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Should you be investing in 3D printing companies?
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Are 3D printers stealing business from Tiffany’s? Tech expert Stuart Miles from Pocket-lint.com believes that as 3D printers become more affordable usages will become more diverse, even for things such as engagement rings. Some of these players need to be on your investment radar, he says. Major companies such as GE are getting in on the 3D action. Voxeljet went public last year and its price tumbled. But it's making something of a comeback in the past few weeks.
Although this technology currently appears quite foreign, Stuart believes soon these devices will become as commonplace as scanners. Adoption of this new technology is becoming easier as prices for 3D printers decline. Companies like MakerBot which previously offered 3D printers for GBP 2,500 are now offering devices in the GBP 1,000 range. 3Doodler offers a 3D printing pen for a cost of only GBP 99. The growing affordability of 3D printers has created a “huge investment” opportunity according to Stuart.
MakerBot employees Sub Bhatt and Georgina Antzouli provide an inside look into the mechanics behind the 3D process. Objects are printed using a biodegradable corn-based plastic that is applied continuously at 1 millimeter thickness. Maekrbot’s new app allows designers to create objects such as bracelets and rings on iPads and print them digitally via WiFi.
The possibilities appear to be endless for 3D printing which has recently been featured at Paris Fashion Week. Stuart has witnessed the popularity of the devices first hand, mentioning a friend who uses 3D printers to create board game pieces.