Page 42 - Plastics News - January 2024

FEATURE

ing fulfilled more regularly via additive thing like it did back then. While some close for its own larger saga. Stratasys
manufacturing. Production facilities big pure-play AM companies have also almost acquired Desktop Metal.
operating the same equipment with decades of operating history — think Nano Dimension placed several failed
the same materials can ostensibly 3D Systems, Stratasys, EOS — most bids to acquire Stratasys. After all that,
make exactly the same part from are newer kids on the industry block. both primary players in the saga have
the same file on different continents. Industry restructuring has been an on- announced restructuring plans, with
That’s a reality today, and is becoming going process, with 2023 particularly Stratasys divesting one of its metal
more remarkable the more adoption facing some upheaval and subverted parts-making facilities as well as a ure-
rises. Engineers in Singapore can email expectations. In particular, the failed thane facility.
a file to their colleagues in Dubai and merger of 3D Systems and Stratasys In the midst of all of this, of course,
share it with those in Silicon Valley, built up and then collapsed a full re- global conditions are impacting busi-
with each able to hold up the same shaping of the top of the pure-play ness. Stratasys, Nano Dimension,
finished part on a team Zoom chat.
public companies. It’s also notable and other major 3D-printing indus-
This particular promise is a maturing that those first patents from the 1980s try players have their headquarters
one, as it is already in evidence — so belong to these companies, which and significant operations in Israel.
its inclusion on this list is a pleasant originated fused deposition modeling The ongoing war in Israel since Oc-
reminder that AM is already within (FDM; Stratasys) and stereolithogra- tober naturally has a major effect on
reach. phy (SLA; 3D Systems) technologies companies with personnel in the area.
that remain mainstays of today’s 3D- Nano Dimension, for example, initial-
Industry reshaping
printing world. ly announced operations as usual, but
The first patents for 3D-printing tech- has since canceled its extraordinary
nologies as we know them today were While the 3D Systems/Stratasys news shareholders general meeting (EGM)
filed in the 1980s. The processes don’t was the biggest of the year, it was the planned for December 2023.
look like they did 40 years ago, and billboard for larger trends, as well as
the industry itself doesn’t look any- the headline for dramatic failures-to-

2023: the year’s champions in the packaging sector

responsibility.

These pressures forced the packaging
sector to chart new and more chal-
lenging routes to market, compelling
businesses to adapt and innovate in
response to the changing landscape.
Economic uncertainty and rising costs
of goods prompted consumers to re-
consider budgets and discretionary
spending.

In response, brands across various
categories utilised messaging, tech-
nology, and retail strategies to dem-
n a challenging year that impacted The packaging industry in 2023 faced onstrate how packaging innovations
Ievery business, a select few stood a multitude of challenges stemming could help consumers stretch their
out for their resilience in an environ- from global influences such as en- budgets.
ment where survival hinged on inno- vironmental concerns, geopolitical
vation and adaptability. conflicts, inflation, social issues, legal Despite these efforts, many business-
challenges, and extended producer es experienced a decline in revenue

42 PLASTICS NEWSASTICS NEWS January 2024
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