Future Links December 15th 2014
Here are our daily links with the most important news from the printing industry. Today they feature new opportunities with printed electronics, strong growth in managed printing services, Bell Helicopter’s 3D printing progression, a Gartner survey showing barriers to entry into the 3D printing space, a new process by TTP enabling inkjet printing with industrial inks, Epson’s survey about the benefits of new printing equipment and BASF’s and Omyar’s collaboration to manufacture coater-ready solutions for paper and cardboard.
Printed electronics open up new avenues for traditional companies
Lighting companies and greeting cards businesses are moving beyond their traditional businesses and increasingly use printed electronics to make their products more exciting and functional. In a report from the Printed Electronics Conference USA, the EE Times details new trends and applications.
More at EE Times
Managed Print Services expected to see double-digit growth rates
Managed Print Services (MPS) have been booming and the demand seems to be staying strong. According to a forecast by ReportsnReports.com, MPS are set to grow at a CAGR of 10.1 percent over the period from 2014 to 2019. In a separate report by the same company, analysts forecast the Global Printing Inks market to grow at a CAGR of 4.42 percent in the years from 2013 to 2018.
More at PR Newswire
Bell Helicopter uses 3D printing for its manufacturing process
For years, Bell Helicopter has used 3D printing for prototyping and testing with support from the rapid prototyping company Harvest. Now, Bell Helicopter is moving a step further and uses Harvest’s EOS laser-sintering machines for manufacturing actual parts for their helicopters.
More at 3ders
Cost is the greatest barrier to entry for 3D printing
Industry analysts at the market research firm Gartner identified cost as the biggest barrier to investment into 3D printing technology. Most respondents (approximately 60 percent) in a comprehensive survey indicated they delayed their purchase of 3D printing equipment due to the high costs of setting up operations.
More at Fabbaloo
TTP enables printing with traditional industrial inks
The research and development company TTP has come up with innovative new digital inkjet technology that is capable of printing with standard industrial paints. TTP hopes that this technology will open up new opportunities from customizing car and aircraft bodies to creating architectural finishes and printed electronics. The company has already tested its Vista Inkjet process successfully with cellulose and two-part part polyurethane paints used for car and aircraft body manufacturing.
More at What They Think
Epson points out benefits of investing in new technology
Printer manufacturer Epson has conducted a survey among European businesses that resulted in new insights about the benefits of implementing new technology. The report showed that 88 percent of the respondents believed that new technology gave them an edge over their competition. While German companies were the fastest to see productivity improvements after implementing new technologies, French companies had a greater time lapse between purchasing new equipment and actualizing productivity gains.
More at FESPA
BASF and Omya are developing coater-ready barrier solutions
In response to a growing demand for coater-ready barrier solutions consisting of pigments, additives and functional barrier dispersions, the two companies have joined forces for this project. The coater-ready solutions are made for customers who for capacity and plant technology reasons cannot prepare formulations and mixtures independently.
More at Packaging Europe