3D vs 4D - PYR Powder Opportunities for 2020 & BeyondHi All Longs, There are ever growing demands for the building blocks of 3D/4D products which is in powders as one example alone. The speed of growth for these products will be built upon the quality, pricing & commercial quantities of powders required to address the various market segments. All of which PYR is addressing with their R & D developments & successes. The future of things to come is for eg. understanding the meaning of the difference of 3D vs 4D.....The difference is that 4D printed objects can transform themselves over time, while 3D printed objects maintain fixed shape like any plastic or metal parts. The fourth dimension of 4D is the transformation over time......3D printing is a process that creates a 3D object by printing layer by layer from a CAD model (computer 3D model). This technology also is known as additive manufacturing because the product is made by adding material rather than subtracting material or shaping material by cold and hot techniques. 3D printing parts are made from different kinds of raw materials such as PLA, ABS, Polycarbonate, Nylon, Carbon, and more.......4D printing is a process that creates a smart 3D object from a material that can change its shape over time if exposed to water, heat, light, or magnetic field. The fourth dimension is the transformation over time. The structure of the 4D print is preprogrammed in details according to the desired change of shape. The 4D printing technology is a combination of 3D printing + smart materials + customized design for the required transformation. The self-transformation of the structure also called self-assembly as the structure can be designed to assemble itself. The 4D printing is based on Stereolithography(SLA), a technique that uses photo-polymeric liquid to build 3D object layer upon layer......Objects created with a 3D printer can be rigid or flexible, it depends on the printing material, but even if you use the elastic material, it will keep its original shape after you remove the load from it. For example, when you pull a rubber band, you change the form of the object, but as soon as you release it, the rubber band returns to its original shape. However, 4D printing offers an entirely different concept. The smart structure can make a real transformation by itself when exposed to stimuli. The ability to perform post-production transformation gives a significant advantage over product size. In a 3D printer, the size of the object depends on the size of the printer. A 4D printer can produce a structure that is much larger than the printers dimensional limitations. For example, think of folded cardboard and flat cardboard. In a 3D printer, you will need to print a folded cardboard, while in a 4D printer you can produce a flat object that can then change itself to a folded cardboard...... Incredible growth possibilities for many powder producers. innovations plus ongoing R & D research are ' must ' requirements too for this new brave world to be. We are on the cusp of Sci- Fi becoming a Reality for the betterment of All. When Peter first joined PYR there were a handful of employees & he has now grown that workforce to approx. 70 employees. All needed to address & deliver diverse/innovative game changing technologies to local & global markets. Best wishes to All Patient Longs as, IMO, PYR continues to execute it's new business model for the benefit of all shareholders. Sincerely, Topseeker