“We created the Total 3D Printing Index to track the performance of the 3D printing market as a whole,” Keeney wrote of the ETF in September. “3D Printing, or more broadly, additive manufacturing, is the process of building objects layer-by-layer instead of using a mold or removing material from a larger block. This allows for radically new part architectures, decreased costs, reduced weight, and shorter time to production.
ARK believes that continued innovations and improvements in material and printer capabilities will accelerate the adoption and create new applications for additive manufacturing. As the manufacturing industry faces increased pressure to cut cost and gain efficiencies, we think 3D printing provides the core value propositions of higher productivity, lower costs, and better agility.
ARK projects long-term growth opportunities are ahead! As with most disruptive technologies, there is an adjustment period: Let’s remember that it took a while for factories to realize the necessity of moving from the steam engine to electricity. It’s the same with 3D printing.”
An earlier attempt in the space was the 3D Printing and Technology Fund (a mutual fund) that launched in January 2014 but was shuttered in late 2015 after failing to attract more than only a few million dollars of investments.
The Top 10 Index Holdings in the 3D printing market as of 10/06/2016