The Often Overshadowed Risks Of Additive Manufacturing

Eric Long, SVP and Founding Principal at ABD Insurance & Financial Services, has taken a look at some of the primary areas of opportunity and risk in the additive manufacturing field, and is sharing some key points of interest with us. Long examines with a critical eye, and from an important standpoint, how 3D printing can affect a business in such important areas as gaining insurance coverage, regulation, and more. With key areas including products, contracts, manufacturing process and materials, environmental risks, quality controls, and intellectual property, Long's risk assessment exposes some important areas that participants in this technological revolution must pay attention to. Read his insights in the full article: http://3dprint.com/44105/3d-printing-risks/


The FDA is one regulatory body keeping an eye on the 3D printing revolution:
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Undoubtedly, one of the first questions that will be asked by an insurance underwriter when discussing a company is “what happens if their product is used to print a gun or a bomb?”

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Have those same insurance companies asked the same question of copper smelters, lead recyclers, steel foundries, wire manufacturers, chip manufacturers, pipe manufacturers, fertilizer manufacturers, diesel fuel refineries (the latter two are components of anfo, an explosive, in case you didn't know)? All of those components can and are already used to produce ammo, guns and explosive devices. Most of those components were manufactured for something other than making guns, ammo and explosive devices.

Shall we begin asking manufactures of baseball bats, 2x4s and nails to carry extra insurance in case their products were used as a weapon? Do we place blame on Ford, Chrysler or Cadillac when someone uses their cars as a get-away for robbing banks or liqueur stores? Do we ask Leg Avenue, Peavy or Leggs to carry extra insurance if someone uses their panty hose as a disguise in an armed robbery? Do we place blame on concrete manufacturers, or the workers who laid the concrete sidewalk if is slippery in the winter and someone gets injured? Where does it stop?

People need to get a freaking grip. It stops with the person who committed the crime. Place blame AND responsibility on the person who pulled the trigger or planted the explosive, not the people or companies who made the components they used. I do not feel its the responsibility of a company when someone uses their product in a way in which it was not intended, marketed or advertized.

And the LAST thing we need is MORE government meddling in our hobby and private affairs.