3D printing technology has developed at an astonishing rate and in many surprising directions in recent years. The range of objects that can be printed now includes everything from homes to clothing, and the materials used include various metals, ceramics, glass, food, various types of human tissue, and many more — the list keeps growing. [See a 3D printed chair below] As the cost of 3D printing continues to decline, it is likely to disrupt many fields.
3D printing with wood is in its infancy, but a consortium is being developed by the Swedish government agency Vinnova to develop integrated materials and manufacturing process to produce large-scale 3D printed wood-based objects. The goal of the project is to develop sustainable materials of the future that can be produced locally. According to the project manager Mikael Lindström, “Our vision is to radically change the way we produce everything from furniture, accessories and structural elements to entire buildings. In that way, we lay the groundwork for a new chain of products and services based on 3D-printed wood.”
One source of wood for 3D printing is the 70 million tons of wood waste produced by the construction industry every year in the US alone. An estimated 60% of this waste could be used for 3D printing.
This transformative technology is developing rapidly and has the potential to produce significant direct and indirect effects on the forest products industry, related manufacturing industries, and forestry. Likely effects include expanded wood products markets, increased demand for timber and wood fiber, and lower CO2 emissions due to an increase in locally produced and environmentally friendly materials.
The Houston Foresight program and the US Forest Service Northern Research Station are developing and implementing a horizon scanning system for the USDA Forest Service, Strategic Foresight Group. We will use our blog to feature interesting scan hits from the project.— Dave Bengston
