Have you ever thought of a material
“creating” itself on your hands? Some might come up with Bumblebee from the
movie, Transformer. However, the new technology, 4D printing doesn’t need a
motor. This innovation is expected to bring growth in market scale and current
industrial level.
Skylar Tibbits, the founder of the
Self-Assembly Lab at MIT pioneered 4D printing. All might have heard of 3D
printing, which added the aspect of ‘place’ to traditional 2D plane printing.
Now, 4D appeared with the aspect of ‘time,’ joined to 3D. According to Tibbits,
‘where 3D printing simply creates a dimensional object, 4D printed objects are
constructed using “smart materials” which can be activated by various stimuli
such as heat, water, current, sound or pressure.’
An
expansion of market scale with 4D printing has potential profit. Prof. Sung-il
Ham prospected 4D printing industry will increase the market size up to around
\60billion ($51,458 million) by 2025. According to a new market research report
published by MarketsandMarkets, the total 4D printing market will be valued at
$63 million by 2019, and it’s expected to reach a staggering $555.6 million by
2025. As the scale of the market enlarges, more and more companies will enter
into the industry to earn value and gain.
Moreover, the magnificent technique will
upgrade industrial level. As you know, delivery cost is related to the weight.
If the minimum size of material is produced making full use of 4D printing,
this light product will be delivered to a consumer and then build itself into
the final object. As such, 4D printing will minimize the space occupation and
transportation expenses, which is good news for companies. The innovation also
draws medical field with regard to medical implants. Patients can be treated by
simplified and minimized nano-product, such as artificial bone, which shape
shifts itself after put it into the body. Jin-yee Seo, a leader of technical
information analysis center of KISTI, explained 4D printing can be used in
various areas but will groundbreaking development in medical sector related to
artificial fingers, joints, and so on.
In
conclusion, there are bright outlooks with market scale and industry level due
to 4D printing technique. Let’s be proud of our world in the aspect of keeping
on challenge and evolution.
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