Leaving Frankfurt...

The Atomic Layers: S4E22 (00108)

Atomic Layer of the Day:

Guys, this is a short post written at the airport while waiting for my flight back to Poland. A huge thank you to everyone I had the chance to meet and talk with. If you were at the show, wanted to meet but couldn’t, feel free to reach out via LinkedIn or email, and I hope we can connect next time (at the latest, next year).

In the coming days (and probably weeks), I’ll be sharing broader observations about what I saw and my thoughts on it.

I have some rather rough reflections about certain companies and am deeply impressed by what others are doing. Aside from a few exceptions, let me just say this: Western AM is still holding its ground, but Eastern AM is catching up.

You might not see it yet in the number of units sold or revenue figures, but that’s going to change soon. For some – unfortunately. For others – fortunately.

It’s the unending cycle of life. The new replaces the old, and at this show, it was strikingly clear just how old some Western companies have become...

---

Atomic Layer from the Past:

11-22-2013: Philadelphia became the first city in the world to formally ban 3D-printed firearms.

---

News & Gossips:

1. Crazy story at the VoxelDance stand yesterday. The Chinese company specializing in AM software was visited by German authorities, who confiscated most of the items at their booth (primarily computers). The reason? Allegedly, VoxelDance hacked and redistributed software from a prominent Western company, presenting it as their own original work. Allegedly, because all parties remain silent on the matter—VoxelDance for obvious reasons, and the wronged company seemingly unwilling to draw attention to the controversy. For more details (including a photo), head over to 3DPrint.com (Joris Peels' article).

2. I hear that a certain prominent company from Central Europe, known for producing popular 3D printers, is treating its partners like shit. Based on what I saw and heard over the past four days, it seems that someone very well-known in the industry has lost touch. If the person doesn’t come back to reality quickly, there will be nohing to return to.

3. I’m also hearing that in the West, the money for R&D has dried up. That’s why we saw what we saw at the trade fair.