Amazon Wants To Own 3D Printing. Literally.

This is how the concept of scale has changed.

In the 1980s there was an industrialist named Victor Kiam who owned the Remington razor company. He became famous for ads that said, 'I liked the product so much I bought the whole company.'

In 2013, Jeff Bezos likes the promise of 3D printing so much that he'd like to own the whole industry.

We are accustomed to outsized ambitions and the men or women who attempt to realize them. They dont really even phase us that much anymore because so much of what we now take for granted is so fantastic. GPS, mobile smart phones and now, 3D or additive printing and manufacturing. We are a bit leery of what this might do to ownership rights, jobs and the very notion of 'personal.' But we're intrigued and probably more inclined to see where it leads than to shut it down. We are, after all, the same society that destroyed the music business via illegal downloads.

So, those familiar with Amazon and its ambitions to take over much of what we now think of as commerce will not be especially surprised to hear that the company has designs on the 3D business. In fact, its owner, Mr. Bezos, has already invested in companies making the printers that make it possible. They are now being sold by Amazon, but this is minor league stuff. The future, if we had to guess, is that Amazon will become the contract manufacturer for all things 3D. It will own the machines - and maybe lease them to you - but perhaps more to the point of control, it will own the software, the patents and the legal wherewithal. you may laugh at the audacity. Or what you perceive to be the impossibility. But if the past couple of decades have taught us anything, it is that betting against Amazon is a really good way to lose money. JL

Climateer Investing reports:

3D printing is going to revolutionize online shopping. Amazon CEO and founder Jeff Bezos realizes that and probably envisions Amazon orchestrating the revolution.

As a testament to how seriously Bezos takes 3D printing, Bezos, along with two other venture capital groups, helped MakerBot, a seller of consumer 3D printers and the accompanying necessary materials, raise $10 million....

...But there are several ways Bezos and his company can anticipate and lead the change in 3D printing.
The first step would probably be to buy up companies such as Shapeways which are already allowing users to upload designs and customers to then print these designs. Amazon can also create in-house 3D printing and tools on its site to embellish conventional products using its in-house 3D printing.  It is unlikely that most adults will have the necessary skills, the time, and interest to design complex products. Amazon can offer the easy alternative: offer customizable products. By acquiring companies and hiring in-house designers, Amazon can head off the inevitable diversity of suppliers and instead establish itself as a marketplace for different users to upload their designs, as Shapeways already does.

So my advice: buy stock in Amazon.  Not only did its CEO redefine the book industry; he is also heavily involved in the privatized space industry.  When it comes to 3D printing, which has been hailed the next trillion dollar industry, I would not be surprised if Bezos has already pounced....MORE

This story came up because Amazon has started offering "3D printers and supplies".
From Engineering.com:

Amazon Expands Into Additive Manufacturing 

While Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos may believe that 3D printing is still a long way from changing the way industry makes and distributes products, his online marketplace isn’t shying away from the opportunity to sell the revolutionary technology.

In a recent addition to its website, Amazon has decided to add a new section to it’s “Industrial & Scientific” market category – “3D Printers & Supplies”.

A quick look around the section gave me the impression that Amazon is still catering to the Maker segment of the 3D Printing community. Among the products available are the MakerBot Replicator2, the LulzBot AO-101, the Airwolf3D and a number of other models.

In addition to printers Amazon is offering a vast selection of both ABS and PLA filament, inspection and repair tools as well as enough parts to design and build your own 3D printer. If you’re in need of a CAD solution, Amazon is also offering a number of software packages....MORE

While Mr. Bezos is downplaying the immediacy of the 3D market (see Jeff Bezos on 3D Printing) it might pay to remember that while Bezos is personally invested in a small way in Rethink Robotics Inc. his company went out and did the largest robot co. acquisition that I know of, $775 million for Kiva Systems.