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
AIM Solder Signs Shinil Fl Ltd. as New Distributor for Korea
05/08/2024 | AIM SolderAIM Solder, a leading global manufacturer of solder assembly materials for the electronics industry, is pleased to announce a new distribution partnership with Shinil Fl Ltd., a prominent supplier of technological solutions in the SMT and semiconductor sectors.
KYZEN’s Adam Klett to Keynote at SMTA Electronics in Harsh Environments Conference
05/07/2024 | KYZEN'KYZEN, the global leader in innovative environmentally friendly cleaning chemistries, announced today that KYZEN’s Director of Science, Adam Klett, PhD will present as a keynote speaker at the SMTA Electronics in Harsh Environments Conference. The event is scheduled to take place May 14-16, 2024 at the Technical University of Denmark in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Altus Equips SSTL with Advanced Cleaning Technology for Electronics
05/07/2024 | Altus GroupAltus Group, a leading supplier of capital equipment for the electronics manufacturing industry, has announced the successful installation of an advanced PCBA cleaning system at Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL).
GPV's Handover of Refurbished Factory Building
05/07/2024 | GPVOn 6 May 2024, Bjorn Fiskers, MD at GPV Electronics TH in Thailand and his team were handed the keys to our refurbished factory building, adding another 7,000 sqm to our current 15,000 sqm electronics factory. Our electronics factory in Thailand will comprise of a total of 22,000 sqm.
New Yorker, Major League Electronics Sign New Franchised Distribution Agreement
05/06/2024 | New Yorker Electronics Co.New Yorker Electronics, global distributor of electronic components, recently announced a new franchised distribution agreement with Major League Electronics, renowned manufacturer of interconnect products.