Ricoh Launches Its First 3D Printer

One of the largest printer manufacturers in the world has unveiled its first 3D printer.

The Ricoh AM S5500P is the company’s first ever 3D printing product under the Ricoh brand, and will offer support for a wider range of printing materials than ever before, including the PA6 and PP materials so popular with the manufacturing sector

The company is especially looking to appeal to the automotive industry with its new printer, particularly in building parts for functional tests as well as the parts for end products.

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Previously, Ricoh has only been selling third-party 3D printers, and hopes that this new product, which will be made available to customers in Europe in mid-2016, will be the latest in a series of many.

Thanks to its large modelling area – measuring in at 550mm × 550mm × 500mm, the AM S5500P can fabricate different kinds of parts at the same time, as well as mould large parts all at once.

“The launch of the RICOH AM S5500P forms a landmark in the near 80-year history of Ricoh and it is also a key milestone in the evolution of the additive manufacturing industry,” said Peter Williams, executive vice president at Ricoh Europe.

“As a company committed to innovation and supporting businesses as they evolve throughout the digital age, we are excited to bring a fresh approach and introduce a powerful new product with comprehensive end-to-end services.”

A recent report from Gartner predicted that 3D printers are set to become a common presence in homes and businesses across the world as sales soar over the next few years, forecasting that shipments will more than double every year between 2016 and 2019, by which time worldwide shipments are expected to reach more than 5.6 million.

Overall, worldwide shipments of 3D printers will reach 496,475 units in 2016, up 103 percent from the predicted 244,533 units in 2015, the company’s report said.

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