Think 3D Printing Won’t Be in the Spotlight at CES 2017? Think Again!

This Thursday marks the official opening of the 50th annual CES event, and 3DPrint.com is thrilled that we’re going to be in attendance this year. In 2016, we traveled around the world to report from several of the biggest trade shows in the 3D printing industry, but we’re especially excited about CES 2017, as we’ll get to not only see some brand new 3D technology, but plenty of other cutting-edge tech as well.

There’s going to be a lot of focus on new technology such as the Internet of Things, smart wearables, and virtual and augmented reality, but 3D printing will by no means be in the shadows this year, despite what some think. If you’re a regular reader of 3DPrint.com, you’re well aware that 3D printing is constantly evolving – there’s something new every day, even if the technology as a whole is less shiny and brand-new as, say, smart clothing (in the development of which 3D printing has played a significant role, let’s not forget).

While many media outlets, understandably, will be focused on the newest and flashiest technology introduced at CES, we’ll be there to shine a spotlight on the many 3D printing companies that will be exhibiting. Several major 3D printing announcements and product reveals have happened at CES in past years, and we expect that this year will be no different. Our inboxes have been overflowing with invitations and requests for interviews, and we’re looking forward to meeting with companies such as Shining 3D, which recently received the Electronics Industry Product of the Year Award for the EinScan-Pro and will be unveiling the EinScan-Pro+ this week; and ZMorph, which will be showing off their recently released 2.0 SX Multitool 3D printer.

Among additional companies we’ll be chatting with include Formlabs, Fuel3D, Sculpteo, Artec, Nano Dimension (we get to see the DragonFly 2020 in person again!), Glowforge (let’s see what’s really going on there), WhiteClouds, LulzBot, Markforged and other major players in the 3D printing industry. There’s a lot to be excited about in the official 3D printing track for CES 2017, too. According to the TCT Group, sponsor of CES, the main focal points of this year’s 3D printing forums will be:

• 3D printing for health and fitness: How 3D printing will impact our physical wellbeing
• 3D printing for transport: How 3D printing will help evolve how we move both locally and globally
• 3D printing and the IoT: How 3D Printing will enable a new class of connected devices

That’s just the start of the 3D printing-related excitement that we’re anticipating as we head off to Las Vegas. While we love attending shows centered on the 3D printing and additive manufacturing industry, there’s something even more thrilling about seeing how our favorite technology fits in with the rest of the tech world. 3D technology, after all, has played a role in the development of much of the most-anticipated tech people are buzzing about this year.

We’ll be taking a close look at how 3D design and printing have helped to shape the other technology on display at CES, but we certainly won’t be ignoring the rest of the array of gadgets and gizmos aplenty (or the whosits and whatsits galore, for that matter). 3D printed or not, nothing is going to keep us from tomorrow’s Drone Rodeo, for one thing. Stay tuned for what’s sure to be a fantastic week in tech! Discuss in the CES 2017 forum at 3DPB.com.