3D printing and the digital revolution. Bringing pet accessories into the 21st century.
3D printing is beyond the hype. Many markets are showing astonishing applications that could be a refreshing inspiration for yours. How can pet accessories manufacturers benefit from this great new technology?
The rapid uptake of 3D printing
3D printing has been readily adopted by the health industry to introduce new products that are revolutionising medical device design and manufacturing. Complex medical prosthesis, implants and dental improvements are already taking personalisation in cure and care to a new level. It is expected that one day 3D printing technology will even produce tailor made organs.
As for the consumer market, it is currently going through an extended uptake of 3D printing, as is the application of this technology in industrial settings. In fact, in industry, 3D printing is rapidly resulting in innovative products and tooling. In many cases, 3D printing technology is launched as an integral part of switching to digital right down the complete chain: from design, to logistics, marketing, product use through to recycling. 3D printing applications can help significantly reduce a product’s weight or help integrate multiple parts into one optimised product which requires less maintenance. Another major advantage of this technology is the possibility to personalise parts or products at no extra cost: complexity for free!
Making it personal
Such personalisation is already being used in the automotive market: BMW recently launched a website where MINI buyers are invited to make ‘The you in your MINI’. For all customers who want to get creative or make a statement, 3D printing technology enables customisation of – for instance – the car’s side skittles (blinkers) with their own name. For the moment at least, design options are limited to changing a template. Nevertheless, in this way customers can express a unique bond with their car. And manufacturers strengthen their customers’ bond to their brand!
What about liability?
Who knows? Maybe in the future BMW will be sending its customers a part’s template that they themselves can re-design and print on their desktop 3D printer. But, here is where things can get complicated. Will such a home-printed part count as an official certified part? Things such as intellectual property rights, copyright, design rights and trademarks might get in the way. Liability could also be a major issue, with 3D printed parts possibly produced using inferior materials.
For the time being, therefore, it is expected that manufacturers will keep production in their own hands, or at least under their full control.
Several issues are still holding back more widespread use of 3D printing. The biggest issue is lack of knowledge, including a lack of: detailed 3D printing design knowledge, digital thinking, easily accessible software programs and how to print products in such a way as to grasp one or more exciting advantages.
Available advanced software is able to print complicated structures, but is even more difficult to use. Nevertheless, such premium, expensive software suites are opening up extremely exciting advantages in many 3D printing applications. And let us not forget that there is a skilful new generation of young people out there, for whom digital thinking and the use of advanced software is part of their way of life.
Becoming mainstream
Once excellent quality, next generation 3D printers become mainstream and technology advances even further, things will move rapidly. Larger build areas, higher speeds, new application specific materials and lower cost per part will be the result. A major step in this direction was recently made by HP with its HP Multi Jet Fusion technology. This printer is not only significantly faster, but prints in full colour and has extraordinary new applications: integrating electronics, sensors and actuators between layers. Recently, HP showcased an application with a hidden QR code underneath the last surface layer, readable with a special reader. An easy way to trace counterfeit products.
Co-creating: pointing the way in product development
A current trend for companies is to use design contests and co-creation for innovative product developments. Recently, I found an interesting collaborative platform: projects.engineering.com. Participants are challenged to present and share a project with the community. Collaboration and sharing are key. One of the projects that caught my eye was ‘Smart food and water dispenser for cat’: an ideal solution for pet owners who travel a lot and who want that bit more for their feline friend than standard water and dry-food dispensers. The discussion and digital whiteboard feature a number of innovative 3D printable and programmable solutions for providing the cat fresh food and water. But, what about the cat getting love and attention? … I believe I have the answer: let’s design and make a smartphone connected robot with Artificial Intelligence!