Industrial 3D Printing Taking Hold

Almost one-third (32 percent) of all German industrial companies use 3D printing. That was the result of a study of 555 industrial firms with 100 or more employees carried out by Germany’s digital association Bitkom.

What’s more, the vast majority of the companies surveyed (78 percent) said they believed 3D printing will fundamentally alter business models and value chains. The potential benefits are not just economic, but environmental.

“Businesses are not just more flexible in their production,” said Bitkom President Achim Berg. “They can also save on costs, reduce the amount of materials needed and conserve resources. Producing replacement parts on site renders long delivery routes unnecessary. That helps protect the climate.”

Berg also said that additive manufacturing would be crucial to ensure that Germany remained economically competitive.