3D PRINTING LEADS TO SUSTAINABILITY
producer , who assumes liability when something breaks ? 3D printing is still so young that the law lags behind on such issues .
On the regulatory side , 3D printing also has the potential to undermine control mechanisms that ensure products are safe and appropriate for the market . Customs authorities lose their oversight capabilities when goods are no longer transported across borders ; they would not be able to conduct consumer protection or safety controls , or keep counterfeit goods off the market the way they do now .
With 3D printing , goods may no longer need to be shipped halfway around the world , because they can be printed close to the consumer . But this doesn ’ t mean that we will soon only be shipping raw materials and 3D print cartridges . Not quite yet . In fact , experts are sceptical that the technology will have much of an impact on global transport volumes in the near future . The trend toward custom production is currently more likely to boost “ last-mile ” shipping , i . e . the movement of goods from a transport hub to their final destination
in the area .
But one thing is certain :
3D printing also has the potential to undermine control mechanisms that ensure products are safe and appropriate for the market
The market share of 3D printing technology will increase and the trend toward customisation will continue . We will all benefit from the new technology ’ s ability to accommodate individual customer requests during production . Manufacturers will no longer keep large volumes of standardised products in stock , moving instead to a more flexible manufacturing model based on the “ made to order ” principle . The most likely outcome is that 3D printing will take its place alongside traditional production technologies , rather than replace them .
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