Women of R&D Tax Savers: Insights into 3D Printing

The women of R&D Tax Savers discuss their observations and insights into 3D printing.

3D printing has succeeded in becoming a practical asset when striving for innovation across many industries. Companies across the globe are leveraging this advanced technology to complement existing design, development and production processes, and fill in various gaps where needed. The women of R&D Tax Savers have the following commentary regarding additive manufacturing, 3D printing, and recent client and industry developments:

Andrea Albanese, Manager

Our firm has seen an upward trend in 3D printing in recent years. Companies of all types have been leveraging the power of 3D printing, whether at the prototyping stage, or to supplement production. In 2022, we are seeing an increased number of companies depending on 3D printing to support their operations in the wake of supply chain challenges. It is wonderful to see additive manufacturing scale up from a prototyping tool to a key part of companies’ regular manufacturing process.

3D printing enables our clients to significantly speed up their design process, bringing new products to market in half the time. It also enables our clients to create highly complex parts for production. We have seen 3D printing tremendously benefit many of our client industries including lighting, furniture, aerospace, kitchen products, and manufacturers of various kinds.

Valentina Alzate, Tax Analyst

I have recently joined R&D Tax savers as a Tax Analyst, but I have already been introduced to the world of 3D printing. Previously, I had heard my mechanical engineering friends talking about a random part they had designed in CAD and then 3D printed, but as a software engineer, I hadn’t really focused on the growth and innovation that the 3D printing industry has had.

One of the first things I researched here at R&D Tax Savers was the opportunities for combatting water scarcity with 3D printing. I’m a big proponent of environmental and social safety measures, so it was really cool to learn how 3D printing is opening the doors for innovative solutions to our current and future environmental issues. I think another cool application of 3D printing can be seen among the gaming community. PC gamers are developing amazing designs for 3D printing handheld gaming consoles or parts to upgrade their setups. Eventually, these practices could be applied to large companies which could provide a whole range of innovative gaming products.

Andressa Bonafe, Tax Analyst

Throughout the years my work at R&D Tax Savers has given me great insight into how different industries take advantage of 3D printing. I have also been able to explore the interplay between additive manufacturing and various economic trends and new technologies, both in the U.S. and internationally.

Lately, I have been particularly interested in how 3D printing can help companies respond to the ongoing supply chain crisis and how nearshoring trends and infrastructure projects can accelerate additive manufacturing in Latin America.

I have also been fascinated by the intensification of shared, virtual experiences in the metaverse and by the potential to use 3D printing to bridge the gap between the digital and physical worlds. I am excited to see the increasing role of additive manufacturing in the creation of hybrid, highly-customized goods that can also be experienced in the metaverse.

Mellissa McIntyre, EIT, Project Lead

R&D Tax Savers allows us the opportunity to explore innovations in various industries and topics. Additive manufacturing is something that particularly interests me as I’ve been able to witness how the technology is leveraged for various applications. We learn about the various ways that a company can use 3D printing for prototyping to create test assemblies.

Personally, I am always interested in how the technology is being implemented in healthcare and other industries that allow us to help those in need. We are all painfully aware of the need for less expensive and more personalized healthcare. Tissue engineering has seen a lot of success with bioprinting for more personalized care. Even using titanium 3D printing in creating more personalized care while having a more sustainable process in which they produce less waste.

I recently purchased a 3D printer for my home where my younger siblings are able to bring their inventions and creations to life. They are able to think of a design and in a matter of hours, a 3D model of their design is in their hands.

While not every design is perfectly structured, the ability to 3D print gives them the opportunity to grow and learn through trial and error. Everything they need to bring an idea to life is available to them. We are always impressed by the ways in which they have found to use the 3D printer. I am always excited to see how the technology will advance and improve the way of life for everyone.

Preeti Sulibhavi, CPA, Tax Analyst

It should not be overlooked that in writing articles for Fabbaloo, we at R&D Tax Savers have been increasingly emphasizing global coverage of the 3D printing industry and its far-reaching applications. We have covered our neighbor “across the pond,” the UK, as well as countries in other regions of the globe, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, Korea, Pakistan and India. As technology becomes more advanced, our world grows that much smaller.

We have seen just how interconnected the world is after Covid 19 hit and almost every industry from appliances to toys experienced global supply chain disruptions like we have never seen before. The 3D printing industry has become a part of the solution in many instances if not all. 

With the crisis in Ukraine, we had current reporting on the roles that Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Germany have played in related defense technologies, including 3D printing. The relevance of 3D printing in our global economy has only become stronger in recent years. I look forward to learning more about how 3D printing is shaping the future of the world that we all inextricably share. 

Lara Tomiko, Editor, Tax Analyst

Since the time when we first started covering 3D printing, our firm has had substantial experience with 3D printing and additive manufacturing across many industries. From global corporate giants to small garage startups, we have observed and covered numerous innovative developments that were in part made possible by 3D printing.

With that experience comes not only a deeper understanding but also a greater appreciation for both the technology and the community. In terms of the community, it is no secret that 3D printing is yet another male-dominated space. I hope that with organizations and initiatives such as Women in 3D Printing that more women enter the 3D printing space, propel themselves into leadership roles and transform the industry into one that is rich in diversity and inclusivity. I’m excited to see what the future holds as 3D printing becomes even more accessible and viable for companies and hobbyists alike. 

Julia Wallace, Tax Analyst

I am a student at the University of Rochester studying psychology and biomedical engineering. I recently joined R&D Tax Savers as an intern for the summer. When I first started, I knew a bit about the potential benefits of 3D printing, but not about how widely used it already is. I have had the opportunity to research and write about 10 articles about many entirely different industries so far.

The advantages of additive manufacturing are already being utilized far more than I had thought, from custom printing viable human tissue in vivo to working to solve the housing crisis by printing concrete portions of houses.

I have particularly enjoyed writing pieces about the medical applications of 3D printing since they pertain to my education. The Mayo Clinic and HSS are using custom 3D printed implants successfully in surgical procedures. The Mayo Clinic is also using this technology to analyze internal patient anatomy as a physical 3D model created from medical imaging, rather than having to plan surgeries just using scans on a computer. I am excited to continue researching the use of 3D printing in so many different fields and see how much it is improving people’s lives.