This document provides an introduction to 3D printing. It discusses how 3D printing is being used today across different industries and its potential future applications. 3D printing allows for fully assembled products to be created layer by layer directly from digital files, and it is enabling new opportunities across business, engineering, and healthcare. The market for 3D printing is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years.

1. Managing the possible.
Achieving the impossible.
Introduction to 3D Printing

2. Agenda
• What is 3D printing?
• How is 3D printing being used today?

3. Why is 3D Printing Important?
• Described as the ‘Third Industrial
Revolution’ by the Economist back in 2012,
3D printing is here to stay, and its impacts
on business as we know it cannot be
ignored or underestimated.
• For business consultants, it is imperative to
understand what 3D printing is, and how it
will disrupt established companies and
industries, in addition to how it will
potentially create new opportunities in the
future.

4. 3D Printing in Action
Physical demonstration of 3D BioPrinting:
How a human ear and kidney are printed – 2min (Global News 16x9, 2013)
http://youtu.be/G0EJmBoLq-g?t=46s

5. Printing 10 houses…in 1 day?!
• http://www.theguardian.com/technology/video/2014/apr/29/3d-printer-builds-houses-china-video

6. 3D Printing Defined
• The term ‘3D printing’ is used to describe what is also known as additive
manufacturing, the “process of joining materials to make real, physical objects from
3D model data, usually layer upon layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing
methodologies” (Grimm, 2012).
• The product emerges from the 3D printer fully assembled, and little post-production
work is necessary.

7. Evolution of 3D Printing
• 3D printing has been receiving enormous amounts of media coverage in recent
years, despite the fact that it’s actually been around for over thirty years.
• Started off with simple plastic prototypes, now using materials ranging from titanium
to human cartilage, in addition to producing fully functional components, including
complex mechanisms, batteries, transistors, and LEDs
• 3D printers are more precise than ever, creating products that are larger and more
complex, all at lower costs and relatively faster speeds.

8. Then & Now
The first working 3D printer,
designed by Charles W. (Chuck) Hull
of 3D Systems Corp. In 1984, used
the stereolithography technique.
MakerBot’s Replicator Mini. A smaller
countertop version of its technology could
help 3D printing finally gain a foothold in
the home.

9. A few examples…

10. Other examples…

11. Market Growth
• The 3D printing market is predicted to grow exponentially over the next five years.
• The current size of the market, including 3-D printer sales, materials and associated services,
reached $2.5 billion worldwide in 2013.
• That figure is expected to grow to $3.8 billion in 2014 and soar to $16.2 billion globally by
2018” {Chang, 2014 #13}.

12. 3D Printing Today
Source: (Matteson, 2014)

13. Future Plans
Source: (Matteson, 2014)

14. Future Plans (By Industry)

15. Managing the possible.
Achieving the impossible.