IDTechEx: 3D Printing of Electronics Comes to Market
August 17, 2015 | Business WireEstimated reading time: 1 minute
The printed electronics and 3D printing industries are colliding to produce 3D printed electronics, a new market that will create the next wave of hype around 3D printing over the coming year and grow to exceed $1bn in equipment sales alone by 2025, finds IDTechEx Research.
Early crowdfunded projects such as Cartesian Co’s EX¹, the Voltera and Botfactory’s Squink have mimicked the early 3D printer projects starting with Printrbot in 2011, raising almost exactly the same total funding just 1025 days later. Just as media hype subsequently grew around 3D printing so too will a wave of hype around 3D printed electronics emerge over the next year, thrusting all of these early players into the limelight. Consumer-level machines such as these will be the basis for the hype, at least to begin with, as they give ordinary people the opportunity to get into electronic engineering and start creating simple circuits of their own for fun and education, just as early consumer-level 3D printers did.
The next phase will be the emergence of significant commercial markets. The $15bn antenna market is under increasing strain to produce more customised three dimensional structures without the environmentally unfriendly chemicals required for plating. Millions of antennas are already being printed each year and this number will continue to grow thanks to a variety of advantages over both the incumbent and competing technologies.
The real game changer will be fully 3D printed electronics that can be achieved only by 3D printing electrically conductive and insulating materials into the same object. Voxel8, a spin off from Harvard University that was launched in January of this year, are bringing the world’s first 3D electronics printer to market. This offers the potential to manufacture a variety of electromechanical parts right on your desk. The company have already demonstrated 3D printed electromagnets and are now trying to 3D print an electric motor for the first time.
Suggested Items
IDTechEx Examines the Opportunities for Wearables in Digital Health
04/19/2024 | IDTechExIDTechEx’s report, “Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence 2024-2034: Trends, Opportunities, and Outlook”, covers this ongoing trend in the consumer health wearables market and includes analysis of the opportunities and roadmap for biometric monitoring.
ZESTRON Welcomes Whitlock Associates as New Addition to their Existing Rep Team in Florida
04/19/2024 | ZESTRONZESTRON, the leading global provider of high-precision cleaning products, services, and training solutions in the electronics manufacturing and semiconductor industries, is thrilled to announce the addition of Whitlock Associates to its esteemed network of sales representatives.
IPC Bestows Posthumous Hall of Fame Award to Industry Icon Michael Ford
04/18/2024 | IPCIPC honored the late Michael Ford, Aegis Software, for his extraordinary contributions to the global electronics manufacturing industry with the IPC Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame Award at IPC APEX EXPO 2024. IPC’s most prestigious honor, the Hall of Fame Award is given to individuals who have provided exceptional service and advancement to IPC and the electronics industry. Ford, an industry leader and valued IPC volunteer, died suddenly in January 2024.
SEMI Applauds U.S. Chips Act Award for Samsung Electronics Facilities to Strengthen Domestic Semiconductor Supply Chain
04/17/2024 | SEMISEMI, the industry association serving the global electronics design and manufacturing supply chain, applauded the United States Department of Commerce’s announcement of a Preliminary Memorandum of Terms for an award under the CHIPS and Science Act to support the expansion of Samsung Electronics’ presence in Texas and the company’s development and production of leading-edge chips.
Northrop Grumman honors Calumet Electronics with Supplier Excellence Award
04/17/2024 | Calumet ElectronicsNorthrop Grumman Corporation has recognized Calumet Electronics during the company’s 2024 Supplier Excellence Awards for “exceptional performance and unwavering commitment to delivering with excellence.” Calumet is one of 70 suppliers recognized from across the globe. In its award category of “Supplier Strategic Excellence,” Calumet was honored alongside global corporations such as Amazon Web Services, Dell Technologies, and Eaton Corporation.