Future trend 3D printing: "Industrial revolution through additive manufacturing"

Modern 3D printing technologies are pushing the boundaries of conventional manufacturing processes and expanding the possibilities of mechanical production to an unprecedented extent. Thanks to rapid advances in materials and printing techniques, fascinating prospects are opening up in a wide range of industries, including healthcare and medical technology, construction, aerospace, automotive, food and consumer goods. "3D printing has evolved from a fashionable topic to a serious technology that competes with conventional processes on various levels and in some cases significantly outperforms them. The next industrial revolution is coming from the 3D printer," says Dr. Heinz-Werner Rapp, founder and director of the FERI Cognitive Finance Institute, in a recent analysis of the future opportunities of 3D printing technology.

3D printers as organ donors - AI as an innovation booster

The basic principle of additive manufacturing, where complex three-dimensional structures are built up layer by layer from digital models, is already well advanced and is developing into a real game changer. In addition to various industries of the future, this also affects areas for solving major human problems such as health and nutrition. Spectacular innovations such as bioprinting, which can be used to print human tissue and even individual organs such as livers or kidneys from living cells, could make organ donations superfluous in the future. Bioprinting is already being used in the food industry to produce innovative meat substitutes efficiently and with perfect texture. In principle, 3D printing hardly knows any limitations today. From printed nano and microelectronic components to the production of building structures weighing several tons, a lot is possible. "The concept of additive manufacturing is changing and accelerating innovation cycles, not least through the increased use of artificial intelligence. This creates the conditions for rapid transformation and strong growth, especially in important industries of the future," explains Rapp.

Transition to "mass customization" and "4D printing"

A decisive advantage of additive manufacturing lies in its ability for mass customization. From individually configured consumer goods to custom-fit medical implants, this opens up a wide range of new fields of application. The technology is becoming more mature and at the same time more affordable, while higher economies of scale can be realized through industrial reorganization. Customized mass production, realized through 3D printing, could thus replace previous industrial manufacturing processes. The transition to so-called 4D printing technology, in which printed objects change their shape over time, is also exciting. This enables products with virtually "programmable" properties. However, material innovations, sustainability aspects and changing geopolitical factors, such as the trend towards "reshoring", are also strong drivers for continued momentum in 3D printing. Based on the new analysis, Rapp draws a clear conclusion: "Modern 3D printing will penetrate more and more economic sectors in the coming years and open up completely new markets. This means drastic and often disruptive changes, but also a multitude of new opportunities". 
In order not to overlook sudden leaps in technology and growth, entrepreneurs and investors should raise their awareness and follow further developments in the field of 3D printing very closely. 

The analysis „3D-Druck und Additive Fertigung: Unterschätztes Potential zur Transformation wichtiger Zukunftstrends“, in cooperation with cross-ING, the interdisciplinary Swiss engineering services company, has been published by the FERI Cognitive Finance Institute as a "Cognitive Comment" and is available in German in the download section of this page.