Emily Folk looks at the ways in which additive manufacturing could be implemented into pharmaceutical manufacturing processes.
Additive manufacturing
Additive manufacturing, which most of us refer to as “3D printing,” is poised to transform a wide range of industries, from clothing to construction. Interestingly, it may also have a significant impact on the pharmaceutical industry — and sooner than you might think. While the use of additive manufacturing is still minimal compared to other production methods, the market for 3D printing technologies is expected to grow to $30 billion by 2022.
The technology is still under active development by a variety of major corporations and startups, but additive manufacturing has enormous potential for pharmaceutical production. This technology has the potential to enable on-demand production and significantly reduce manufacturing costs, especially of single items and small batches of products.