In the past people could be forgiven for thinking 3D printing was ‘for the future’. The pandemic changed all that dramatically. 3D printing is changing global Supply Chains.
The desperate dash to produce a vaccine quickly and cost effectively, and in sufficient quantities to a global population became mission critical.
Producing PPE equipment, such as face masks and spare parts for ventilators, all needed to be done speedily, efficiently, and with worldwide collaboration. Local production was also a factor.
Traditional manufacturing and the global supply chain were suboptimal in solving such a crisis. Traditional (subtractive) manufacturing processes were the antithesis of what was required – efficacy, efficiency, and local production with design flexibility embedded.
This was the seminal moment when additive manufacturing (3D printing) changed global supply chains forever.
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