While mass production certainly helps to speed up the production of furniture, one-of-a-kind items that take some time to create are now becoming desirable once again as 3D-printed furniture becomes more popular. Rather than being crafted by hand, these unique pieces are powered by machine and take hours to be completed. For instance, Janne Kyttanen's 3D-printed lounge chair was created with a large-scale 3D Systems printer and took about 840 hours—or about five weeks of continuous printing—to come to life.
The metal lounger plated in copper was on display at this year's CES 2015 show, available for anyone to take a seat in. Despite featuring an airy design and minimal materials, the lounger has a cellular structure that makes it capable of supporting an adult with ease.
3D-Printed Loungers
This Piece of 3D Printed Furniture Takes Over 800 Hours to Create
Trend Themes
1. Return of One-of-a-kind Furniture - 3D-printed furniture allows unique pieces to be created and offers an opportunity for customization for consumers.
2. Long Printing Times for Large Pieces - The long printing times required for large 3D-printed furniture pieces indicate a need for increased efficiency in the technology and production process.
3. Hybrid Materials in 3d-printed Furniture - Exploring the use of different materials, such as copper plating, in conjunction with 3D-printed elements can create new and innovative furniture designs.
Industry Implications
1. Furniture Manufacturing - The rise of 3D-printed furniture creates a new area of opportunity for traditional furniture manufacturers looking to incorporate technology into their processes.
2. Home Decor - Consumers seeking unique and customizable furniture pieces may look to home decor companies for 3D-printed options.
3. Materials Science - The use of new and innovative materials in conjunction with 3D-printing technology offers opportunities for materials science companies to develop and test novel materials for use in furniture manufacturing.