Future Links November 7th 2014
Here are our daily links with the most important news from the printing industry. Today they feature a close look at Adobe’s 3D printing software strategy, Xerox new services, Alcoa’s plans to print jet engine parts, Sun Chemical’s low odor ink, creative uses for UV digital inkjet printers, and trends in the global polymer market.
A close look at Adobe’s 3D printing software strategy
In the past months, Adobe has introduced a series of software features to facilitate 3D printing. Benzinga staff writer Rakesh Sharma analyses the pros and cons of Adobe’s software strategy, which he believes was a bit tentative.
More at Benzinga
Xerox aims to help companies reduce their paper use
The paperless office has long been hailed the way of the future – but only a few companies worldwide have truly minimized the amount of paper in their daily operations. Xerox is now delivering three new solutions to move enterprises closer to a more digital, paper-less work environment. The products include ways to optimize the paper workflow and real-time analytics of the document cycle.
More at What They Think
Alcoa plans to print jet engine parts
The world’s largest aluminum producer, Alcoa, announced that it plans to incorporate 3D printing technology into its production processes. Among other possible uses, the company intends to print jet engine parts, which is expected to translate into considerable time and cost savings.
More at 3D Print
Sun Chemical with new low odor ink
Sun Chemical introduced the Streamline ESL HPQ low odor inks that are compatible with a series of wide-format printers. The inks are aimed at the start-up market and other companies that use wide-format printers but occupy relatively small offices.
More at Print Week
New uses for an UV digital inkjet
Glitches during product development have sometimes led to great inventions: Think cornflakes, sticky notes, Saccharine or other products that were invented by accident. In an article on the FESPA website, Simon Eccles makes the point that digital inkjets can be used for 3D printing. The original photopolymer UV inks cured so quickly that they didn’t have time to spread out so that they formed relief-like structures on the paper.
More at FESPA
Disruption and change a constant in global polymer market
Over the past decades, the global polymer market has exhibited constant growth, but it hasn’t been a smooth ride. AMI Consulting has been documenting and analyzing the industry that has increased from 45 million tons to more than 250 million tons since the 1980s.
More at Packaging Europe