3D printing has evolved in 20 years from an experimental technology to a fully mature production tool, with companies now ordering series of thousands of units instead of just prototypes. This transformation mirrors the journey of Dave Vanhove from a vocational school teacher who experimented after school hours with polyjet and FDM, to an entrepreneur serving industrial clients with MJF technology.
Twenty years ago, Dave Vanhove taught students Industrial Sciences and Electromechanics at the VTI in Zeebrugge. With a background in mold construction and sufficient experience as a teacher, he immediately saw that 'this new technology' had potential. 'This new technology' was how people looked at 3D printing two decades ago. And 3D printing was indeed no hype. It meant a shift in how parts could be designed and manufactured. The students benefited from it at the time, but Dave himself also reveled in the possibilities of additive manufacturing.
How Did 3ID Grow from a Garage Business to an Industrial 3D Printing Specialist?
The evolution took place in clear steps:
- Experimentation phase: after school hours, Dave experimented at home with Polyjet technology and Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
- Expansion phase: Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) was added. The garage filled with machines, materials, and projects
- Entrepreneurial phase: side business becomes main activity, garage becomes business premises in Torhout
- Specialization phase: the garage was exchanged for business premises in Torhout, the side business became a real company and 3iD was born.
What Has Changed in the 3D Printing Sector in 20 Years?
3D printing has shifted from an exotic technology for early adopters to a fully mature production tool. Companies no longer order just one prototype to test. They order series of hundreds or thousands of units because quality, lead time, and flexibility are guaranteed.
The first generation of engineers and product developers for whom 3D printing is no longer a special technology but simply an available tool is now active. That difference is gradually becoming noticeable. 'Can we print this?' is making way for 'Can we look at the design differently because we are 3D printing it?' That shift from experimental to integrated thinking is a fact.
Prototyping remains important, but the boundary with full series production is blurring. What starts as one prototype can be scaled up to thousands of units without new investments. That seamless transition was not yet a given twenty years ago. Now it is.
How Does 3iD Combine Technological Growth with Sustainable Production?
3iD runs largely on self-generated solar energy. The investment in batteries makes production possible day and night without fossil fuels. Material recovery ensures that 80% of the 'unprinted' powder is reused. Sustainability and technological evolution reinforce each other. Economic growth remains a prerequisite to stay relevant and to continue doing what Dave enjoys: developing and making 3D printed parts in small and medium-sized runs.
Why Is 3D Printing No Longer a Niche Today?
Twenty years later, the fascination for the technology has not disappeared. The difference is that 3D printing as a method has matured. It has evolved from an experimental tool to a reliable production process. From a garage full of machines to a company that delivers series of thousands of units. From a teacher who experiments after school hours, to an entrepreneur serving industrial clients.
That evolution reflects what has happened in the sector. 3D printing is no longer a niche. It is a fully mature production technology that continues to grow. And we have not seen the last of it by far.
Wondering whether rapid prototyping via 3D printing is worthwhile for your project?
Contact 3iD at info@3idprinting.be or visit www.3idprinting.be
Frequently Asked Questions about the Evolution of 3D Printing
What has changed in 20 years of 3D printing?
Twenty years ago, 3D printing was still an exotic technology. Today it is a fully mature production tool. Companies no longer order just one prototype to test; they order series of hundreds or thousands of units.
How important is sustainability in the process?
3iD runs largely on self-generated solar energy. The investment in batteries makes production possible day and night, without fossil fuels. Material recovery ensures that 80% of the 'unprinted' powder is reused.
What does '3D thinking' mean?
The first generation of engineers and product developers for whom 3D printing is no longer a special technology but simply an available tool is now active. 'Can we print this?' is making way for 'Can we look at the design differently because we are 3D printing it?'
