Printers have a chance to cash in on the "mindblowing" possibilities of 3D printing as it prepares to make its PICAs debut.
Western Australia will become the first state to offer a 3D award when it hosts its PICAs ceremony on 24 August.
Only one 3D entry has been received, but interest is expected to increase in coming years, said the Printing Industries Association of Australia's state general manager, Paul Nieuwhof.
"We want people to think about it, because it would be a shame to miss the boat," he told ProPrint.
"It's mind-blowing to think how many things it can be used for… 3D printing is out there, and somewhere along the line, one would hope printers would see the commercial opportunities in it."
Nieuwhof said demand for 3D printing would rise and that the day might come when clients called on their local print shop for 3D manufacturing.
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"If you're going to be staying in this industry, you've got to look at what new technologies are out there," he said.
3D printing made its PacPrint debut in May courtesy of Tasman Machinery. The vendor's sales & marketing manager, Dominic Parsonson, said commercial printers could capitalise on 3D technology – but warned it would be difficult.
He told ProPrint that 3D printing was very different from commercial printing, and that the similar names were almost the only thing they had in common.
However, he said print businesses could use that confusion to their benefit, because a lot of clients would turn to them first for 3D manufacturing. He added that they were also in the fortunate position of having "fantastic access to a diverse range of markets".
Parsonson said the actual printing was the easy part, because "you just push a button". He said the challenge was learning how to manipulate 3D digital files and design in 3D.
"It could potentially keep many print companies going, but it requires a complete change in mindset," he said.
A ProPrint poll found that 60% of respondents believed 3D printing technology was an opportunity for commercial printers.
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