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Manufacturing is closely connected to our everyday lives. In the long history of mankind raw materials have been transferred into the goods by means of several basic methods. The manufacturing methods are continuously being developed while entirely new ways of production are explored and new requirements from product designers are raised. 3D printing is a progressive manufacturing method which offers new technical possibilities removing current limitations, fundamentally changes the manufacturing technology and sometimes is called "The third industrial revolution" with the potential of affecting all the manufacturing processes with essential impact to international business, logistics and environment. 3D printing has been rapidly developing in the 21st century and skyrocketed growth in the 3D printing business is forecasted. Although, there will remain manufacturing areas where 3D printing will not probably be possible to use even in the longer term point of view.

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Petr Hlousek, MA, IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems, Austria, International Business and Export Management.

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