Finance website, The Motley Fool, has touted 3D printing as possibly the next big thing in manufacturing and alerted investors to look out for opportunities.

The website says: “3D printing could set off a revolution in home manufacturing and design, because it allows people to produce high-quality manufactured goods in their backyards.”

It also predicts that while the manufacturing devices can cost around £100,000 now, prices could rapidly fall if uptake ramps up.

The article, which can be found here, also suggests the technology could have far-reaching consequences for current manufacturing firms and practices.

The technique is currently used most typically in the industrial arena to create prototypes but law firm Thomas Eggar also sees the latest developments in the technology taking it beyond this to the level of the production line and mass customisaiton.

Kim Walker of Thomas Eggar said: “There is no doubt that unions will be eyeing the 3D printer with a great deal of trepidation as the short term impact may be a loss of jobs, but in truth the technology provides a chance for manufacturers to innovate and compete effectively on a world stage.”

The law firm also sees the technology bringing the issue of intellectual property rights to the fore.

Walker continued: “In the same way that people are able to source files for a song without paying for it, sourcing the digital blueprint files of any product would be all that would be needed to ask a 3D printer to create a version of a product without the originator’s consent.

“As 3D printing becomes more widespread, there is likely to be a greater reliance on Registered Design protection used in combination with Trade Mark registration. There is also likely to be a greater acceptance of open source models, used extensively in the software industry and in many cases, used very profitably.”