Future Links October 1st 2014
Today our news roundup from the printing industry covers a forecast about the 3D printing market in China, Duo Plast’s continuing international expansion, Monotype’s new cloud-based service, SAS’ new boxes for in-flight-meals, HP’s collaboration with KBA, a scientific breakthrough in metal printing, and “Thoughts on Design” being back in print.
China’s 3D printing capacity expected to quadruple
3D printing was touted as a way the West could compete with China. But according to a new report titled “China’s growing 3D printing ecosystem”, a different picture is emerging. The report’s author, Richard Yun Li, predicts that the production and sales of 3D printers are going to quadruple over the next four years.
More at Computerworld
Duo Plast AG continues international expansion
The industrial stretch film specialist and consulting company Duo Plast AG is opening a new office in Valencia, Spain, to increase its international presence. The opening of the new office follows the successful start of a business location in the UK last year.
More at Packaging Europe
Monotype launches cloud-based type service
Fonts are a critical component of brand identity and compelling designs. To help designers to access and use a wide variety of typefaces, Monotype has launched a subscription-based service that grants access to more than 14,000 typefaces from the Monotype, Linotype, Ascender, Bitstream and ITC libraries.
More at Print Week
New boxes for in-flight-meals
Scandinavian Airlines is serving its in-flight-meals in new boxes made of Incada folding boxboard made by Iggesund Paperboard. The boxes have to fulfill a list of requirements, including low weight, ease of handling, presentation of the food and a high-quality texture.
More at Packworld
HP collaborates with KBA for inkjet-solution
To serve the growing market for corrugated packaging even better, HP announced a new collaboration with Koenig & Bauer Group (KBA) to develop new roll-to-roll inkjet solutions. The co-developed solutions will be marketed under the HP brand and are designed to help packaging converters increase productivity, scalability and versatility.
More at What They Think?
Scientists achieve breakthrough in metal printing
Metal printing has huge potential for a variety of industrial 3D printing applications, from turbines to medical materials. However, the challenges have been equally great due to the physical characteristics of metal. Scientists in China have now worked with an alloy composed of bismuth, indium, tin and zinc that seems to hold great promise to make 3D metal printing faster, better and more affordable.
More at 3D Print
Paul Rand’s iconic design manifesto is back in print
It’s been one of the fundamental books to read for anyone interested in brands, logos and great design but unfortunately Paul Rand’s short book on design has been out of print since the 1970s. Now, “Thoughts on Design” is back in print and ready to inspire new generations of designers.
More at Boing Boing