HP And Deloitte Announces Alliance To Boost 3D Printing Technology For Enterprise

(Chinese Version)

HP’s CEO Dion Weisler (left) and Deloitte Global’s CEO Punit Renjen at the press conference announcing the alliance

HP is betting on the next emerging market——3D printing technology’s mass adoption in the manufacturing sector.

Manufacturing enterprises in the world are looking for digital transformation. Driven by this trend, HP, a 78-year-old company that has a deep technological accumulation in printing, has already started to look for the next growth driver three years ago. In 2016, HP officially launched its 3D printing terminal product for enterprise.

HP has been actively searching for a partner around the world. And this time, HP chooses to work with Deloitte. Together the two company will collaborate on the digital transformation of the global manufacturing industry.

HP and Deloitte, one specializes in printing technology and one renowned for its leading role in enterprise digital transformation, are targeting large scale manufacturing companies. The company that’s best at selling products and the accounting firm that’s best at solving clients’ issues have sat together and announced their vision of finding the next global market.

The two companies will collaborate on the implementation of HP’s 3D printing systems in large-scale manufacturing environments, applying their unrivaled digital operations experience to help enterprises accelerate product design and production, create more flexible manufacturing and supply chains, and optimize efficiency across the manufacturing lifecycle.

Deloitte Global’s CEO Punit Renjen stated at the press conference that: 

“Our cooperation with HP will not exclude the opportunity of working with other companies. Of course, we will not only help HP sell products. We will continue to bring about tailored and optimal solutions for Deloitte’s client.”

After a spin-off listing two years ago, HP Enterprise and HP Inc. now have a firm grip on the PC and printing sector. Both companies’ share prices have surged by 200% in 2016. In fact, it’s very natural for HP to choose this time period to stimulate and move into an emerging industry.

In 2015, 3D printing technology developed for enterprise use was still in the hype cycle. It was at the very right side of the cycle, entering the Slope of Enlightenment. That said, 3D printing technology developed for enterprise use is no longer an emerging tech, and would enter the mainstream application in two to five years. 

Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies, 2015

In 2016, it eventually grew out of the cycle, signifying that it might truly complete the R&D process. This means 3D printing technology for enterprise would penetrate the manufacturing industry and get hold of the opportunity to upgrade this particular industry. In the very same year, HP’s very first 3D printing product was launched.

In early 2016, HP unveiled its first 3D printer, Multi-Jet Fusion 3200. based on the company’s proprietary Multi Jet Fusion technology, that uses an HP Thermal Inkjet array to print chemical agents across a thin layer of powder laid down in the working area. This model, being sold at a starting price of $130,000, is mainly used for printing prototypes. In addition to that, HP also rolled out an all-in-one solution that includes the processing station. On June 13th, 2017, HP China (Shanghai) officially launched Multi-Jet Fusion printing solution in the greater China region, expanding its agent plan to this very market and pushing the distribution of its products in the Chinese market.

Multi-Jet Fusion 4200, a much more powerful printer, was launched into the market in November last year. On August 24th, our journalist at TMTPost saw an operating Multi-Jet Fusion 4200 when visiting HP Lab in the Silicon Valley.

An operation Multi-Jet Fusion 4200. Image by Yang Jin at TMTPost.

According to HP Labs’ staff, most of Multi-Jet Fusion 4200’s components were also produced by 3D printing technology. This is part of the MJF Station. Image by Yang Jin at TMTPost.

“The adoption of 3D printing technology is becoming mainstream. The most important element here is the development of new materials,” Timothy L. Weber, global head of 3D Materials and Advanced Applications at HP told TMTPost. And therefore, the Open Platform for Materials is an indispensable part of HP’s plan of building a 3D printing technology ecosystem. Leading material providers, including Evonik, Arkema, BASF, Henkel, and Lehmann & Voss, are already collaborating partners.

In the Chinese market, Sinopec Yanshan Petrochemical has joined the platform as a partner, who will utilize Multi Jet Fusion technology and HP’s 3D printer to develop polyolefine powder.

Instead of attributing this progress to technological advancement and the efforts made by industry leaders like HP, we could say that factories around the world are undergoing an enlightenment process.

“The top three markets, in terms of market potential and the acceptance of 3D printing technology, are aeronautical manufacturing, healthcare, and car model,” John Dulchinos, vice president of Global Automation and 3D Printing at Jabil Circuit, said. The supply chain upgrade of these three industries will forge a large market for 3D printing solutions.

Jabil Circuit, Inc. established in 1966 with headquarters in St. Petersburg, Florida, is listed company specializes in supply chain solution, and a partner of HP MJK printing solution. Jabil currently operates over 20 factories in China.

Every factory in the world shares a simple demand, which is using 3D printer increase innovation, accelerate time-to-market, reduce costs and waste. This will ultimately boost companies’ competitiveness and drive them to embrace 3D printing.

With that also comes a challenge for all: Once 3D printing technology is mainstreamed, the demand for manufacturing talents of the next generation will emerge.

Timothy L. Weber, global head of 3D Materials and Advanced Applications at HP, said in an interview with TMTPost that:

“In the upcoming decade, engineers will still lead the manufacturing industry. However, future engineers would need better design ability and technological skills. We need to help nurture talents of the next generation for this market, from early education to higher education, especially for a market like China. Just like in the past, we watched TV growing up. But today, the young generation have smartphones. And it’s for sure that the kids in the future would have something else.”

In 2020, the market scale of the global 3D printing market would reach $3.54 billion, says IDC’s forecast. It seems that what HP is truly betting on is the explosion brought by the fourth industrial revolution. “No sector of the global economy is undergoing more radical transformation than the US$12 trillion manufacturing market,” said Dion Weisler, President and CEO, HP Inc.

3D printing was introduced to the world over 30 years ago. But it wasn’t until recently it started to transform from an emerging technology to a commercialized technology. Now this technology is waiting for next wave of business explosion. “We always have the technologies. And they are just looking for a new way out,” said Chris Anderson, former editor-in-chief of Wired and founder of 3D Robotics, and author of Makers: The New Industrial Revolution.

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Translated by Garrett Lee (Senior Translator at PAGE TO PAGE), working for TMTpost.

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