Cargo Business Techwire

Friday, January 30, 2015

Paper explores impacts of 3D printing on shipping industry

3D printing has substantial implications for both domestic and international freight, particularly in reducing the importance of some transportation lanes while possibly opening up new ones, according to Andrew Schmahl, a partner in the Chicago office of global management firm, Strategy& (formerly Booz & Company).

Schmahl, part of the firm’s engineered products and services team, says disruptions may be on the horizon for the shipping and logistics industries. He and his colleagues wrote an industry paper on this topic, listing specific predictions of how 3D printing — which makes products that are lighter, smaller and easier to ship — will impact the commercial transportation industry and how logistics and shipping companies could adjust to meet the challenges.

For example,in a recent analysis of nearly two dozen industry sectors, it was found that up to 37 percent of the ocean container business and 41 percent of the air cargo business and are at risk because of 3D printing, seen by manufacturers as a way to streamline operations, improve quality and lower costs.

In addition, roughly 25 percent of the trucking freight business is also vulnerable, due to the potential decline in goods that start as containers on ships or air cargo and ultimately need some form of intermodal transport.

To read the industry paper from Strategy&: www.strategyand.pwc.com