Our Current View of 3D Printing

Preferred Plastics has worked throughout its many years in business to be at the forefront of technology and design. We understand that our customer’s concepts are important and we spend in-depth time and energy so that our tool designs and engineering are done with care and strategy in mind.

With that regard, we have been watching both the initial hype and now the progression of 3D printing in a multitude of materials, including plastics, and we are eager to see how this technology might one day play a role in the way we do business. Will 3D printing be the wave of the future or merely a passing fad? How might it be used to improve processes and services for our clients? As this technology becomes universally affordable and available, who might our impending clients be? 3D printing may truly change the way new ideas are developed, offering a world of manufacturing opportunities to even the smallest of entrepreneurs.

The prospects for many industries could be affected by this amazing technology, and the possibilities seem endless as to its scope and application. Potentially, rapid prototyping capabilities would give an immediate response to design ideas and shorten the overall time to market for new products. With the ability to include various colors and materials, and even multi-part printing, 3D printing is on the horizon and broadening its potential even more.

The news has been full of publicity about more unconventional items that could be printed; everything from firearms to food to human organs has been talked about. Our interest in these extraordinary items is more out of curiosity than possible inclusion into our business operations. However, the fact that the technology continues to evolve and become more intricate and precise could mean a great deal to us at some point in the not so distant future.

Today’s 3D printers aren’t capable of producing the large quantities that can be manufactured from extrusion, molding, and other thermoforming processes, but we’ll continue to follow this technology to see how it could be extended into our business operations. We love working with new technology in engineering, design and materials, and we strive to find ways for our customers to save time and money, so if that includes 3D printing, then we may very well be working with our own 3D printers sooner than later.