The industrial application of 3D printing is on the rise. Until a few years ago, the technology was still focused on prototyping, but further developments are now enabling the use of additive manufacturing in production environments. Broader fields of application and the development of new materials are driving this rapid development. According to an analysis by PwC Strategy&, 18% of all manufacturing companies in Germany are already working with 3D printers. This figure is expected to rise to a third in the next five years.

HP is showing the way forward with its recently announced HP Jet Fusion 300/500 3D printing solution. This enables users to quickly print technical functional parts not only in black and white, but also in various colors using a thermoplastic. The cost-effective solution also gives small to medium-sized product development teams, design companies, start-ups and research institutes access to production-ready 3D printing technology.

Depending on the size and geometry of the parts, production of over 100,000 parts is now economically viable with an industrial HP 3D printing solution. The increasing popularity of additive manufacturing processes is linked to the advancing technical possibilities that are opening up new opportunities for companies. The advantages of additive manufacturing begin where conventional manufacturing processes reach their limits. 3D printing methods strengthen the innovative power of companies, as they unleash a previously unimagined degree of production freedom and creativity. At the same time, they make it possible to manufacture highly complex parts that would be impossible or very costly to realize using conventional production methods. In addition, product development through to market launch can be significantly shortened - a clear differentiator from the competition and an indispensable growth driver.

3D printing processes will only develop their full economic potential in the coming years. According to a study by PwC Strategy&, the market for 3D-printed products will grow by an average of between 13 and 23 percent per year to a market volume of 22.4 billion euros by 2030. Additive manufacturing processes fundamentally facilitate the production of lightweight but equally resilient individual parts, for example in aerospace technology. In medical and dental technology, 3D printing enables the individual production of prostheses, hearing aids and implants. The automotive industry will also increasingly rely on this technology in the future to produce lightweight yet stable individual parts for car bodies, engines and brake systems.

Expanding the boundaries of the 3D market
HP has been a driver of innovation in the 3D printing market for years. With its multi-jet fusion technology, the company has helped shape developments in the field of additive manufacturing. Its 3D printing solutions are based on powder, which enables the fast and high-quality production of components. In this manufacturing technique, plastic grains are bonded together in such a way that the parts achieve a high level of strength. A specially developed print head with "PageWide" technology is used: a powder bed is first heated evenly using an infrared energy source. The print head then prints a heat-conducting liquid onto the powder bed and melts the required powder particles. At the same time, heat-inhibiting liquids are added to form precise contours and sharp edges. In this way, the component is built up layer by layer. Excess powder can then be removed and reused.

While the first Jet Fusion 3D printing solutions were mainly used for small series production, HP paved the way for mass production with the Jet Fusion 3D 4210. The devices reduce the total cost of ownership while allowing increased production volumes. The profitability threshold rises to up to 110,000 parts, with unit costs per printed part being up to 65 percent lower than with other 3D printing methods. In addition, the constant development of diverse materials is continuously enabling new forms of large-volume and individual applications in additive manufacturing.

HP is also working on new materials in its own open materials and applications laboratory to open up a wider range of applications for multi-jet fusion technology.