Industrial conglomerate GE is eyeing additional corporate acquisitions in 3D printing to complement deals it made in 2016, according to an April 20 article from Bloomberg.
GE sees the ability to use 3D printing to create complex parts as one of the most disruptive innovations in the manufacturing industry in decades, said David Joyce, GE's vice chair of 3D printing, in the article. The business is becoming both a new product line and a central piece of the company's effort to modernize its operations and boost productivity.
The article characterizes GE as "racing" to beat competitors such as Siemens and United Technologies, which are also integrating 3D printing into their operations. Joyce said GE will expand its 3D operations through both acquisitions and organic growth, according to the article.
In 2016, GE acquired European 3D printing firms Arcam and Concept Laser. The company hopes to sell 9,000 3D printers to external customers in industries such as automotive, medical, and aerospace, Bloomberg reported. GE is the parent company of GE Healthcare.
