Adoption of 3D Printing Technology
Aarti Pal
Literature Review
1. Healthcare Sector
Research shows that additive manufacturing, in particular 3D printing, has three main applications in the healthcare sector with dental prosthetics being the most prolific followed by vascular grafts, and tendon replacement. A wide range of materials were identified, where plastics predominate. Polyethylene was most frequently patented for vascular grafts and tendon replacements, while ceramics were found to be the most useful material for dental applications. Only a few patents disclosed the use of metals, titanium being the most prevalent. (Rodriguez-Salvador & Garcia-Garcia, 2018)
2. Aeronautic Industry
An eco-efficiency method combining life cycle costs and life cycle environmental assessment is developed to support eco-design initiatives in the aeronautics industry that accounts for specific reduction targets. Results show that 3D printing has clear benefits both in terms of costs and environmental impacts compared to conventional machining. Nevertheless, 3D printing equipment costs are still high, and a sensitivity analysis shows that, for lower productivity levels, the optimal scenario relies on the chosen trade-off between environmental impacts and costs reduction. (Mami et al, 2017)
3. Food & Beverage Industry
As a force for change, customization is a leading characteristic of 3D food printing in user-centred design. Broader societal and economic pressures for sustainability, human health and nutrition can be addressed by 3D food printing with bioplastics, recycling, and product customization catered to distinct market demographic segments. In terms of scale and competition, some 3D food printing companies will focus on customization at scales for purposes. At regional or national authority levels, innovative policies will serve vital incentive catalysts and support structures. (Charlebois & Juhasz, 2018)
4. Trade and FDI
The wider adoption of 3D printing in industrial processes around the world could eventually lead to “glo-calization” (shipping parts and components internationally becoming less important), a force that could probably counteract the ongoing globalization trend. Countries with higher GDPs that are subject to higher transport costs are indeed trading more 3D printers. 3D printing FDI seems to be replacing traditional FDI as well as international trade. (Abeliansky et al, 2016)
5. Construction Sector
3D printing, is a newly adopted technique in the construction sector with the aim to improve the economics and alleviate environmental impacts. houses built using additive manufacturing and 3D printed materials were more environmentally favourable. The conventional construction method had higher impacts when compared to the 3D printing method with global warming potential of 1154.20 and 608.55 kg CO 2 eq, non-carcinogenic toxicity 675.10 and 11.9 kg 1,4-DCB, and water consumption 233.35 and 183.95 m 3 , respectively. The 3D printed house was also found to be an economically viable option, with 78% reduction in the overall capital costs when compared to conventional construction methods. (Abdalla et al, 2021)
6. Education Sector
D-printing technologies can be used to teach technological skills in engineering and design as the main tool. They also help to reorient attention from the digital or virtual environment to the real world, because as a result of learning activity, not sketches and layouts, but real objects with specified characteristics act. 3D-printing technologies are fast-developing and promising technologies that can find their application in various fields, including in the field of education. These technologies due to the appearance of personal printing devices can facilitate the introduction of new forms of organization of the educational process, increase the motivation and formation of the necessary competencies of graduates and teachers.
(Mayorov & Belsky, 2018)
7. Cultural and Creative industry (CCI)
Additive manufacturing and advanced materials as these two technologies are becoming consolidated in prototyping and manufacturing in many industrial sectors, but are still in their infancy in the CCI (cultural and creative industry). Green and digital transformations make additive manufacturing and advanced materials technologies quite worth looking into for CCI firms. The survey demonstrates a high degree of business dynamism of those companies that have fully embraced additive manufacturing and advanced materials as their operational basis. Furthermore we show that an effective ecosystem are key for deploying novel technologies to the sector, mostly composed by small and very small enterprises. (Spina & Compañó, 2021)
8. Tourism Sector
The tourism and hospitality industry currently uses 3D printing technology mainly to assist with the restoration of cultural heritage, sites but there is significant potential to implement 3D printing more widely in support of other building work, souvenirs and food items.
