Looks like those big wigs in charge of the largest electronics event for consumers in the world finally took home just how important 3D printing is. This year will be the first that 3D printing technology is featured at International CES with its own track of speakers and an entire TechZone devoted to 3D printers and 3DP services. And guess what? Danielle and I get to go! With the conference held at everyone’s favorite simulacrum, Las Vegas will finally viva!
TCT Magazine + Personalize are leading the conference track, titled “Don’t Believe the Hype? – 3D Printing Uncovered” on January 8th. The speakers will include the CEO of Mcor Technologies, Conor MacCormack, who will not only discuss Mcor’s partnership with Staples and the company’s general success over the year, but also his vision of consumer 3D printing. As Rachel wrote about last week, the CEO sees every consumer owning their own fabricator, saying, “I relish our industry’s challenge of creating a 3D printer for everyone, an ecosystem to support it and the true democratisation of innovation.” Attendees will also hear from Avi Reichental, CEO of 3D Systems, and Todd Grimm of TA Grimm Associates, as well as CEO of Sculpteo Clément Moreau.
The event will feature experts who are not directly associated 3D printer companies, as well. Paul Brody of IBM will use his experience as the Vice President and Global Industry Leader of Electronics at the company to reflect on how 3D printing will challenge traditional manufacturing as it relates to consumers. The Techincal Design Manager at Under Armour, Alan Guyan, will show off the ways that 3D printing has changed sportswear. Legacy Effects, which we’ve covered a few times on 3DPI, will reveal the ways that the technology has changed how the Hollywood special effects company has worked on films like Iron Man, Avatar and Pacific Rim.
The 3D Printing TechZone will also be sponsored by TCT Magazine + Personalize, located in the LVCC South Hall 3 at CES. There, attendees will be privvy to a huge list of exhibitors, including many of the major 3D printer manufacturers with consumer machines, such as: Makerbot / Stratasys, 3D Systems, Afinia, Beijing Tiertime Technology (the makers of the Up!), and EnvisionTec. Though I’m excited to see all of them, I’m most interested in seeing the FormLabs, AIO Zeus, and Robox 3D printers in person. I’ve also got plans to see some of the 3D scanning tech, like the Structure Sensor and the Sixense MakeVR, to see how they use their software for 3D printing.
The CES event, as ever, is going to be big! That’s 150,000 visitors from around the world potentially exposing themselves to 3D printing in the City of Sin. Needless to say, I can’t wait! Tune in for “Fear and Loathing at International CES” next month!
