Future Links September 23rd
Today our news roundup from the printing industry covers print books far from dead. Materialise’s new metal printing factory in Germany, HP could buy Stratasys, Novalia seeing magazine interest in printed electronics, Snickers inspired by Coca-Cola packaging, Mimaki’s new textile printer. New on the drupa biog: Printing Hearts.
Print books far from dead
A couple of year ago, the print world was seized by collective panic as book readers migrated to new digital devices and e-book sales soared. But now it seems, some are returning to print or becoming hybrid readers. E-book sales fell by 10 % in the first five months of this year.
More at New York Times
Materialise opens metal printing factory in Germany
Belgian 3D printing service Materialise announced that a new site in Bremen is to become the company’s Titanium Additive Manufacturing Center for Industrial Customers. Starting in late October, the new production line will begin to serve industrial customers looking to manufacture parts in titanium.
More at 3D Printing Industry
HP could buy Stratasys
As Hewlett Packard is splitting into two companies, industry experts have long expected it to buy a 3D printing rival soon. Recently, Jefferies analyst Jason North heated up the discussion. In a research note he writes that HP Inc. said they’ll eventually need about 4 different 3D printing technologies. In his opinion, Stratasys would be the best fit.
More at ZDNet
Novalia sees magazine interest in printed electronics
Start-up Novalia makes print come to live with embedded electronics creating for example an interactive music cover that scratches, spins and mixes like a DJ when touched or a music player made from paper. Now, the company reported an increasing interest in its products from magazine publishers who want to harness their ability to attract advertising.
More at Print Week
Snickers inspired by Coca-Cola packaging
Earlier this week, we reported Bud Light creating mass customized cans for festival. Now, another company has joined the trend for personalized packaging made popular by Coca-Cola. Snickers replaced the brand’s name by 21 hunger symptoms, keeping with the “You’re not you when you’re hungry” identity.
More at The Dieline
Mimaki launches new textile printer
Mimaki introduced a new wide format dye sublimation printer aimed at the fabric and soft signage markets. The machine is designed to print onto transfer paper as thin as 50gsm to reduce run costs and increase flexibility of applications. According to the company, it will appeal to the growing sports apparel market but also to printers of soft signage. Two firms have already placed orders.
More at ProPrint
New on the drupa biog: Printing Hearts
Doctors at the Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute utilize 3D printing technology from Stratasys Direct Manufacturing to recreate accurate models of their patients’ hearts before performing surgery.
More in the article