Future Links October 19th
Today our news roundup from the printing industry covers Dell’s sustainable packaging, photochromatic inks in the packaging industry, how Ford uses 3D printing in development and prototyping, real estate agents’ increasing use of print campaigns, quality control in military 3 printing, a close look at the state of the 3D printing industry and new on the drupa blog: Inkjet – state of the art or sci-fi phantasy print?
Dell uses wheat straw in its packaging
In an effort to use more sustainable materials, computer manufacturer Dell has switched to wheat straw for some of its packaging, as Dell’s vice chairman of operations and technology, Jeff Clarke, explains in an interview. The wheat straw boxes can be used instead of cardboard or other paper-based packaging materials and use less water and energy than traditional packaging.
More at Fortune
Photochromatic ink creates opportunities in the packaging industry
Printpack has developed a new kind of photochromatic ink that can be printed onto flexible packaging. The ink only becomes visible when exposed to sunlight. The company sees great opportunity in using this ink for interactive, smart packaging.
More at Bakery and Snacks
Ford shares details about the benefits of 3D printing
Automaker Ford has been one of the earlier adopters of 3D printing technology. Now the company explains how 3D printing helps in the development of parts and in prototyping. Ford says it can print a 3D-part in just a few hours, for as little as 1000 Euros, which means it can experiment more with radical, innovative design.
More at Car Scoops
Real estate agents are using more print ads than last year
Several experts have pointed to the benefits of print advertising in real estate marketing. Now, a poll shows that real estate agents in Australia are indeed turning to print for their marketing materials. According to the survey, 52.8 per cent of respondents said they’re doing more print marketing today than 12 months ago.
More at Real Estate Business
Quality control is an issue in military 3D printing
While the military sees many advantages of 3 printing replacement parts in the field, there are challenges that need to be overcome. Quality control and certification are examples of those challenges. The military needs to be able to ensure that the characteristics and quality of printed parts are consistent even when printed in different locations and on different printers.
More at National Defense Magazine
A close look at the state of the 3D industry
3D printing has captured the imagination of companies and research institutes worldwide but the question in which areas the technology will contribute to economic growth and gains in income hasn’t been answered yet. An in-depth article looks at the models and predictions of several analysts to give a better overview over the potential for successful commercialization in different areas such as medicine, consumer, automotive and aerospace.
More at U.S. News
New on the drupa blog: Inkjet – state of the art or sci-fi phantasy?
The print world is changing and digital industrial inkjet technology is poised to take center stage. But what parts of the technology are still in the development phase and which ones have successfully transitioned into the business world? A guest article by Sean Smyth provides insight into the state of the inkjet business and what we might expect to see for drupa 2016.
More in the article