Links November 12th
Today our news roundup from the printing industry covers how 3D printing inches toward printing a whole human body, a forecast predicting growth for the global security printing market, the UN’s encouragement for nations to invest in 3D printing technology, an increase in worldwide demand for packaging machinery, GE’s 3D printed desalination turbines, Agfa and MCI’s partnership to develop inkjet printers for electronics and new on the drupa blog: Applications that can create growth.
Technology is inching toward 3D printing a whole human being
Granted, 3D printing a whole human body is far off into the future if it ever happens at all, but this article looks at the body from head to toe illustrating in which areas recent breakthroughs in 3D printing have brought us close to the elusive and, frankly, questionable, goal. Starting with 3D printed hair, neural networks, bones and blood vessels, the article covers many parts of the human body including 3D printed skins and nails.
More at Business Insider
Smithers Pira predicts global growth for security printing
According to new report titled ‘The Future of Global Security Printing Markets to 2020’, the worldwide market for security printing will grow from 20.5 billion USD in 2010 to 36.6 billion USD in 2020, at a compound average annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.0 % for the 10-year period. Inks and threads are expected to grow fastest with a CAGR of 8.0 % and 8.6 % respectively in the 2015–20 forecast period.
More at Smithers Pira
UN concerned about imbalance in 3D patents between nations
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) reported that of all the patents filed in 3D printing, robotics and nanotechnology since 1995, 75 % were filed by Japan, the United States, Germany, France, Britain and South Korea. The field of 3D printing is particularly exclusive with the top ten 3D printing patents in the last twenty years being filed by only three nations, the United States, Germany and Japan. The UN is therefore encouraging more countries to invest in 3D printing to secure growth and narrow the gap.
More at 3D Print
Global demand for packaging machinery is expected to rise
Researchers at Ucima, the Italian packaging machinery manufacturers association, have published a three-year forecast (2015-2018) for global demand for packaging machinery. The researchers predict that the world market grow 4.9 % annually over the next three years to reach an estimated value of 40.3 billion euros in 2018. Chief drivers of this growth will be demand from Asia, Africa, and Oceania (+7.1 %), followed by that of Latin America (+5.6 %).
More at Pack World
GE prints turbine to desalinate water
GE has been an early adopter of 3D printing technology and has developed ways to print turbines for jet engine parts. Now, a research team from GE is taking that experience and shrinking down their turbine model in order to create a steam turbine capable of desalinating water. The miniaturized 3D printed steam turbine is meant to freeze seawater and separate the salt content by compressing and steaming air, salt, and water through a hyper-cooling loop.
More at 3D Printing Industry
MGI and Agfa team up for printed electronics
MGI Digital Technology and Agfa Specialty Products have signed a strategic development agreement focused on the printed electronics industry. The goal of the cooperation is to develop and launch the world’s first comprehensive industrial inkjet solutions for that market. Printed electronics is one of the biggest growth areas for the industry, and will have its own focus at drupa next year.
More at i-Grafix
New on the drupa blog: Applications that can create growth
The first results of the 2nd drupa Global Insights Report “Touch the future – Applications that can create growth” are out now. Implementing new print applications is for many the best way to regain growth in the demand for print.
More at in the article