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HP is working on developing 3D printing technology, with a reveal planned for the middle of 2014, says the company’s CEO.
Meg Whitman made the announcement at the Canalys Channels Forum in Bangkok.
"We are excited about 3D printing," Whitman said.
"We want to lead this business. HP Labs is looking at it," she added, saying that to enter the market would be an ideal move for the printer manufacturer.
Whitman went on to say that HP’s main focus in its 3D printing research would be the time and cost required to print.
"To print a bottle can take eight to ten hours. That’s all very interesting, but it is like watching ice melt,” she explained.
“[HP is asking:] ‘How do we commercialise to print faster, at lower price points?’”
HP had previously tried to enter the 3D printing market, Luis Casado, global business director of print production solutions at HP, told PCR, but the business fell apart when a 3D printing partner failed to excite the company.
“Concerning 3D printing, we did partner with a company,” Casado said.
“The projection given to us was not interesting enough and so the partnership stopped and HP drew out of 3D printing.”
On HP’s plans to re-enter the market, Whitman said that the company should have “something” to show off in mid-2014.
"3D printing is in its infancy," she said. "It is a big opportunity and we are all over it. We will have something by the middle of next year."
