.

LED was discussed because its the only model to go on in seeing what can go wrong, should 3D growth start to slow down.

By: joedel

joedel — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 16:50:58 +0000

Those LED companies were generating growth via mostly government spending and through only one revenue stream. In adidtion to governmental entities, additive manufacturing companies are growing revenues and profits from private industries where profit for their clients is a motivating factor. These printers help companies cut costs and bring new products to market quicker. So when government spending might decline, private revenue growth will always be there.

In addition, the 3D model also includes multiple areas of revenue streams including primary product sales, material revenues and associated repair and contract services.

Many major manufacturers use some type of additive manufacturing, but new industries are beginning to find that additive manufacturing will benefit their product development and improve their bottom line. The medical industry is one such entity. Dentists and orthodontists are already producing dental products to perfectly fit patients mouths. Other industries within like hearing aids and prosthetics are producing items which can be fitted to exact patient specs.

This sound NOTHING like LED manufacturing companies which only had one revenue stream based primarily on one market, with business conducive to the whims of governmental programs.