Marketing Analysis of 3D Printing

Marketing Analysis of 3D Printing 3D Systems is currently a South Carolina based corporation focused on manufacturing and design of one of the most discussed and popular innovations of the modern world 3D (three dimensional) printers. In fact, this company is recognized to be the inventor of the concept of 3D printing.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Marketing Analysis of 3D Printing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The corporation was founded in May of 1993. This is a holding company and it functions with the help of subsidiaries of the USA, Asian-Pacific area, and Europe. The price range for the 3D printers manufactured by 3D Systems varies from less than 1000 USD to almost one million. The company’s main business is focused on solutions concerning design and manufacturing not only of 3D printers, but also print materials, custom parts for professional and nonprofessional consumers; these materials include ceramics, metals, plastics, a nd edibles (3D Systems Corp (DDD), n. d.). Besides, 3D Systems provides a number of additional devices such as scan-to-CAD (computer aided design), inspection and freedom modeling tools. The engines the company’s printers are based on are various. Among them there are SLS (selective laser sintering), MJP and CJP (multi jet and color jet printing), FTI (film transfer imaging), SLA (stereolithography), and finally plastic jet printing known as PJP. These printers are designed to work with a wide range of materials and their blends. Moreover, 3D Systems provides a number of specially developed software tools such as Cubify and Geomagic that bring more opportunities for design and creativity in application of 3D printing. These software tools allow manipulations with scanners, creation of and work with 3D content and CAD packages. The professionals of 3D Systems have a goal to democratize adoption of products and services provided by the company. The specialists are committed to the increase of simplicity and affordability of the suggested goods to please a wider range of professionals and consumers.Advertising Looking for term paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Due to the efforts of 3D Systems 3D printing will soon stop being the prerogative of professional producers or designers, but move to homes and educational facilities (3D Systems Corporation: Annual report on form 10-K, 2013). The main acquisition challenge associated with the industry 3D Systems Corporation competes in is integration of cost-effective solutions and introduction of savings in production and services. The two main competitors of 3D Systems are HP and Stratasys. Currently, the experts agree that even though the whole 3D printing industry experienced a massive growth of revenues over the years between 2010 and 2014, and 3D Systems benefited the most, the future seems to be more favorable for S tratasys (Stoffel, 2015). There are several bases for such conclusion. First of all, Stratasys employs a clever approach to acquisitions, it recently merged with Objet and Makerbot, and joined forces are definitely going to make the corporation stronger in the long run. Besides, the company has accumulated what can be viewed as a war chest of funds, which can be spent on a powerful marketing campaign or as resources to attract better specialists in the industry and strengthen the business even more. Finally, Stratasys has the largest number of 3D printers installed in the world which means that in the future this company will gain the largest income selling proprietary 3D printing materials (Stoffel, 2015). At 3D Systems it is believed that the best way to become successful in the industry that has so many applications a designer has to be able to offer a wide range of technologies for all kinds of consumers (Heller, 2014). This way, 3D Systems provides a number of tools and differe nt kinds of printers specialized on various tasks.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Marketing Analysis of 3D Printing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is where Hewlett-Packard becomes a serious threat because this company’s Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing technology is a very adjustable and flexible product that can work with a variety of tasks and materials. Currently, HP is focused on the development and modification of this technology in order to make it even more advanced and be able to modify elasticity, strength, texture and color of printed objects. Overall, HP is a very serious competitor that should not be underestimated as it has a large budget and an impressive team of developers who are empowered by decades of work with 2D printing. 3D Systems is aware of the potential threats posed by its main competitors Stratasys and HP and still has several years before their innovation and design strate gies will hit the market. 3D printing is one of the world’s most successful markets because it is applicable and extremely useful for a number of fields among which there are aerospace, automotive, health and medicine, and a variety of electronic and fashion accessories. In aerospace and automotive field 3D is popular because it can provide light and enduring details of complex shapes. In healthcare 3D printing allows creation of customized means such as prosthetics, bones, organs; besides, it allows modeling of organs, tumors and veins for better visibility. Moreover, in the sphere of fashion and entertainment this technology allows printing various toys, customized action figures, and accessories.Advertising Looking for term paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Reference List 3D Systems Corp (DDD). (n. d.). Reuters. Retrieved from reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyProfile?symbol=DDD 3D Systems Corporation: Annual report on form 10-K. (2013). 3dsystems.com. Retrieved from 3dsystems.com/files/downloads/DDD%20-%202013%2010-K.pdf Heller, S. (2014). 3D Systems Corporation (DDD) Stock: Is Hewlett-Packard  Company a Massive Threat? Retrieved from fool.com/investing/general/2014/11/06/3d-systems-corporation-ddd-stock-is-hewlett-packar.aspx Stoffel, B. (2015). Forget 3D Systems Corporation, I’m Buying Stratasys, Ltd. Stock  in 2015. Retrieved from fool.com/investing/general/2015/01/12/forget-3d-systems-corporation-im-buying-stratasys.aspx

