There are two opposite reactions to 3D printing. Fans of 3D printing insist it will have a dramatic impact by returning jobs to the West. They also claim that China will be forced from its powerhouse position as the world’s mass manufacturer. They claim it will undermine the economics of mass production. Others criticise it as overblown hype.

In fact, 3D printing is growing in a way that differs from both of these predictions. It is plainly a serious technology with a big economic impact. But it is not necessarily harming old-style factories in China.

3D printing is now used to make everything from transparent dental braces, rocket engine fuel injectors, car parts, and airplane frames, to customised assembly tools for luxury car firms. One recent report stated that manufacturers who do not adopt 3D printing may find themselves at a cost disadvantage faster than they think.

It certainly appears that 3D printing is as much a complement as a competitor to mass production.