James Anderton: Beyond the additive manufacturing world, we've created an environment where it's possible to design a part and very quickly bring it into reality. I’m here with Peter Leys, Executive Chairman of Materialise. Peter, the dream has always been art to part: one step, from the mind of the engineer directly to a finished part. But software is necessary to intermediate that process. This brings up some interesting complex issues of ownership of digital rights, for example. Are we close to reaching that point where we can just push one button and go from art directly to a finished work?
Peter Leys: I think the entire industry, Jim, is working towards that. I think Materialise is an important part of it. Now, today you have the CAD file, you have the machine, and in between you have our software tools that the operators of the printer will use to actually optimize the build platform and prepare the printing.
PL: If you compare it to a car, a car might have a manual transmission or an automatic transmission. Today, the people who operate the machines want a ‘manual shift’, because it actually allows you better control. Better control when working with our software tools allows you to control your machine better, to optimize your builds as compared to your competitors. There are people out there who say, “I don't want to manual shift, I want the automatic shift,” as in, I want the one-stop print. And the industry is working towards providing the ‘automatic shift’ which will give less control to the driver of the car, but more comfort and more convenience.
PL: Some users are willing to exchange control for comfort and convenience. But let there be no mistake: even in an automatic transmission, there are still gears! There's still technology behind it. So, Materialise technology will always be used. If we can collaborate with the machine vendors and other third parties to actually make that process more automatic, more seamless, then we will definitely do so. There's a number of initiatives underway that will lead to that. I see the market developing into a direction favourable to certain people who prefer the automatic shift-- the comfort zone, the one-click print, but there will be lots of room for other players will want more control of the preparation of the build platform, over certain parameters of the machine, and in other words will want to continue to shift manually, and continue to work with our software platform at Materialise.