World 3D printing technology expo opens in Qingdao

The 2014 World 3D Printing Technology Industry Exhibition opened on Thursday in east China's costal city of Qingdao, attracting 110 3D printing companies at home and from abroad.

Firms from more than ten countries or regions are attending, including the United States and Germany. About 1,000 printing professionals will be in attendance, said Luo Jun, secretary-general of the World 3D Printing Technology Industry Alliance.

The four-day event, the largest of its kind, will showcase latest 3D printing equipment, technologies and products, said Luo, also executive chairman of China 3D Printing Technology Industry Alliance.

With the theme "3D Printing Creating Future", it has an exhibition area of 13,000 square meters and more than 20,000 registered visitors.

Meanwhile, the 2014 World 3D Printing Technology Industry Conference will be held during the exhibition.

The event is jointly organized by the world and China 3D alliances as well as the Qingdao municipal government.

An emerging technology, 3D printing is considered to be a new trend in the manufacturing sector and is developing rapidly.

Global 3D printing industry output is expected to reach 3.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2015 and 10.8 billion dollars in 2021, according to a forecast by Wohlers Associates, one of the leading firms studying 3D printing.

The Qingdao national high-tech industrial development zone has introduced seven 3D printing-related projects and aims to become a world-famous 3D printing industry base in five years.