Considering the recent trends in the whole 3D printing phenomenon, Apple thinks it will hit it big by putting its foot through the door with its own products in this particular market segment. As Apple has its eye on the 3D ball, other companies are putting efforts into making themselves attractive for an eventual acquisition by exploring this technology.

Quantum International Corp., a provider of robotics solutions for industry applications, believes this may be its chance to show what it's made of. Quantum's CEO, Robert Federowicz, said, “We have been watching the trend in 3D printing for a while and now it is becoming mainstream with a prospect of becoming the next industrial revolution.”

The 3D printing market sector has seen an uptick in 2012, totaling more than $2 billion. Projections into the future put the 3D printing market at $5 billion in value by 2015. “If Apple is considering 3D printing, we should be considering 3D printing,” Federowicz added.

The latest in this technology has demonstrated the glorious implications of adopting such technology. Food and living tissue has come out of extrusion tubes within these printers. NASA also got a piece of the action when it funded a prototype for a 3D printer that can produce pizza. Medical services might soon be cheaper, as printers like these can make complex and ergonomic casts from nylon that allow the skin to breathe. All of this is fascinating, and it would be foolish for one of the big tech firms to pass up on the action.

This isn't just a novelty. Quantum International and Apple are not nosediving into a useless gimmick. The Wohlers Report 2013 says that 3D printing has grown 28.6 percent from 2011 to 2012, going from $1.7 billion to $2 billion. The industry itself has been growing by 25.4 percent each year from 2010 to 2012.

For Apple, this means dominating another market and increasing revenue. For the end user, this means taking part in an era where they'll be able to manufacture things in more cost-effective ways!