Understand how 3D printing can support sustainable careers, then explore all the potential ways you can invest in your future with “a green profession”.

The additive manufacturing (AM) industry stands at the forefront of a revolution in sustainable development. With the Additive Manufacturing Green Trade Association (AMGTA) now sponsoring research projects aimed at sustainability practices possible through 3D printing, our environment will reap the rewards.

Furthermore, a host of sustainable careers are now open to you because of 3D printing technology. These careers span all kinds of industries and make use of diverse skill sets. As a result, you can carve out a lucrative niche for yourself in a career path that makes a real difference in the world.

Understand how 3D printing can support sustainable careers, then explore all the potential ways you can invest in your future with “a green profession”.

How 3D Printing Supports Sustainability

The nature of 3D printing as an AM process allows for all kinds of sustainable innovations. From products built from renewable materials to more energy-efficient design processes, additive manufacturing enables waste reduction. Every day, companies are tapping into the power of this process to improve output and build better products.

Take the fluid power industry, for example, which has historically produced around 300 million tons of CO2 per year through inefficient hydraulic manufacturing. Now, companies like Domin are making great strides in sustainability by using the power of 3D printing. Domin adopted a four-laser additive manufacturing system that allowed them to increase productivity while cutting down on inefficiencies. The servo valve they were able to assemble in this manner has the potential to make significant progress in making fluid power sustainable.

But this is just one of the many industries being transformed by 3D printing. From healthcare to robotics, 3D printing is adding value. Projected to reach a market value of $21 billion, the widespread growth of this industry is increasing the potential of every market in which it is introduced, allowing for innovative solutions and revolutionary practices. In healthcare, for instance, this can even mean lives saved through the miracle of bioprinting — the application of additive manufacturing in reconstructing human organs.

With such a wide range of potential uses for 3D printing, companies all over the world are looking to expand their market value through AM. This enables them to add sustainability measures to their products and policies as they create efficient parts that would otherwise be impossible. In aerospace engineering, for instance, the use of lightweight equipment leads to less fuel consumption and corresponding carbon emissions. Only AM can reduce weight significantly through stronger alloys and seamless part design.

Therefore, as industries across the world increasingly adopt this invaluable technology, you too can grow your potential by pursuing a green career.

Building a Sustainable Career with Additive Manufacturing

The growing awareness and application of AM have led many businesses to seek out trained professionals who can implement sustainability across business processes. From manufacturing to marketing, green careers powered by 3D printing tech are making headway as lucrative tracks for professional growth. With 93% of businesses expecting consumers to hold them accountable for their environmental impact, the need for technically-minded sustainability professionals will only grow as time goes on.

Begin building your sustainable career working with additive manufacturing processes. No matter where your passions lie, there is definitely an application of AM in a profession that suits you. Here are a few examples.

AM Engineering

Many professionals working in 3D printing and sustainability innovation have some sort of background in engineering. Mechanical engineers research, develop, and apply new building methods to make the most of adaptive additive manufacturing platforms. On the marketing end, they can even be instrumental in creating effective sales demos and answering questions from the public.

To make the most of sustainable 3D printing innovations, consider a career in engineering. Here are some of the important details:

  • Typical Education Requirements: Bachelor’s minimum in an engineering field, with master’s and even doctorate-level degrees sometimes necessary
  • Average Salary: $81,783

Software Development

Because 3D printers operate off of digital models, software development is an essential aspect of the field. The right software can help engineers innovate and apply all kinds of sustainable materials and designs. Meanwhile, software developers are also necessary for integrating, testing, and streamlining the ways 3D printers work.

AM software developers are instrumental in eliminating our reliance on clumsy, energy-inefficient products. Here are some more details about the field:

  • Typical Education Requirements: Bachelor’s degree or higher in computer science, software engineering, or even mathematics
  • Average Salary: $80,437
  • Job Market Growth: 21%

Materials Science

Finding and applying new, sustainable materials in the manufacturing process requires the help of trained professionals who understand the science of renewable alloys and polymers. Materials scientists are these professionals, and they bring immeasurable value to the field of 3D printing. From R&D to chemical handling procedures, a materials science career can sustainably and lucratively make a great career choice.

Here are more of the details:

  • Typical Education Requirements: bachelor’s degree or higher in materials science or chemistry
  • Average Salary: $81,483
  • Job Market Growth: 4%

These careers represent just a sampling of the potential paths available to you for reshaping business processes towards sustainability. Additive manufacturing gives companies the tools they need to implement eco-friendly change. Explore your opportunities before setting down one of the many paths towards sustainable success.

The Many Paths Towards Sustainable Success

It doesn’t matter where you start: a green career in 3D printing can be yours for the taking. With the explosion in need and awareness for greater sustainability practices, businesses spanning nearly every imaginable industry are opening their doors to the right talent. In pursuit of this talent, companies like Ultimaker are even planting seeds early by equipping high schools with 3D printing tech.

Search your local community for opportunities to expand your AM skills. From communication to technical know-how, almost anyone can support the integration of 3D printing in their intended field with the right understanding. Whether you want to dedicate your life’s work to AM as an engineer or you simply are looking for ways to add sustainability to your small business, there is a 3D-printed path out there for you.

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