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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 15 O C T O B E R 2 0 , 2 0 2 5 F O C U S M A N U FA C T U R I N G / I N T E R N AT I O N A L T R A D E But there are also obstacles, as flagged in a report by MarketsandMarkets, a market research company based in India. It cites high initial investments — in hardware, software, materials and education — as a significant barrier to adopting the technology while noting that smaller desktop printers offer an easy-to-use, less expensive alternative. 3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing that entails creating an object by adding one layer at a time until a three-dimensional object is formed. While the technique has been around since the 1980s, modern printers can handle a much broader array of materi- als, allowing for faster and more nimble product development at a fraction of the cost of traditional manufacturing. It also offers high customization. Dabblers and 'shining stars' In Maine, companies from early- stage startups to established manu- facturers are 3D printing a range of parts and products. "A lot of them are dabbling, but you also have some shining stars of companies really putting 3D printing through its paces," says John Belding, director of the University of Maine's Advanced Manufacturing Center and co-director of its Center for Additive Manufacturing of Metals. While he counts aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney among the "shining stars," he says 3D printing is also attractive for smaller companies which may need a part in thousands of units rather than millions to make an injection mold that might otherwise be very expensive. at's definitely a plus for Pratt & Whitney, a large employer in North Berwick that aims to use 3D printing to make jet engine parts in a process that project manager Brad Williams says will offer several advantages. C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » Pure Confidence. Custom DI Solutions from Culligan. Culligan Deionizer Exchange Systems provide high-purity water essential for industries like laboratories, electronics manufacturing, food & beverage, healthcare, and more. Using advanced ion exchange resins, we reduce impurities * to meet your facility's exact standards. Our DI solutions are customizable and supported by expert service technicians who regenerate or replace tanks as needed. Whether you need new tanks, regeneration of your existing ones, or a rental solution—we've got you covered. Call us today at (207) 846-5061 or visit WTE-Inc.com to customize your DI solution. Let Culligan deliver the purity your process demands. 915 U.S. Route 1, Yarmouth * I M P U R I T I E S M AY N O T B E I N YO U R WAT E R . H A L E Y WA R D HALEYWARD.COM ENGINEERING THE DETAILS THAT POWER MAINE MANUFACTURING Trusted by the Hammond Lumber Company & beyond Although we think that our boards could be worth a lot more, we want more people to buy them. — Mike Ballin Blueprint Surf

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