MCADCafe Editorial 
Industry Experts
MCADCafe Industry Predictions for 2022 – BMFJanuary 24th, 2022 by Industry Experts
Industry Prediction from BMF, John Kawola, CEO: Many have marveled at how additive manufacturing has found its way into real end-use part applications. This has happened as technologies have improved, costs have come down and awareness has expanded. However, big picture this migration is only in the first inning, or maybe in the first at bat of the first inning. Compared to overall global manufacturing, a multi-trillion dollar market, additive manufacturing is a still a very tiny percentage. Why is that? Arguably, much of manufacturing has well established processes, many of which are already cost effective, proven and getting better and better each year. Additive manufacturing is the most valuable as a disruptive alternative in applications, markets and parts that are difficult or expensive to make now. In 2022, we will begin to see more of these cases emerge.
Micro-3DP is an emerging area of additive manufacturing. The reason it is being adapted quickly is that it is converging with another key technology trend, miniaturization. Companies in electronics, optics/photonics, medical devices, sensors and drug discovery are all seeking ways to make products smaller. Traditional manufacturing methods get more difficult as parts get smaller and in many ways are a barrier to miniaturization. These trends set up the conditions for adoption of alternatives like additive. In 2022, we will see the first end use parts qualified in a number high value micro applications like medical device and electronics. Dental and aerospace were the first additive end-part applications to be adopted due to the characteristics of being low volume, custom, and high value. The new wave of applications will be in areas where the current method of production is difficult and cost prohibitive. Micro-3DP will be a big part of that next wave. Tags: Industry Predictions |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|||||
