Editor’s Pick: Closing the gap on 3D printing expertise

Global 3D printing services company Materialise has announced Mindware, an advisory service to offer businesses strategic, tailored and technology-neutral insights on the use of 3D printing. 

For a video on Mindware, click here.

3D printing offers businesses a way to establish more sustainable supply chains and reduce the costs associated with operational inefficiency, by enabling decentralization of manufacturing and production on demand. The technology is also known for its ability to enable new business models such as mass production of customized products, and bring innovation to market in record time.  

However business leaders frequently cite one barrier against the widespread adoption of 3D printing: the lack of know-how. Materialise conducted a survey last year which illustrated nearly 50% of manufacturers expect the use of 3D printing to double in the next 5 years, but 41% see the lack of expertise as a major hurdle. 

Materialise says Mindware can help companies with exploring or developing applications for 3D printing as well as collaborate on defining strategy and qualifying manufacturing processes for additive manufacturing.

Materialise will be celebrating its 30th anniversary as a 3D printing software and services vendor in 2020. The company is a pioneer in 3D printing and home to some of the 3D printing industry’s most experienced veterans, who were the driving force behind several of the industry’s most successful technological developments, applications and innovations since 1990. Mindware will allow businesses direct access to Materialise’s experts and their insights.

Bart Van Der Schueren, chief technology officer at Materialise, notes, “3D printing offers unique opportunities for businesses looking to gain or maintain a competitive edge, while keeping investment risk low. It is critical however, to tap into a source that is both knowledgeable and unbiased. 3D printing covers a range of technologies which are each ideally suited to varying applications, and neutrality is key in ensuring that the right technologies are chosen in each context.” 

Materialise says Mindware is managed by a dedicated team of business strategists, and supported by a wide network of experts throughout the 2,000-employee company. Clients receive customized insights from specialists in disciplines ranging from R&D, to design and engineering, to process engineering, as well as specialists dedicated to verticals such as the medical and aerospace industries. Mindware can help companies with exploring or developing applications for 3D printing as well as defining strategy, qualify manufacturing processes.  

The service is now available directly from Materialise. 

A replay of the webinar introducing Mindware is available here.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.