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The Malta Independent | Thursday 8 October 2015
Design your future in 3D 3D Technology is an ongoing innovation that hit our shores just a few years ago. Edward Borg from ‘Thought 3D’ had a word with the ICT Feature team on the evolvement of 3D technology both globally and locally. Borg together with his partner in crime Keith M.Azzopardi decided to team up their skills to continue contributing in this industry. How recent is 3D technology and when has it arrived to our shores? Additive manufacturing is the first name, given to 3D printing in the early 80s. It is only in these recent years that addictive manufacturing was becoming more known as ‘3D printing’ and this happened after years of experimentation with different methods and materials to materialise the final products. Gaining popularity was the result of the expiring of patents in the field. Another reason is the rapid growth in technology and computing power with costs falling drastically. Experimentation in this field was thus possible by smaller players. This ultimately ended up with kits that were cheap enough for enthusiasts to buy. The internet was a key stakeholder in its rise of fame too by helping it become a phenomenon, going viral and spread quickly. While locally, some big manufacturing companies were already using such technology for prototyping, it is only in the last two to three years that a wider adoption has started. How would you define 3D technology? What, in your views are the benefits such technology brings? Different sectors are turning to 3D technology, a process which
MITA Communications and PR Team
technology is fantastic. Media created such a huge hype about 3D printing that the technology is having a hard time in living up to the hype generated. However, this also brought around a lot of money which is being invested and injected in this sector. This ultimately means that 3D technology is rapidly advancing. One can say that it is a very interesting space.
Edward Borg
What changes will 3D technology bring across the board? It is meant to revolutionise every sector. From manufacturing to the health industry, what has become the norm of things today, will see a shift due to 3D technology. This will take time, so the changes will not be instantaneous. Currently I feel we are still in the exploration phases, where most are discovering the potential of 3D technology. Once this phase is over, the rapid advancements in 3D technology will bring about significant changes in most industries.
involves scanning and digitising a physical object. There is also modelling, where a digital model is created from scratch, which is then manipulated and trans-
formed. 3D can be also in print, where a physical replica is created from a digital file. Today, we are seeing the introduction of holograms and virtual reality
which can, in a way, be classified as 3D technology. All this leads to a very blurred parting line between reality and the digital world. It is also revolutionising many fields and changing the ways in which processes are carried out. One definite benefit is that it reduces the time needed to go from a concept to a working prototype. What is the technology behind Magigoo? The most common type of 3D printing technology and the one gaining widespread adoption across households and schools, is Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF). In FFF the filament of plastic is heated up and extruded out of a tiny nozzle. The digital model is then built up by depositing this filament, layer upon layer, onto a substrate (printing bed), which is usually a glass or aluminium sheet. It is therefore very important for the adhesion between the substrate and the plastic model to be strong during printing. This makes sure that the model is not dislodged and the print damaged. When the print is finished, however, you need to be able to separate the model from the bed with minimal effort so that the print is not damaged. In simple terms, it is a smart adhesive. How long have you been working in the sector? What is the feedback which you received about it? Our introduction to 3D printing is actually quite recent. We have been working in 3D printing for about a year and a half. It is an awesome technology and the sector is advancing at an astonishing pace. The field is constantly evolving with new developments almost on a daily basis. The feedback received on the
Would you see Malta as being behind in supporting such technology? Or on the other hand we are at pace with other countries? Malta is still somewhat lacking in the sector of 3D printing, however, things are moving in the right direction and I see Malta as potentially being able to catch up. The right investment is needed to take this technology, develop on it, and capitalise on it. If this is done correctly I can see Malta becoming one of the major benefiters from this technology. Who can benefit from 3D technology? 3D printing is influencing many sectors. Its applications are so vast that any sector can benefit from this technology. We have seen 3D technology in the aviation, medical, manufacturing and educational sectors to mention just a few. We have already seen: 3D printed prototype parts, that saved countless number of hours to plane and car manufacturers. In the medical field, a printed replica of a defective heart allowed surgeons to interact and explore before operating on the live patient. Its application can literally only be limited by the imagination. How do you see the future of 3D technology both locally and in general? 3D printing is described as the new revolution, potentially even bigger than the internet. I would not dare state something that bold, however it will definitely have an impact on our daily lives and on the whole ecosystem. In the near future I foresee one being able to print products, without ever needing to leave the comfort of their home. At present, one is already able to print replacement parts that can serve as temporary fixes. One can also create parts that facilitate everyday life.
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The Malta Independent | Thursday 8 October 2015
The Malta Independent ICT Feature
I
nnovation plays an important part in today’s technology. It has had its fair share in 3D technology. This feature includes an interview with Edward Borg, a 3D maker where he explains the evolution of 3D technololgy during the past decade.
Another article featuring in today’s edition is a forum held in Malta organised by International Data Corporation (IDC). Titled “The Smart IT Buyer Tour 2015”, the forum covered a number of hot themes - Security, Cloud, Big Data, Enterprise Mobility, collaboration, Application Moderniza-
tion and Business Analytics. MITA’s Executive Chairman Tony Sultana, opened the forum by highlighting the importance of speed in technology in today’s era. All ICT Features are available on www.mita.gov.mt/ictfeature
MITA’s Executive Chairman addresses the ICT Leadership Forum – The Smart IT Buyer Tour 2015
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ast week an ICT leadership forum was organised in Malta by International Data Corporation (IDC). Titled “The Smart IT Buyer Tour 2015”, the forum covered a number of hot themes - Security, Cloud, Big Data, Enterprise Mobility, collaboration, Application Modernization and Business Analytics. Key industry players and decision makers that have a strong impact on the IT related strategic decision within an organisation addressed the audience. The forum was addressed by MITA’s Executive Chairman Tony Sultana, where he spoke about the need to innovate and capitalize technology. Mr. Sultana went through the different phases Malta went through in this past decade, keeping in mind the fast paced world of ICT. He recognised the advancements made, reiterating that one must keep in mind the speed of innovation. Key speakers represented key stakeholders in the industry – CEMA, Avantech, Microsoft Malta Ltd, just to mention a few. Foreign contributors included Didier Gombert, CEO of Objectif Lune Inc of Canada, Duncan Harvey, Head of Core Technology Oracle EMEA. Vendors present, were an added value to the forum by pre-
munity to help them achieve their key business objectives. For more than 20 years, IDC has been analyzing the ICT markets of Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMA). With a coordinated network of regional centers and local offices
senting the audience a supply side perspective. The panel discussions were based on technologies adopted and implemented in the region and were centered around uncovering best practices. This enabled every participant of this Tour to gain tremendously from knowledge sharing and networking and to also remain in the loop with regards to technological buzz. The audience was made of IT Directors/Managers, Storage managers, disaster recovery/business continuity managers, technical managers,
security managers and other IT purchase decision makers International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications and consumer technology markets. More than 1000 IDC analysts provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries worldwide. For more than 47 years, IDC has provided strategic insights to IT professionals, business executives, and the investment com-
in 21 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, IDC delivers practical advice and insight based on firsthand knowledge of emerging markets and local expertise in a unique combination with regional context and global technology background.