- What does the Future of Manufacturing mean to you and your company?
The future of manufacturing means bridging the gap between ideas and manufacturing. This means building an ecosystem that enables ideas to be realized and turned into actual products that can impact people’s lives more quickly and efficiently. Bringing more applications for 3D printing technologies, prototyping using production-grade equipment, and allowing that technology to be easily accessible are all ways to achieve this vision.
- Sustainability is the latest buzz word. How is your organization embracing it?
PrinterPrezz focuses on 3D printing, which is inherently sustainable. Unlike traditional manufacturing, which is subtractive and produces wasted material, 3D printing only uses the material that’s required to make a product. This not only saves costs and time; it also reduces waste.
- Industry 4.0 – where is this Revolution leading towards?
Industry 4.0 initiatives will see an even greater collaboration between private sector and governments to advance technologies and educate our future workforces globally.
- What are the key factors to consider in adopting technologies to achieve a Digital Manufacturing Environment?
For PrinterPrezz, a digital manufacturing environment means access. By access, we mean bringing previously difficult to reach resources directly to those who are innovating with new ideas. In this way, we let designers and engineers spend time doing what they do best. We also do this by collecting and making data available throughout the manufacturing flow. This leads to data driven decisions and enhancements.
- Please share your take on the process and trends of AM Material and importance materials development for AM adoption.
While source materials for 3D printing are good and continues to get better, 3D printers are also improving. There will be a point in the future where 3D printers will be able to support all materials that are available. Right now, we can print a lot of materials, such as titanium and stainless steel. But it won’t be too long before all metals will be supported and we’re incorporating things like absorbable polymers and other materials into implant designs. New materials with new attributes open up a world of new applications and that will expand the impact of AM significantly.
- What can be done to further expand the potential of 3D Printing?
The entire ecosystem is critical to realizing the full potential of 3D printing. Material companies, printer companies, designers and engineers, and educators. At PrinterPrezz, we have a surgeon education lab that allows doctors to come and learn about how 3D printing can help them achieve better outcomes with their patients. We also have active intern, medical fellowship support, and local library Maker Space programs where we share knowledge with curious minds from many different walks of life. Opening the eyes of innovators to the possibilities of AM helps all of us in the industry to evolve and grow.