3D printing, or additive manufacturing, is the process of making three-dimensional solid objects from a digital file. 3D printers make objects based on a virtual design by laying down successive layers of material until the object is complete. As 3D printing continues to evolve it has the potential to transform almost every major industry, and education is no exception.
While 3D printing is something most in the education industry are aware of, it’s yet to find its way into the majority of schools across the U.S. However, that should be changing very soon. According to recent report by Research and Markets the 3D printing market in education is expected to grow at a CAGR of 48.33% from 2014-2019. Much of this growth can be attributed to the United States K-12 education system increasing emphasis on advancing digital literacy in STEM and STEAM education, as well as a recent uptick in higher education students graduating in STEM fields.
Obviously, this represents a major opportunity for resellers in the coming years. However, since 3D printers are still so new to education, resellers hoping to take advantage of the sales potential will need to commit to becoming an expert on the technology and how to use it in order to see the best results.
Sources: 3DPrinting.com, Research and Markets, 3D Systems
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