Three additive manufacturing companies (3-D printing) are establishing an applied research laboratory with Penn State University. They will establish a manufacturing demonstration center for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop and promote direct-digital manufacturing technology. (Aviation Week & Space Technology, 5/7/12)
Now that capabilities in 3-D printing are moving from polymer materials to advanced metals for the defense and aerospace industries, we should expect to see products emerging for many industrial applications.