3D Printing in 2021 – A Year of Radical Renewal

Bryan Crutchfield, VP & GM, Materialise

In 2021, we enter the fourth decade of 3D printing. At the same time, we are entering a decade with potential for radical renewal in our industry. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, 3D printing stood up to make a difference, providing an alternative way to produce vital goods and supplies in a fast, local, cost-efficient and safe way. The three trends we foresee in the coming year look to take us to the other side of the COVID crisis stronger, more flexible and ready for the possibilities where 3D printed products and components bring more value.

The first is a continued, supercharged move toward digitization. This shift will require more than just incremental steps. With an opportunity to go back to the drawing board and rethink how we approach manufacturing solutions, we open the door to radical new designs and innovative processes, something 3D printing is naturally designed to do. 3D printing frees designers from the constraints and limitations of traditional manufacturing technologies, helping them to focus on the solution instead of the product. The Corona-crisis represented an opportunity for 3D printing to demonstrate its potential. Now, as digitization accelerates, we have an opportunity to demonstrate how 3D printing can create real business value.

A second trend for the coming year is engineers and designers truly taking advantage of 3D printing’s potential for customization and personalization. This not only applies to customization of products, but of the process itself. If you want to use additive manufacturing to its fullest extent, you have to tweak each and every parameter of the machine and the process to the specific product that you intend to print. As 3D printing is used more and more for mass production, the need to develop the most optimal process for a particular product becomes more relevant as well. In other words, in order to deliver on the promise of mass-customisation, 3D printing needs to become faster, cheaper and more reliable. But to get there, the actual 3Dprinting process should also, and foremost, become more personal.

Finally, we see a growing trend for consultancy services to guide companies along the path to 3D printing adoption. 3D printing can deliver short ROI, low-cost manufacturing and low risk, but the entry point typically comes with a lengthy learning curve. Some companies started the AM adoption process 10 years ago and are well-positioned to make greater shifts to the technology, but companies new to AM no longer have the luxury of time. Consultancy services can help minimize the risk of such big investments and accelerate the timelines by sharing their expert knowledge of what the technology can and can’t do, and the right manufacturing method needed for each unique case.

With these advancements, we foresee a new chapter for 3D printing beginning in 2021, in which we can continue to push the boundaries of innovation and creativity.

Bryan Crutchfield joined Materialise in 2011 and is based in Plymouth, Mich. In his role as Vice President and General Manager, North America, Crutchfield leads the regional operating unit, focusing on overall strategy for business development and client relationships. Crutchfield brings experience as an executive leader in the automotive, manufacturing and software industries. Crutchfield also serves as a member of the RapidFit NV Board of Directors and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Additive Manufacturing Advisory Council. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Lawrence Technological University and a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from Western Michigan University’s Haworth College of Business.

Tags: Industry Predictions

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