US transport company UPS is going to print its own products. This is a notable move, as 3D printing basically means less need to be transported. And thus there would be less work for UPS.
Threat or added value?
Nevertheless, UPS recently installed 100 industrial 3D printers at its Louisville facility, Paazl writes. With these, it will print products for private and business users. UPS itself also says it does not yet know whether 3D printing is a threat or an addition. "It challenges UPS as a logistics company, but we can also embrace it," he says. And embrace it, the company does. Last year, UPS already announced that users could go to the UPS Store to print prototypes of a particular product. UPS did draw up a long list of prohibited products, though, to prevent customers from wanting to print weapons, for example.
Read also:Amazon wants 3D printing at consumer's front door
Important in 3D printer production
UPS thinks that 3D printers will play a major role in manufacturing companies in the future. The printer would especially come in handy when manufacturing prototypes. Thanks to the printer, these prototypes could be quickly tested and improved. UPS experienced this like no other. A floor bracket used to load its Airbus A300 aircraft was obsolete in a number of places. The 3D printer was used to produce a new bracket within a few hours, which could be tested immediately.
3D printing at other carriers
According to Paazl, UPS is not the only carrier scanning 3D printing. TNT Express is testing a number of machines in Germany. FedEx also seems to be embracing the trend. DHL, on the other hand, concluded that only 2 to 4 per cent of its goods flow from Asia to Europe could be printed. Moreover, the carrier found out that printed products could rarely experience their equivalents.
Editorial LogistiekProfs
