General Electric is thirsty for "complementary additive technology modalities":
GE, the US industrial jack-of-all-trades, has pledged to invest a whopping $1.4bn in two 3D printing suppliers to boost materials science and improve manufacturing capabilities. Arcam AB and SLM Solutions Group both specialise in metal-based 3D printing with applications ranging from aerospace to the healthcare industry. Both companies are part of GE's wider efforts to expand production and improve existing work on powder metals through the use of 3D printing.
Since 2010, GE has invested $1.5bn in 3D printing, leading to better manufacturing processes and 346 patents in the powdered metals field. [...] 3D printed components are reportedly lighter and more durable than traditionally manufactured parts as because they need less welding and produce less waste material.
Also at Reuters and Bloomberg.
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U.S. technology and engineering conglomerate GE said on Saturday it had signed $15 billion of business deals with Saudi Arabia as part of the kingdom's drive to diversify its economy beyond oil.
It came as dozens of senior U.S. business executives met Saudi counterparts at a conference coinciding with the visit of President Donald Trump to Riyadh.
[...] Among the projects, GE will help make Saudi power generation more efficient and provide digital technology to the operations of oil firm Saudi Aramco, aiming to create $4 billion of annual productivity improvements at Aramco. It will cooperate in medical research and training.
Source: Reuters
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(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 07 2016, @01:01PM
There'll be a Group VP in charge of "materialized printing technology" to whom the two CEOs report to, until they quit (probably one year vest).
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 07 2016, @01:38PM
i'm so glad all this vital technology will remain locked up with these closed source douche bags.
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Wednesday September 07 2016, @01:51PM
Given this line:
I'm sure well see plenty of bullshit litigation used against the little guys.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Wednesday September 07 2016, @02:11PM
More to come [3dprintingindustry.com]
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by tibman on Wednesday September 07 2016, @03:41PM
Maybe. Probably. But i don't think it will affect (hobby) 3d printers much. You'll still be able to order a decent one online that was manufactured (but still disassembled) in china. This kind of litigation will definitely stop US companies from selling their home grown stuff though. Meanwhile the rest of the world will move on : /
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(Score: 1) by WillR on Wednesday September 07 2016, @04:49PM
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 07 2016, @05:06PM
As noted, the home 3D printers use relatively simple, low-temp melted plastic deposition. Do we have any experts here who can predict the next technology that will be suitable for home use (and for which basic patents will run out soon)? It's hard to imagine a low cost laser sintering machine using metal powders...in a home shop...but maybe something like this is possible?
Or maybe the development on the low end will be the ability to make higher quality parts and using higher melting point materials. For example, I've seen some commercially printed Nylon parts that were very nice and strong.