The 3D giant's China dream has yet to come true

"If you can really subvert the industry, then my ' Guo ' is written upside down. "Mr Gou, chairman of Hon Hai Group, had so appraised the 3D printing wave.

In the article "The Third Industrial Revolution" in Paul Mckiry, 3D Printing was listed as one of the driving forces to transform the third industrial revolution. After being dubbed the "third Industrial Revolution" logo, the concept of 3D printing began to ferment in the United States first. Last year, two U.S. 3D printing companies, Stratasys and 3D Bae shares rose more than 300%.

The wind blows to China. In many people can not say clearly what 3D printing, all kinds of investment, layout has quietly opened the curtain, the various forces are trying to get a piece of the pie. At the end of September, one of the world's two major 3D printing Stratasys Company and the Aurora Group to develop strategic cooperation to expand the 3D printing market in China; another German design-oriented integration (e-manufacturing) technology company EOS also established its headquarters and Research and Development center in China.

is the opportunity window approaching as the Giants step forward? Although the industry looks promising, a 3D print entrepreneur told reporters that "dreams have not yet come true."

Bubble or opportunity?

China's 3D Printing technology Industry Alliance data show that in 2012, the global 3D printing Market size of about 2.1 billion U.S. dollars, China about only 1 billion yuan. But in the next 3 years, China's 3D printing market will grow at least 1 time times a year, the scale will be up to tens of billions of dollars, estimated to 2016 China will become the world's largest 3D printer market.

Renowned for office supplies Taiwan's Sinian group has announced recently, with the global 3D printing technology well-known brands Stratasys cooperation, and jointly develop China's 3D printing market.

"China is in the critical period of industrial transformation and upgrading, and the development of 3D printing technology has brought great opportunities for China, and industry uses 3D printing technology to enjoy faster and more efficient manufacturing processes." "Sinian Group," in proofing, open mold stage, the average can reduce the manufacturing costs of about 50%, shorten the processing cycle of 70%, and can be complex design and manufacturing integration.

"3D printing is the future direction of industry development, the current trend of 3D printing is upward, each year has multiplied." From the Stratasys point of view, there is a 38% increase every year. "Sinian Group OA Division general Manager Zhou Qizheng that any industry can be related to 3D, from 2D to 3D for the Aurora is a good transition opportunity, 2D industry has entered the state of price competition, Aurora hope to use the 3D printing technology, to lead the printing field again."

Others scoff, and one of the "opposition" representatives was Mr Gou, chairman of Hon Hai. In June this year, according to Taiwan's Lianhe Evening News, Mr Gou made the opposite view of the momentum of the 3D printing technology, saying that 3D printing was just a gimmick and if it could really subvert the industry, "then my ' Guo ' was written upside down." ”

"3D printing is bubble or opportunity" in the debate, the concept of 3D printing in China is far from universal.

"If you and your friends are talking about 3D printing at a bar or restaurant, I'm sure 90% of people will have no idea what you're talking about," he said. "At present, the biggest challenge is how many companies realize the value of 3D printing and extend the" hand "of the printing technology to a wider area," Jonathan Jaglom, general manager of Stratasys's Asia Pacific, told the first financial daily.

This is more prevalent in China. Excellent Kedovi (Dalian) Technology Co., Ltd. technology director Qingquan told reporters his first-line promotion experience: encountered the most problems or many customers do not know the concept of 3D printing, the understanding of 3D printing is not enough, do not know what 3D can bring them to what value; and even repeatedly heard customers ask the ironic For example, 3D printing equipment "can be printed directly with the white food."

"3D printing technology from the late 80 's, the earliest in the United States, at present, we are still in the initial stage." "World 3D Printing Technology Industry Alliance Secretary General Rojun also to this reporter frankly: there are many provinces and cities in China to rob 3D printing opportunities, although the 3D printing technology is not very understanding, the importance is very high; however, if 3D printing is not conscious, it is very difficult to make the 3D print industry grow and grow.

This also reflects the investment community. This reporter recently visited most of the investment community said, until now, they do not have a clear 3D printing investment intention. "Or the concept is too hot, China's 3D printing has not been up." "A multinational technology company in China investment director Frankly, many of the door-to-door to seek investment in the 3D printing project, actually not much innovation."

At present, there are not many 3D VC projects that have been publicly disclosed in China. Sequoia China Fund Investment in Qinchuan machinery, is doing 3D printing research and development and investment, Sequoia partner Kui has said that the series of innovation accumulated to a certain time will push the product to the last step, 3D printing may be in this accumulation process.

Path to be solved

Hardware, materials, technology, this is Stratasys China Region general manager Wangxiang that 3D printing the core of the three links.

"3D printing industry should not look at its equipment production, in fact, including from the printing material to the back of the application of its industrial chain, especially the application of products has a very large potential." "Wu Chengxuan that from the experience of the foreign 3D industry chain, in the whole industry chain, we can really create the maximum value of its application of this piece."

In the mode of cooperation between Sinian and Stratasys, the latter sells its 3D printers by means of the Aurora's sales channels in the mainland. According to Zhou Qizheng, Aurora in the 2D printing industry has accumulated almost 57,000 customers, after screening, you can choose at least 10,000 target customers are related to 3D printing. That is, Aurora wants to cultivate 3D print customers and projects from 2D printing, at least in the early stages.

The industry to 3D printing customers into consumer and industrial users. If the Aurora model is biased towards consumer users, the almost simultaneous layout of the German EOS tends to be industrial in scale. At the end of September, Germany's EOS announced the establishment of its China headquarters and a technology center in Shanghai.

"Not only do sales, more important function is Technical center, hope through Technology center and China's customer exchanges, for Chinese customers to create greater and better value." "Wu Chengxuan said.

In fact, in the industrial field, 3D printing is currently mainly used in product prototype printing, Wu Chengxuan that: The real value of the future in the field of large-scale production applications. But he also said: "3D printing can be combined with mass production and customized design." This is the most attractive place for 3D to print the future. ”

Wu Chengxuan describes that you can customize your own products through 3D printing, especially in medical terms, 3D printing allows patients to print medical implants that fit their body shape. At the same time, as long as the material innovation, cost control, many products will not need to be part of the production of the process of assembly, can be directly through the 3D printing to complete.

The above application scenario is not common in China. "Compared with the traditional production process, I think 3D printing is more suitable for customization or personalized production mode." Qingquan told reporters that in industrial manufacturing, the traditional production of 1000 pieces, the cost of each product as long as two or three yuan; from the practical experience, at present, many of its customers are basically required to create a complex part, and the design of higher requirements, this time 3D printing will be able to highlight their advantages, can be faster, Better present a unique product.

He cited, for example, now the civilian desktop 3D printer is slowly becoming popular, the limitations of supplies are increasingly small, our current most important printing material is PLA polylactic acid and ABS Engineering plastics, and the price of this printer in 10,000 ~2 million.

"We are also thinking about how to popularize this type of home desktop 3D printing. "In Qingquan's view, at present, 3D printing technology is the biggest advantage is personalized customization;" If the future and traditional industrial manufacturing, the implementation of mass production, this is the 3D printing technology and the opposite. ”