(Berjozkina & Karami, 2021)
9. Fashion Sector
Researchers, textile technologists, fashion designers, manufacturers and retailers have been working on adopting 3DP technology in their respective fields since the last decade. 3DP has been proved highly beneficial in reducing manufacturing time and production cost significantly regarding fiber reinforced composites fabrication. However, the application of this technology is still at niche while it comes to manufacturing everyday clothing. (Chakraborty et al, 2020)
10. Automotive Industry
3D printing technology represents an opportunity to empower small-scale producers of polymers, recycle ELV materials, and decentralize the supply chains of plastic articles. The possibility to include plastic parts produced by AM technology has been pointed out as an innovative option for car manufacturers. Unfortunately, till the present day, poor information was found in this regard. Findings highlighted the need for strategies to turn polymeric automotive components into more eco-friendly and safer materials, improve the supply chain of polymers, perform sustainability assessments, and reformulate waste policies for ELVs. (Ruiz et al, 2022)
11. In conclusion, 3D printing technology has proven to have diverse applications across various sectors including healthcare, aeronautics, food, trade and FDI, construction, education, creative industries, tourism, fashion, and automotive. The technology has demonstrated benefits such as cost reduction, environmental friendliness, customization, and improved efficiency. However, the adoption of 3D printing still faces challenges such as high equipment costs, limited material options, and lack of sustainability strategies. Nevertheless, 3D printing continues to show promise as an innovative solution for various industries, and with continued development and innovation, it has the potential to revolutionize the way we manufacture and produce goods.
References
Abeliansky, Ana Lucia & Martinez-Zarzoso, Inmaculada & Prettner, Klaus, 2016. “The impact of 3D printing on trade and FDI,” VfS Annual Conference 2016 (Augsburg): Demographic Change 145479, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
Berjozkina G., Karami R.(2021) “3D printing in tourism: an answer to sustainability challenges?”, Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 13 (6) , pp. 773-788.
Chakraborty, Samit & Biswas, Manik Chandra. (2020). 3D printing technology of polymer-fiber composites in textile and fashion industry: A potential roadmap of concept to consumer. Composite Structures. 248. 112562. 10.1016/j.compstruct.2020.112562.
Charlebois, Sylvain & Juhasz, Mark, 2018. “Food Futures and 3D Printing: Strategic Market Foresight and the Case of Structur3D,” International Journal on Food System Dynamics, International Center for Management, Communication, and Research, vol. 9(2), March.
Fares Mami & Jean-Pierre Revéret & Sophie Fallaha & Manuele Margni, 2017. “Evaluating Eco-Efficiency of 3D Printing in the Aeronautic Industry,” Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(S1), pages 37-48, November.
Hadeer Abdalla & Kazi Parvez Fattah & Mohamed Abdallah & Adil K. Tamimi, 2021. “Environmental Footprint and Economics of a Full-Scale 3D-Printed House,” Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-19, October.
I. G. Mayorov & A. B. Belsky, 2018. “Technologies Of 3d-Printing In The Educational Process,” Digital Transformation, Establishment “The Main Information and Analytical Center of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus”.
Luis E. Ruiz & Ana C. Pinho & David N. Resende, 2022. “3D Printing as a Disruptive Technology for the Circular Economy of Plastic Components of End-of-Life Vehicles: A Systematic Review,” Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-19, October.
Marisela Rodriguez-Salvador & Leonardo Azael Garcia-Garcia, 2018. “Additive Manufacturing in Healthcare,” Foresight and STI Governance (Foresight-Russia till No. 3/2015), National Research University Higher School of Economics, vol. 12(1), pages 47-55.
Ubaldo Spina & Ramón Compañó, 2021. “Innovation Ecosystems in the Creative Sector: The Case of Additive Manufacturing and Advanced Materials for Design,” JRC Research Reports JRC126884, Joint Research Centre (Seville site).