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In the context of the trend topic Industry 4.0 at this year’s WEF in Davos, 3D printing also plays an important role
As every year at this time of year (and for the 46th time already), the World Economic Forum (WEF) is taking place in the posh Swiss ski resort of Davos. Around 2,500 politicians, managers and scientists from more than 100 countries will be discussing current and future issues at what is probably the world’s largest event of its kind from yesterday (January 20th) until next Saturday (January 23rd).
In addition to the European refugee crisis, the question of opportunities, risks and perspectives of Industry 4.0 takes up a lot of space. Specifically, this complex of topics includes the advance of digital technologies in the factories and offices of this world, i.e. the question of how much digitization and networking will change our working and production methods in the foreseeable future. In addition to big data and mobile internet, 3D printing technology plays a key role.
The organ from the 3D printer could make organ donation superfluous
This was particularly evident at a WEF panel discussion on the “digital transformation of industry”, where experts expressed the view that in about 10 years (i.e. the mid-2020s) medicine would finally be able to help people organs (e.g. livers) from the 3D printer. This would solve an urgent problem for our emergency medicine, which suffers from a permanent shortage of donor organs.
Another topic: 3D printing of everyday objects
Another forecast made in Davos assumes that consumers could in future produce consumer goods such as plates, cups or bicycle parts using 3D printers, which should also contribute to a lasting change in our way of doing business. Of course, it remains unclear whether this will happen to home 3D printers – which have so far been noticed as very prone to failure – or whether this will open up another business model for 3D printing service providers. Fabian Strohschein, Managing Director of 3D Activation GmbH, had already commented on this topic in an interview with the fashion magazine TM in April 2014.
The term Industry 4.0 is based on the premise that the Internet and digitization in general will result in a fourth industrial revolution – after the steam engine, assembly line/electrification and computers. This programmatic term was coined in April 2011, in the context of the Hanover Fair at that time, as the result of a research project by the federal government and industrial companies that was presented to the public on this occasion.
The story of 3D Activation, our 3D printing service from Wiesbaden and Thun/Switzerland, also began in 2011. Since then, we have been able to convince prominent customers such as Fraunhofer, Deichmann and the Swabian fashion label Marc Cain.
Visit our website and see our range of materials, printing processes and services for yourself.
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