HP Inc., in January, launched 3D printers in India for the first time. 3D printers have been hyped as an “exponential technology” that is heralding the next wave of manufacturing and is often cited as a significant component of Industry 4.0. Overtime, it could help companies re-draw the manufacturing supply-chain. 3D printers enable ‘additive manufacturing’ – in traditional manufacturing components are carved out of metal sheets while in additive, 3D printers deposit layers after layers of plastic or metals to make a part. In the process, they use much less material (and men). Less material implies lower inventory and logistics costs.
Read More: 3D printing is not a panacea that will replace all of conventional manufacturing