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ation  throughout the  product
          lifecycle. Additive manufactur-
          ing could  improve  the  sustain-
          ability of industries  globally.
          The  very process  of manufac-
          turing by using only the mate-
          rial needed,  instead  of remov-
          ing excess material, without the
          need  of producing tools,  could
          be  revolutionary for the  glob-
          al environment. Production  of
          parts only when and where it is
          needed can go a long way in re-
          ducing overall emissions  from
          industrial production.
          Another  essential aspect is  Source: Stratasys
          transportation. Manufacturing
          is  just the  first step,  followed                                                       The future
                                                                                                    will focus
          by  assembling  and  finally
                                                                                                    on adopting
          delivering it to the  customer  sures  to upgrade  unresponsive  development,  and  education.
                                                                                                    unique mate-
                                                          th
          –  all of which  involves  logis-  supply chains and 20  century   This  will also pave  the  way for
                                                                                                    rials, smart
          tics,  which,  apart from  adding  energy-intensive  manufactur-  advanced  additive  manufactur-
                                                                                                    solutions, and
          to the  overall costs,  results  in  ing and  transportation  pro-  ing technologies optimized for a   intelligent
          emissions. With  additive  man-  cesses  intersect with  a  mature  wide variety of applications and   connectivity
          ufacturing, one can send a dig-  adoption  curve  for additive  a  broad  range  of cost-effective,  to the man-
          ital file  to the  place  where  it  manufacturing. This  technol-  high-performance materials.   ufacturing
          is  needed,  and  then  it can  be  ogy will ensure  that manufac-  The future will focus on adopt-  systems – all
          printed  locally. This  not only  turers  can  deliver an  array of  ing unique  materials,  smart  of which will
          saves a lot of time and resourc-  high-volume  products  while  solutions,  and  intelligent con-  be made
                                                                                                    possible by
          es but also has a positive impact   maintaining low costs,  high  nectivity to the  manufactur-
                                                                                                    additive man-
          on energy consumption.        quality,  and  sustainable  meth-  ing systems – all of which will
                                                                                                    ufacturing.
                                        ods of production.            be  made  possible  by additive
                                                                                                    Some indus-
          Scope of additive             Over  the  past two years,  the  manufacturing. Some  industry  try experts
          manufacturing                 world  has  witnessed  the  im-  experts  also predict that this  also predict
          We  are  currently at an  inflec-  pact of additive  manufacturing  technology can  support the  that this
          tion  point for global manufac-  in  critical areas  such  as  health-  expansion  of space  programs.  technology
          turing,  where  massive  pres-  care,  manufacturing,  product  Innovations  in  this  space  have  can support
                                                                      also made  it possible  to envi-  the expan-
                                                                      sion  a  distributed  network  of  sion of space
                                                                      manufacturing with  3D print-  programs.
                                                                      ers  strategically placed  world-
                                                                      wide,  interfacing with  cloud-
                                                                      based,  digital inventory that
                                                                      is  produced  locally,  as  needed.
                                                                      The  potent combination  of
                                                                      smart additive  manufacturing
                                                                      systems,  connected  to a  digital
                                                                      supply chain and supported by
                                                                      modern  cutting-edge  innova-
                                                                      tion, can transform the face of
                                                                      the  entire  Manufacturing sec-
                                                                      tor. The best part is that it will
                                                                             while
                                                                      happen
                                                                                           waste
                                                                                  using less
                                                                   Source: Stratasys   and  energy and  with  better
                                                                      performance and a much short-
                                                                      er time to market.



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