When HP announced their revolutionary end-to-end 3D printing solution in 2016 there were high hopes and equal amounts of skepticism. After all, HP’s dream is to completely reinvent the way we design and print functional parts, and establishing its place in modern manufacturing requires serious disruption.
Historically, 3D printing hasn’t offered the application or economics (profitability) to be a sustainable manufacturing solution. But through its Open Platform Approach, HP has been able to successfully collaborate with various partners to lay a foundation for additive manufacturing’s next industrial revolution.
HPs Open Platform Approach
The HP Open Platform certifies partners for collaboration on materials innovation and new applications for its 3D printing technology. By working together to reduce costs, facilitate adoption, and create an open-source platform for certified 3D materials, the company has fostered the right environment to spur innovation.
In opening its platform to their growing partner ecosystem, HP has accelerated its ability as a solutions provider to offer new materials, software, and services and it does not plan on losing momentum.
HP Has Been Working Extensive With Materials Producers
In manufacturing, parts and end products require specific material properties: color, texture, strength, durability, etc.. While MJF technology allows for voxel level control (and with it, the ability to control material properties), improving material availability is a key factor in broadening the solution’s usage.
To empower their partners, HP invested in a 3D Open Materials and Applications Lab – a 3,500 square-foot space accessible to materials partners – for product development, testing new materials and collaborating in real-time. This also includes a suite of research tools to develop materials under the HP brand that go beyond the range of currently available materials.
These currently available materials already boast the industry’s leading reusability and HP already announced its next material suite: HP 3D High Reusability PA 11, PA 12 (glass beads), and HP 3D High Reusability Polypropylene.
Material innovation should only pick up as HP has already secured partnerships with some of the world’s leading materials companies who are helping to co-develop new materials and refine the certification for future partners who join the program.
HP already announced their plan launch color parts followed by an effort for metal in 2018.
Establishing Multi Jet Fusion Printing as a Business Solution
While HP’s traditional printers have a solid footprint in modern businesses, helping industrial clients improve their ability to manufacture products is uncharted territory.
To ensure their end-to-end solution meets the needs of industrial manufacturers, the company teamed up with Deloitte who has deep experience in the space.
“We are making big investments in terms of capabilities, in terms of personnel, that will be focused on going to market with HP and the ability to deliver.“ – Deloitte CEO Punit Renjen.
The technology already produces superior quality parts at impressive speeds and costs and by partnering with Deloitte, HP can more effectively penetrate the industrial ecosystem.
Facilitating Large-Scale Adoption of Multi Jet Fusion 3D Printing Technology
To facilitate adoption HP 3D is working with select distribution partners to make the technology more accessible in specific markets and industry sectors.
The company has established several HP 3D Printing Reference and Experience Centers where guests can engage with the product firsthand. By making sample parts available on-demand and creating an immersive environment, end-users can understand how the disruptive technology can improve workflows and fit into their business model.
Many companies are already selling printed parts in large quantities and the introduction of new materials will prove to increase usage. The latest upgrade presented an inflection point in cost modeling and as the surrounding ecosystem continues to progress, the product and economics will improve further.
Through it’s Open Platform Approach, HP has successfully fostered an ecosystem to advance the solution and its adoption. First-year progress has been promising and future innovation and partnerships will continue to increase the speed of adoption.
