Stephen Nigro, president of HP’s 3DP business, claims that the tech giant has created a “novel 3D metal approach” that will surface in 2018.
Last year, HP put the 3D printing world in awe when they introduced the Jet Fusion 3D Printing Solution. This end-to-end production platform offers high-quality parts at 10 times faster and half the cost of other industrial 3D printing systems. The system has been adapted by many industries and 3D printing services, and the global tech giant continues to work on multi-color and multi-material capabilities.
Although there’s hype still swirling around HP’s 3D printing technology, companies like Desktop Metal and Digital Metal have stolen the spotlight this year with major metal additive manufacturing announcements. However, HP doesn’t intend to let the next wave of metal 3D printing pass by without getting involved.
On Thursday, HP Inc. CEO Dion Weisler said that the company intends to sell 3D printers that produce metal objects, branching out beyond their current solution for plastic-based products. Although the details are sparse, the company plans to reveal more information in 2018. Here’s everything we know thus far.
HP Prepares to Enter the Metal 3D Printing Market
According to Weisler, HP decided to announce their future plans in order to “signal the intent that we had a technology” and start working with potential customers that are interested in metal 3D printing.
During the HP Securities Analyst Meeting in Palo Alto, Stephen Nigro, president of HP’s 3DP business, cryptically stated that the company had developed a “novel 3D metal approach.” He followed up by claiming that HP “will transform [3D metal printing] into more mainstream, high-volume production.”
There is still no release date or price for the metal 3D printer. However, the announcement seems to be more of a teaser than anything else. With Desktop Metal, Digital Metal, and others already disrupting the metal 3D printing market with groundbreaking technology, HP wants to make it known that they also have some tricks of steel up their sleeve.
Outside of metal 3D printing, Nigro also discussed their plan to offer full color 3D printing capabilities in 2018. They hope to become the only 3D printer manufacturer offering “mechanically robust and fully functional full-color parts”. Lastly, the 3DP business head also revealed plans to sell a cheaper version of the Jet Fusion 3D Printing Solution, and will also expand its graphics-printing business, aiming to allow companies to print graphics directly onto textiles.
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