IT industry news: 3D printers 'still too pricey for mass market'

07:12 11th July 2011

3D printers won't be on window shelves for a long time because they are still too expensive for massive consumption, according to a spokesperson at IT Pro Portal.

"They are too much of a niche market, too expensive. The product is too expensive to produce. They will find the market is very niche rather than traditional, I doubt it will become as widespread as other printers," the source said.

The spokesperson went on to say the price for such devices depends on demand and supply. "If there is no demand for the product, the price won't come down and vice versa, unless you are big like Apple and can single-handedly push the product forward like the iPod," the person added.

But the expert went on to say that this was very unlikely that major corporations like Apple or Microsoft "suddenly decide that 3D printers are the future of printing".

Separately, a prototype 3D printer that produces layers of chocolate rather than ink or plastic was recently unveiled, it was widely reported.

Posted by Hannah James
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