3D Printing Finally Taking Off?

During the last couple of years, I’ve written some articles pointing to the emergence of 3D printing, urging you to at least be aware of the trends even if we agreed it wasn’t going to rock your world today.  I wrote about it here, here, and here.

A new technology doesn’t appear fully formed in a burst of light with a flourish of trumpets.  It’s never “not here” then “here.”  But the media makes it seem as though it is “here” and, as the article I am pointing you to today makes clear, that’s what happened to 3D printing.  Nothing could have lived up to the hype it got.  Inevitably and typically, that lead to some disappointment and a loss of focus on it.

But the technology itself didn’t stop evolving and improving just because nobody in the mass media was writing about it.  You probably don’t have a 3D printer in your store or home, but I’ll bet some product you make or sell is being at least prototyped on a 3D printer.  At least.  When customization matters more all the time, as time to market is a bigger focus, as inventory control is a mantra and new brands are sought after, 3D printing becomes more and more important.  And the piping that is the internet enables it.

The article makes clear that action sports/active outdoor isn’t the industry where 3D printing will find and its highest and best use, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a potential game changer for us.  Here’s the link to the article.

As you read it, consider what I’ve been saying for years bordering on decades.  When things are changing quickly, the biggest risk it to take no risk at all.