Why You Shouldnt Mix Bleach and Vinegar

Why You Shouldnt Mix Bleach and Vinegar Mixing bleach and vinegar is a bad idea. Toxic chlorine gas is released, which essentially serves as a way to wage chemical warfare on ones self. Many people mix bleach and vinegar, knowing its dangerous, but either underestimate the risk or else hope for increased cleaning power. Heres what you should know about mixing bleach and vinegar, before trying it. Why People Mix Bleach and Vinegar If mixing bleach and vinegar releases toxic chlorine gas, then why do people do it? There are two answers to this question. The first answer is that vinegar lowers the pH of bleach, making it a better disinfectant. The second answer to why people mix bleach and vinegar is that people dont recognize how dangerous it is or how quickly it reacts. They hear mixing the chemicals makes them better cleaners and disinfectants, but dont realize the cleaning boost isnt going to make enough of a difference to justify the considerable health hazard. What Happens When Bleach and Vinegar Are Mixed Chlorine bleach contains sodium hypochlorite or NaOCl. Because bleach is sodium hypochlorite in water, the sodium hypochlorite in bleach actually exists as hypochlorous acid: NaOCl H2O ↔ HOCl Na OH- Hypochlorous acid is a strong oxidizer. This is what makes it so good at bleaching and disinfection. If you mix bleach with an acid, chlorine gas will be produced. For example, mixing  bleach with toilet bowl cleaner, which contains hydrochloric acid, yields chlorine gas: HOCl HCl ↔ H2O Cl2 Although pure chlorine gas is greenish-yellow, gas produced by mixing chemicals is diluted in air. Its invisible, so the only way to know about it is by the smell and negative effects.  Chlorine gas attacks mucous membranes, such as eyes, throat, and lungs and can be deadly. Mixing bleach with another acid, such as the acetic acid found in vinegar, yields essentially the same result: 2HOCl 2HAc ↔ Cl2 2H2O 2Ac- (Ac : CH3COO) There is an equilibrium between the chlorine species that is influenced by pH. When the pH is lowered, as by adding toilet bowl cleaner or vinegar, the ratio of chlorine gas in increased. When the pH is raised, the ratio of hypochlorite ion is increased. Hypochlorite ion is a less efficient oxidizer than hypochlorous acid, so some people will intentionally lower the pH of bleach to increase the oxidizing power of the chemical, even though chlorine gas is produced as a result. What You Should Do Instead Dont poison yourself! Rather than increasing the activity of the bleach by adding vinegar to it, its safer and more effective to simply purchase fresh bleach.  Chlorine bleach has a shelf life, so it loses power over time. This is particularly true if the container of bleach has been stored for several months. Its far safer to use fresh bleach than to risk poisoning  by mixing bleach with another chemical. It is fine to use bleach and vinegar separately for cleaning as long as the surface is rinsed between products.