Disruptive 3D Printing

This book unites the two sides of additive manufacturing: 1) the technical aspect of 3D printing of very different materials and 2) the disruptive consequences for value chains between producers, intermediaries, and customers due to modern business models. This is because 3D printing breaks with many existing business models: companies take over functions from their previous suppliers (following the 'do-it-yourself' trend), intermediaries lose their livelihood (so-called 'disintermediation'), manufacturers move their production to decentralized locations (e.g., retailers, car dealerships, or hospitals, so-called 'decentralized production'), and (end) customers become much more intensive 'prosumers' than marketing (as creator of this term) could ever imagine.
The business models of many existing companies from very different industries are becoming toxic, i.e., threatening their very existence, as in logistics and warehousing, industry, services, retail, or customer service. Conversely, there are also many opportunities for modern, existence-securing business models, which the book discusses in more detail. In this way, this book not only shows to a broad range of readers the dangers of disruptive 3D printing technology, but also offers solution approaches and procedural models for identifying new economic livelihoods and competitive advantages. Thanks to the collaboration of the two authors, a profound knowledge of already existing references and management models can be drawn upon.

Ralf Anderhofstadt is head of the Center of Competence Additive Manufacturing and the consulting unit 'AMS - Additive Manufacturing Solutions - Daimler Truck' as well as project manager of the cross-functional 3D printing project within Daimler Truck. For several years he and his teams have been in charge of introducing industrial 3D printing into the various processes at Daimler Truck. This includes the management and integration of numerous national and international areas within the group, with the aim of developing a digital 3D printing business model. At the same time, he is active in the VDI expert committee 'Legal framework conditions for additive manufacturing', works as a lecturer with focus on 3D printing and is a trainer for numerous training courses within the field of additive manufacturing. Additional to this he is a member of the advisory board of Verband 3D-Druck e. V. His first book Disruptive 3D-Druck (Disruptive 3D Printing) was published in German by Hanser Verlag in August 2022.