3D Printing

Technology

Group 5
Claire Greene
Hafeez Khan
Kexin Zhang
Table of Contents

1 What is 3D printing? 4 Incumbents Vs Entrants

2 Evolution of 3D Printing 5 Challenges of 3D Printing

3 3D Printing Business Model 6 3D Printing & Supply Chain

What is 3D Printing?

(My3Dconcepts, 2017)
Traditional Manufacturing vs 3D Printing

Nature – Subtractive Nature – Layer adding

More waste Less waste

Complex geometries
Complex geometries are
can be created easily
difficult

Not move closer to end

Manufacturing locally
users
Ideal for customisation
Less room for customisation

(Warburg, n.d.)
 The Evolution of 3D Printing

1990s 2010s
 More Technologies The Maker Movement Future
And More Adoption

1980s 2000s 2020

Setting the Foundations 3D Printing Explodes 3D Printing Responds
of 3D Printing To COVID-19
  
(Team, 2021)
 Is 3D printing
a disruptive innovation?
Phase 0 Trigger Conditions
P
Phase 3 • 3D Printing attributes > Traditional methods
e (complexity, flexibility, customizability and speed to
r
fo market)
r
m
a
n Phase 2
c
e
Phase 1 Niche Markets
Phase 1
Phase 0 • Attributes are not relevant for all mainstream customers
• The technology currently underperforms
(cost/item on a large scale, manufacturing speed, materials
Time and quality)
Disruptive Innovation Framework • 3D Printing gained ground in high-tech, niche markets
Source: Christensen et. al (2013) 

(Balázs, 2015)
 Is 3D printing
a disruptive innovation? Phase 2 Development Phase
• Speed doubles every 24 months
Phase 3 • Desktop 3D printers has initiated disruption on the
P
e low-end consumer market
r • Industrial systems are applied in manufacturing
fo processes
r
m
a
n Phase 2
c
e
Phase 3 Disruptive Innovation
Phase 1 • Will disrupt manufacturing, creating new markets and
Phase 0
driving the transition from mass production to mass
customization
Time • Will lower the barriers to manufacturing, benefiting
Disruptive Innovation Framework entrepreneurship and bringing customers closer to
Source: Christensen et. al (2013)  product creation

(Balázs, 2015)
 Business Model Disruption

Mass Segmentation Mass Modularization

Offering a few dozen versions of Instead of offering different versions of
a product to customers with 03 04 a product, you offer one body with
more predictable needs multiple different interchangeable
components

Mass Variety 02 05 Mass Complexity

Targets customers who don’t With 3D printing, extremely
need products customized but complex shapes and designs
have varying & specific can be produced for much
preferences lower cost

Mass Customization 01 06 Mass Standardization

One-off products that cater to
the individuals wants/needs Biggest threat to traditional
manufacturing. High volume of
products being produced at low
cost
Mass Customization
Traditional business models in the orthodontics, hearing
aid and prosthetics industries are all being disrupted by
mass customization as a result of 3D printing. 

In the case of hearing aids, a laser is used to scan the

patient’s ear, this is then converted into a production file
and then printed.

More than 10,000,000 million 3D printed hearing aids

are in circulation worldwide.

The earlier process to manufacture hearing aids

consisted of approximately nine steps. Now it only takes
three steps.

US hearing aid companies converted to 100% 3D

printing in less than 500 days
Mass Customization in Other Industries

Footwear
Both Adidas and Nike are making 3D printed
trainers that are customized to suit your feet

Orthodontics
Invisilign are making custom-made
clear braces

Prosthetics
3D printers are being used to create
personalized prosthetics
 Inventors of 3D printing technology

Stereolithography Selective Laser Fused Deposition

(SLA) Sintering (SLS) Modelling (FDM)
Dr. Carl Deckard and
Inventor Charles W. Hull S Scott Crump
Dr. Joe Beaman
Patent issued 1986 1990 1992
Stratasys acquired
Desk Top
and
Company (Year) 3D System (1986) Manufacturing (DTM)
commercialised in
Corp (1987)
1989
Current assignee
University of Texas
of the 3d printing 3D System Stratasys
system
technology
3D System 3D System acquired Stratasys
Alliances
in 2001
Patent expiration
2006 2007 2009
(Year)

(Patent, 1984; Patent, n.d)

 Innovation (Creating Value)

SLA 3D Printing process FDM 3D Printing process

technology technology

Had weak
All had patent’s imitability due to
registered by the its legal
inventors protection

SLS 3D Printing process technology

(Emre, n.d.; Palermo, 2013; Sukindar et al., 2016)

 Acquisition - Capturing value
3D Systems acquiring DTM Corp
• Exploitation alliance is observed
• Complete control over complementary
assets
• Complete control over new technology
(SLS)
3D Systems acquiring small, medium
and large enterprises
• Acquired 41 companies to date
• 14 acquisition from 2011 to end of 2012
• which were software, materials, printers and
printable content
• Largest acquisition was simbionix who creates 3D
virtual reality surgical simulators and medical
education resources, used by medical students to
learn how to perform medical procedures and
surgeries.
(Doval, 2019; Pfeifle, 2012)
Teece’s model: who profits from the innovation?

3D Systems acquiring DTM Corp

Imitability: low
1 DTM Corp protected their invention from the
legal mechanism back in1990

Complementary assets: Tightly held

2 DTM had its own manufacturing unit, sales and
marketing unit

(Teece, 1986)
Teece’s model: who
profits from the
innovation?

