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animal-free drug testing and the provision of organs for transplant on demand without the need for donation. Dr. Will Wenmiao Shu, one of the team members, predicted that a small number of human cells required for biopsy will be 3D-printed in a foreseeable future. In March, an American had 75 percent of their skull replaced with a 3D-printed im- plant. Te implant was made from a type of thermoplastic called poly ether ketone ketone (PEKK), which is moldable above a certain temperature and returns to a solid state when it cools. Unlike existing implants made from materials like titanium, the plastic implants are light, non-corroding and will not set of the metal detector at the airport. Te printed version is similar to a real skull in many ways, but also has extra features on its surface to encourage cell growth. Patients with cancerous bone tissue in the skull, as well as those who have sufered car accidents or head traumas, are expected to beneft from this technology. In the future, the company hopes to expand its production to include re- placements for all kinds of bones in the body. Like any other thing, 3D printing has its own limitations. First of all, 3D printing can mostly only fabricate relatively homogeneous objects made up of a small number of distinct materials. Printing out small, highly complex electronics, or designs with multiple materi- als, remains tricky. In addition, the products of 3D printing are not as durable as conven- tional products, although many believe this can be overcome in the medium term. Like all the other exciting technologies, 3D printing could have plenty of negative uses. In May, University of Texas law student Cody Wilson successfully fred a plastic gun he made on a 3-D printer. He posted the specs of a gun named “Liberator” on the Internet. When he took it down at the order of the State Department, it was afer 100,000 people had already downloaded the design.. It is also feared that the plummeting cost of 3D printers, combined with improving capa- bilities, will make IP thef easier for would- be criminals. Gartner predicts there will be a loss of at least $100 billion annually in intellectual property by 2018 because of 3D printing. Even without the fnished good, one can engage in IP thef by making a wax mold from an object scanned on a 3D printer, the company said. Traditionally an IT powerhouse, Korea cannot be an exception to the massive 3D printing boom. ROKIT, a start-up founded last year by former Celltrion CEO You Seok- hwan, unveiled its frst desktop 3D printer in January. Celltrion is Korea’s biggest mak- er of biosimilars — cheaper generic versions of complex biotechnology medicines. Its EDISON+ 3D printer uses PLA material, an eco-friendly plastic made with corn starch. “Design and IT will continue to create ‘Blue Ocean’ in the global market, and 3D printing is where design and IT meet,” You said in a recent press conference. Although the country’s 3D printing indus- try is still in its fedging stage — far behind of neighboring Japan and China in terms of the number of related companies and research frms, as well as the size of investment into the sector — major electronics companies including Samsung Electronics are reported to see the opportunities in the industry and have made proposals to form a partnership with existing 3D printer manufacturers. When the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy hosted a forum to boost the industry in January, the nation’s top conglomerates including Samsung, Hyundai and LG spon- sored the event. “Almost all of Korea’s 3D printing compa- nies are less than 100 billion won in revenue,” said Moon Kyung-joon, an analyst at I’M Investment & Securities, in a recent report. “Until there is a meaningful signal about the growth of the local 3D printing industry, in- vestors should take extra care in investing in 3D printing businesses,” he continued. C o v e r s t o r Y