Nov.27, 2013
Printer giant Hewlett-Packard Co. last month said it is working on a 3D printer and expects to have it ready next year. On the company's quarterly financial analyst conference call on Tuesday chief executive Meg Whitman gave 3D printing market a big endorsement and said HP will enter the market organically, not via acquisition.
"This is an acorn in 2014 and 2015 with very good long potential," Whitman characterized 3D printing as an "acorn". "Right, you've heard me say we got to plant acorns than they will eventually become oak trees but you should think in 2014 and 2015. This is an acorn that maybe has very good long potential but the market is at its earlier stages. There's a lot of potential to print in ways most consumers and companies would find acceptable."
HP will have a clear advantage over current players on the market due to its sheer size and superior resources. Entering the field of 3D printing seems to be a very natural thing. "We feel very excited about 3D printing. We want to lead this business."
"So we intend to play in the 3D Printing market because it isn't adjacency. It's obviously different than paper printing but some of the technology is the same. And at least as we see here today, we anticipate adding -- entering this organically. And what we're doing is focusing on what's the value proposition by market segment, whether that be consumer or industrial." said Whitman.
However, it would still take time for HP to gain traction from its future 3D printing business. Whitman said last month the company would employ "new technology" to address the current speed/price issues of 3D printing. She expects 3D printing to take off in the next three years or so.
The company will be unveiling a 3D printer by mid-2014. "We've got some very interesting things coming. So stay tuned in 2014." said Whitman.
Posted in 3D Printing Company
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Actually, there are different ways of printing 3D, and one of them uses printer heads similar to HP inkjet printers, just using a different ink and “paper”. So it would be a natural for HP to go into 3D printing. It’s possible that they develop a different 3D technology based on the inkjet principle, still within the HP family. So don’t count them out.
fernlo wrote at 11/28/2013 4:08:34 PM:
I think that HP are confused. They think that just because they are in a leadership position with 2d printing this will extrapolate to additive manufacturing. What they don't realize is that 3D printing has more in common with CNC lathes and CNC machining centres than it does with desktop printers for your photos and presentations. I'm not holding my breath!
fernlo wrote at 11/28/2013 4:03:31 PM:
Some inkjet/toner cartridges cost more than the purchase price of the printer. Perhaps @Pottertown has never had to buy inkjet/toner cartridges?
Jd90 wrote at 11/28/2013 6:43:09 AM:
Yeah, pennies a page until you try printing photos. A black and white only page won't get printed if the printer inks you're out of one of the colors. Grayscale images use some color ink.
Pottertown wrote at 11/27/2013 5:50:49 PM:
"Killed you" with cartridges? Give me a break. It's pennies a page at worst. I get a kick out of people complaining about printer costs. Why? Because it's not FREE?! Hell, if it were free people would still complain, it's ridiculous.
Mark wrote at 11/27/2013 4:03:40 PM:
Remember when HP bought palm? They had pocket pc's. then they didn't. then they had palm. then they didn't. then they had slate. They can't really ever decide what direction they're going in so I won't hold my breath.
John Doe wrote at 11/27/2013 1:42:52 PM:
Oh, now this becomes much more interesting. Are other giant players of 2D printing also coming to the 3D printing fiesta in the coming years?
fernlo wrote at 11/27/2013 1:18:37 PM:
Oh HP!. Aren't they the company that introduced the inkjet/personal laser printer at below cost and then killed us with ink/toner cartridge prices? I would be impressed by this if HP was the first to do this sort of thing. Unfortunately all they did was copy the typewriter companies that were doing this with their machines and ribbon cartridges. This is not the HP that used to make some of the best scientific and electronics instrumentation and minicomputers in the world. These guys think they are being clever by making vapourware announcements in order to slow down purchasing of mid range kit. An old pre announcing marketing trick. So transparent!
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