According to Teece’s model

DTM Corp had highest
bargaining power.

3D System acquired DTM Corp

for $45 million

(Berardi, 2001; Teece, 1986)

 The Barriers
to Wide
Scale
Adoption of
3D Printing

Design Skills and Education IP/ Protection/

Materials & Processes Standards/ Regulations
Cost/ Investment/ Financing Security
Need for Standards or lack
Some printers can People overlook the Although
educational thereof is an area of 3D printing gives
only be used with labor associated decreasing, 3D
programs on design concern hackers a new way
specified materials with 3D printing printers are
for 3D files to wreck havoc
expensive to buy
Jupiter Saturn
Jupiter is the biggest It’s a gas giant and has
planet of them all several rings

Mars Neptune
Despite being red, Mars is It’s the farthest planet
actually cold from the Sun
 How 3D printing will impact supply chain management

Improve time-to-
market
Number of components
Decentralize greatly reduced with 3D Rationalize inventory
Production printing meaning
Product complexity will be Improved resource and logistics
Companies will have the
ability to produce Customization decreased efficiency Reduced need for
components closer to 3D printing is more transport & storage
More agile supply
home rather than relying
chains which can environmentally of goods
on imports friendly as it creates
adapt rapidly to
market changes zero waste
 3D Printing and Supply Chain Management
How companies can integrate 3D printing into their supply chains
1 3 5

Product 3D Print Shops

Spare Parts on
Postponement for Businesses
Demand
Services and Consumers

2 4 6

Individualized End-of-Runway Assessing 3D

Direct Parts Services printing for your
supply chain
Thanks for listening!

Welcome any questions!

 Reference List
• Balázs K., (2015). ‘Is 3D printing a case of disruptive innovation?’ Available at:
https://www.google.com/url?
sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwii76u65zxAhUWRkEAHRTYBl4QFjAAegQIAx
AD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fscripties.uba.uva.nl%2Fdownload%3Ffid
%3D634635&usg=AOvVaw2kdJ0gCxwd837lGRtWJwss [Accessed 12 Jun. 2021].
• Berardi E., (2001). ‘3D Systems to Acquire DTM for $45 Million’, TheStreet. Available at:
https://www.thestreet.com/technology/3d-systems-to-acquire-dtm-for-45-million-1375449 [Accessed 15
Jun. 2021].
• Christensen, Clayton M. and Raynor, Michael E. 2003. Innovator’s Solution. Boston: Harvard Business
School Press. Available at: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/bbf377b347424c8ab79684346105082e
[Accessed 12 Jun. 2021].
• Doval J., (2019). ‘Reinventing Metal Additive Technology’, 3D Systems. Available at:
https://www.3dsystems.com/blog/2019/2019-07/reinventing-metal-additive-technology [Accessed 14
Jun. 2021].
• Emre A, (n.d.). ‘3D YAZICILAR’. Bright Up Life Blog. Available at: https://brightup.life/2021/03/29/3d-
yazicilar/ [Accessed 15 Jun. 2021].
• https://blog.thomasnet.com/evolution-of-3d-printing [Accessed 12 Jun. 2021].
• My3Dconcepts, (2017). ‘HOW 3D PRINTING WORKS?’, My3Dconcepts. Available at:
http://my3dconcepts.com/explore/how-3d-printing-works/ [Accessed 11 Jun. 2021].
• Palermo E., (2013). What is Selective Laser Sintering? livescience.com. Available at:
https://www.livescience.com/38862-selective-laser-sintering.html [Accessed 15 Jun. 2021].
 Reference List
• Patent, (1984). ‘US4575330A - Apparatus for production of three-dimensional objects by
stereolithography - Google Patents’, Google.com. Available at:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US4575330A/en [Accessed 14 Jun. 2021].
• Patent, (n.d.). ‘Apparatus and method for creating three-dimensional objects’, Google Patent. Available
at: https://patents.google.com/patent/US5121329A/en [Accessed 14 Jun. 2021].
• Patent, (n.d.). ‘Selective laser sintering with assisted powder handling’, Google patent. Available at:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US4938816 [Accessed 14 Jun. 2021].
• Pfeifle S., (2012). ‘A brief history of 3D Systems acquisitions’, www.geoweeknews.com. Available at:
https://www.geoweeknews.com/blogs/a-brief-history-of-3d-systems-acquisitions [Accessed 15 Jun.
2021].
• Sukindar, N.A., Ariffin, M.K.A., Baharudin, B.T.H.T., Jaafar, C.N.A. and Ismail, M.I.S., (2016).
‘ANALYZING THE EFFECT OF NOZZLE DIAMETER IN FUSED DEPOSITION MODELING FOR
EXTRUDING POLYLACTIC ACID USING OPEN SOURCE 3D PRINTING’, Jurnal Teknologi, 78(10).
[Accessed 13 Jun. 2021].
• Team T., (2021). ‘The Evolution Of 3D Printing’, Manufacturing and Industrial. [Accessed 13 Jun. 2021].
• Teece, D.J., 1986. ‘Profiting from technological innovation: Implications for integration, collaboration,
licensing and public policy’, Research Policy,15(6), pp.285-305. [Accessed 14 Jun. 2021].
• Warburg, B. (n.d.). ‘Additive Manufacturing vs. Traditional Manufacturing’, Animal Ventures. Available at:
https://blog.animalventures.com/blog/additive-manufacturing-vs-traditional-manufacturing/ [Accessed 15
Jun. 2021].