The founders have filed for six patents in the 3D Fortify company, which specializes in 3D materials and printing. … [+]
According to a report from the European Patent Office, Berlin, global patent filings in 3D printing technology between 2013 and 2020 increased eight times faster than all other technology fields combined. Additive Manufacturing Innovation Trends.
“This revolutionary approach to manufacturing is quickly maturing from a niche market to a disruptive force impacting value chains in a wide range of sectors,” the report found.
More than 8,000 3D printing-related international patent families (IPFs) — or patent applications filed in multiple countries to protect the same invention — were published in 2020 alone, accounting for over 2% of all patents. Patent data can provide valuable insights into the technology landscape as 3D printing evolves.
Healthcare, medical and transportation are the top three sectors in which 3D printing (also known as additive manufacturing, AM) is leading the way with innovation. “AM’s capabilities prove particularly advantageous for patient-specific implants, anatomical models, and dental applications,” according to the study.
Patents in the field of 3D printing include machines, 3D printers, processes, materials, software, and applications.
Texas-based Essentium is the owner of more than 150 patents, including patents pending. These patents are related to their industrial 3D. … [+]
U.S. and Europe Drive AM Innovation
Europe, and Germany in particular, is close behind, accounting for 33% of the total patents filed between 2001-2020. These three regions together account for 73% worldwide AM innovation. China’s contribution remains relatively small, at 4%.
General Electric and other large technology companies are not the only ones that can be considered.
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On the list are smaller additive manufacturing firms and start-ups. They represent some of most exciting innovations.
Nexa3D is a Californian 3D printer manufacturer and materials supplier. Since 2020, they have filed 14 patents covering everything from 3D print methods and innovations to specific machine parts and improvements in current processes.
3D Fortify – a digital manufacturer based out of Boston – has filed nine Patents related to its Digital Composite Manufacturing platform in the last three year. The company received millions of dollars in government funding for the development of 3D printed tools to replace expensive and time-consuming CNC tools.
Azure Printed Homes is another Californian company that aims to revolutionize the construction industry through its 3D-printing technology. One of the patents, filed in the year 2022, relates to the construction of walls using a continuous bead of material.
Massachusetts-based 6K, a material maker, has filed 16 patents in 2020 for its method of producing metals for additive manufacturing and batteries that is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than current methods.
Essentium is a Texas-based company that produces materials and platforms for industrial 3D printers. These are meant to complement or replace traditional processes. It has filed more than a dozen patents over the past few decades for printer parts, applications, machines and process.
Other US companies who have filed patents related to 3D print in the last couple of years include: Sprintray (dental 3D prints), Sintx Technologies(medical ceramics), Tepha Inc.(tissue engineering), Evolve Additive Solutions (3D polymer printing), Relativity Space (3D printers, methods and metal materials), Seurat Tech (3D materials and printers), Adaptive 3D Tech (4D materials), Paxis LLC (3D printers, methods and materials), Paxis LLC (Poly
Harvard University and MIT are just a few of the universities and research organizations that contribute to 12 percent of 3D printed innovations. This is especially true in the health field.
Nexa3D, a 3D printer manufacturer, has filed 14 patents since 2020.
What’s Being Patented?
By 2020, approximately 22 3D-printing-related patents will be filed each day. Patents in the medical field for implants and prostheses have grown four-fold from 2012. In the last few years, dozens of patents have been filed on bioresorbable implants made by 3D printing.
Aerospace is included in the transportation sector, and aviation companies are using 3D-printing to create lightweight parts which reduce fuel consumption. Polymers dominated patents in materials, but they also included biomatierals and metals. Ceramics and glass were also included, as well as cements and concrete.
Most of the patents on 3D printing technologies are related to vat polymerization, or resin 3D-printing.
The software and digital sector is the smallest among the 3D technology sectors. However, it has shown the highest growth rate since 2013, 37% per year. The digital sector includes technologies that are related to data processing, digital design tools, and software. Siemens and Autodesk are the two software companies that dominate patents in this sector.
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Recent reports from the European Patent Office indicate that 3D printing is being used in a variety of industries. They represent 3D printing’s emerging fields, despite their small size. In 2020, the food industry will have filed 50 patents, but they may reveal a vast potential. There’s 3D-printed vegetarian proteins, personalized nutritional supplements, and lab-grown meats.
Energy sector has been using 3D printing for years to repair worn out and broken parts. Now, they are shifting their focus to sustainability, leveraging additive manufacturing in order to reduce physical inventory and speed up part production.
“AM has gained significant traction in the consumer goods industry,” the report notes. “This innovative technology is being utilized to produce a wide range of consumer products, including eyewear, footwear, fashion, jewelry, and sports equipment.”
The European Patent Office’s findings show that innovation in AM technology has been accelerating dramatically over the years.