Although still in its first edition, the Additive Manufacturing Europe Show in Amsterdam (sponsored by SmarTech Publishing) presented higher number of new product launches than most shows, as Poland-based Zortrax mode the loudest noise with its M300 and sev-eral other companies following closely behind
While RAPID in the US and formnext in Germany have been shaping up as the ideal sce-narios for new announcements in high-end AM applications and systems, the Additive Manufacturing Europe show in Amsterdam we believe will establish a leadership role in presenting new innovation from the low-cost 3D printing segment, as it transitions toward more prosumer and even low-end industrial applications and technologies. It is not an easy transition although it is a necessary one.
Thinking Bigger
Zortrax chose the AM Europe Show to launch its larger model M300
We thought that Zortrax showed that it is now thinking big, or at least bigger, with the new M300. The company did exactly what the market asked, departing from the illusion of plug & play, consumer 3D printing and heading toward expanding the possibilities of low-cost prototyping and short series manufacturing. This can now be implemented on its larger ma-chine, while relying on the consolidated Zortrax extrusion process and materials. The M300 has a build volume that is almost four times as large as the M200 (27,000 cc Vs 7,200 cc), with a price that is likely to be just about 2.5 times higher.
Ultimaker is also thinking big, although in a different sense. The company did state that they are working on new systems, however at this time it is focusing primarily on building up its global sales infrastructure, consolidating its presence in Europe and the US, while keeping an eye put for the Asia Pacific markets, where its brand is gaining strength and recognizability. Ultimaker presented its 3D printer farm system, replicating the “MakerBot Innovation Centers” on one of the most successful applications introduced by former mar-ket leader MakerBot focusing on education and the professional segment.
The BigRep booth showed a healthy company to years on, in spite of initial skepticism
When discussing big size 3D printing we at SmarTech Publishing think of BigRep, the German company that first began to industrialize a low cost, large size system based on a cartesian architecture, in spite of general skepticism. Although it did not make announce-ments on new products BigRep was present at the show with a large stand which seems to indicate that the company is also building a solid commercial base. Others are following in this direction with distributor AMR Europe going as far as presenting an extra wide system with quadruple extrusion capabilities.
Pricing Smaller
Italy based Sharebot also arrived at the show with an important announcement: its ultra-fast Voyager WARP continuous DLP 3D printer. As many Italian companies, we think Sharebot has had some difficulties in scaling up its international structure however it has not wasted time in innovating. Today it is the only 3D printer manufacturer that has devel-oped low-cost systems based on five different technologies: filament extrusion, laser stere-olithography, digital light stereolithography, continuous digital light stereolithography and plastic powder bed fusion. The real challenge is making sure that these innovations are re-liable enough to really make it into the prosumer and professional segment.
Antwerp-based 3Dee is taking the 3DPandoras full color binder jetting system to the European market for around $20,000
For 3Dee, the Antwerp, Belgium, based 3D print shop, SmarTech Publishing believes the challenge is similar as they seek to bring a low cost full color, gypsum based, binder jetting system to the market. The system developed by Taiwan based 3DPandoras is priced at around $20,000 (about a third of the comparable 3D Systems 660 system) and offers even better surface quality and water resistance. Combined with a more affordable price for ma-terials, the 3DPanodras system could make the already profitable “mini-me” 3D printed sculptures consumer business accessible to a much wider demographic, with the final price of a 15 cm statuette – currently set at around $80 to $100 – dropping below $30.
A similar approach was undertaken by Netherlands Based Seeda, as it brought the Rokit Invivo bioprinter to the European market, pricing it at around €20,000. Produced in South Korea – one of the nations most active in bioprinting, together with the Netherlands – the fully enclosed machine introduces the possibility to print both scaffold and biioink at the same time, specifically for development of transplantable tissue. It odes this through a dual extrusion (extruder and dispenser) system and up to 7 different supported biomaterials (in-cluding collagen, alginates, silk fibroin and hyaluronic acid).
Consuming Opportunities
Innovations in 3D printing do not simply concern technology. Many new applications of low cost FDM will be possible thanks to advances in materials and material science. One of the most active companies on this front is colorFabb, which is also one of the most successful 3D printer filament manufacturers worldwide. Available later this year, colorFabb presented its new steelFill filament, an impressively heavy composite material based on steel powder.
Dutch filament manufacturer colorFabb presented a new steel filament showing the market for open materials is just starting
Companies like Advanc3d Materials, a producer of both raw filament and raw SLS powder, as well as new players such as Fiberology (which developed a new type of PLA that gains mechanical strength when heated in an oven) show that the market for open materials is wide open and is only going to get much bigger, something that SmarTech Publishing clearly highlighted in its latest report on the Opportunities in Low-Cost 3D Printers. While growth might not be as steep as that of the 3D Print Show series of event, if these are the premises that Additive Manufacturing Europe is building on, the show organizers can look forward to a lengthy growth cycle ahead.
