It seems to be the nightmare of every transport and warehousing company: the rise of 3D printing. After all, parts no longer need to be transported because they are printed on site. Yet courier service UPS has decided to embrace rather than counter this threat. The US company plans to deploy 3D printers in Europe and Asia.
UPS currently derives much of its revenue from storing and shipping parts for manufacturers. If those customers switch to 3D printing, UPS will see its revenue drop significantly. That has prompted the US company to join the 3D revolution. "3D printing offers opportunities, but of course it is also a threat to our business," UPS told Reuters.
In the United States, UPS has been active with 3D printing since May. There, the company has a factory, to which customers can send designs that are then printed and shipped. All parts are printed in plastic. Sixty UPS branches also have smaller 3D printers that can print small parts. Soon, UPS plans to start the service in Asia and Europe as well. The factory in Asia would be located in Singapore or Japan, Reuters writes. In Europe, the location is still unclear. A logical choice would be Cologne, where a major UPS operations hub is located.
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