Future of 3D printing is in US and Europe patenting

A medical worker tests a Decathlon snorkeling mask upgraded with 3D-printed respiratory valves fittings on March 27 at the Erasme Hospital in Brussels, Belgium. — AFP

The future of manufacturing may lie with companies like Italy’s Isinnova SRL, which saw a need for respirator valves in its Covid-19-stricken area and was able make hundreds in two days using 3D printing rather than waiting a week for ones made in Chinese factories.

It’s an example of how the United States and Europe are leading in innovation in additive manufacturing, better known as 3D printing, according to a new study by the European Patent Office. While a relatively small number of patents are issued each year, it’s the fastest-growing technology field, with companies like General Electric Co, Raytheon Technologies Corp and Siemens AG getting the most patents.