The Future Prospects of the 3D Printer Business

Vaccinations are finally on the horizon, but the coronavirus (COVID-19) is still raging throughout the world. It has been estimated that losses associated with the spread of infections to date have reached 75% of annual gross domestic product (GDP) in the United States alone, and the number of deaths has already surpassed 1.8 million worldwide. This is an enormous toll.

In this climate, many people have shifted their attention to future measures to prevent infection. It is my sincere hope that infectious disease scientists and public health officials will learn from this situation and respond in better ways to contain viruses in the future, especially in the early stages.

I also expect that the predictions of post-COVID-19 global economic trends will pick up steam. Among them, 3D printing and additive manufacturing technologies will attract attention as innovative technologies that will lead the world economy in the future.

This is similar to how electrical vehicles came under the spotlight as innovative technologies to combat global warming at just the right time. From experience with the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, humankind is reminded of the need to avoid the risks of excessive concentration and crowding, and face-to-face businesses in the service industry will increasingly go online. In terms of the production of goods, however, the existing supply chains that make production sites huge and connect consumption areas over long distances are too risky and need to be changed.

The latter issue in particular emphasizes the need for small scale distributed production located closer to where goods are consumed. This is also attractive as it could help reduce transportation costs. Around the world, companies of all sizes are becoming increasingly interested in the mobility of 3D printers, which allow simple production systems to be built instead of large capital investments.

Even in the middle of the current pandemic, 3D printers have been used to quickly supply face masks and virus testing kits. When combined with other technologies such as robots, we should be able to make new products at lower cost and in more agile ways.

As a comprehensive printer manufacturer, the Ricoh Group needs to place an even greater focus on developing related businesses to respond to the diverse demands of business customers that are interested in 3D printers and additive manufacturing technologies.