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| By Michael A. Robinson |
After living with the same sofa bed for nearly 30 years, my wife and I finally decided to get a new one.
Fortunately, Tracy found a beautiful unit online that, from a design standpoint, is a great fit.
But we weren’t certain it would literally fit through the door to our family room. And the online firm stated clearly that failure to fit through a door was no reason to return a $3,000 unit.
So, I had to measure the doors going into the family room several times and also had to call the seller to triple-check it all.
In the very near future, you'll no longer need to worry about such things — the sofa will assemble itself.
Don't scoff. A recent report in the journal Smart Materials and Structures says that day is rapidly approaching because of new technology known as 4D printing.
It's a market that's expected to grow by more than 40% a year. And I've uncovered a tech leader poised to profit from it all …
The Dawn of Self-Assembling Technology
Imagine this: You order a couch online, and instead of a massive delivery truck showing up with a bulky item, you receive a flat package.
You open it, place it in your living room, apply heat and watch as your furniture literally unfolds and assembles itself before your eyes.
This isn't science fiction — it's the promise of 4D printing, the next evolution of what’s known as additive manufacturing technology.
While 3D printing has revolutionized how we create objects by building them layer by layer, 4D printing adds something entirely new to the equation — time.
These printed objects can change shape, assemble themselves or transform their properties when exposed to specific environmental triggers like water, heat, light or electrical stimulation.
According to the report I cited a moment ago, scientists have already created self-folding structures that can transform from flat sheets into complex 3D objects.
This technology has implications far beyond convenient furniture delivery — it represents a fundamental shift in how we think about manufacturing, logistics and product design.
The market potential is staggering. Industry analysts project the 4D printing market to grow by 40% and could be worth $32 billion a decade out.
Early investors who position themselves correctly stand to reap substantial rewards as this technology moves from research labs into commercial applications.
From NASA to Your Living Room
That extra dimension of time is what makes 4D printing truly disruptive. Imagine if Apple printed Apple Watch parts that assembled themselves and then disassembled when it was time to recycle them.
This isn't just theoretical. NASA is already experimenting with this approach to create new advanced shielding that can be sent to space flat-packed. Then, once in orbit, it folds itself around the spacecraft and self-heals any damage.
The implications for space exploration and satellite technology are enormous, potentially saving millions in launch costs by reducing payload volume.
In the biomedical field, 4D printing is opening doors that were previously unimaginable. Replacement organs could be created by printing the scaffolding that then transforms itself into the perfect shape while the organ grows around it.
Stents that expand or contract based on blood flow, implants that adjust to a patient's specific anatomy over time — the medical applications alone represent a multi-billion-dollar opportunity.
While 3D printing has been around for decades, it's only recently gone mainstream. The process involves creating a digital model that is recreated in the physical world as a printer deposits materials layer by layer.
It's similar to an inkjet printer, but instead of placing flat ink on paper, 3D printers stack material until the model has been fully realized.
From small gears and components to fully functional houses, 3D printing has demonstrated its versatility across industries. 4D will take this to even more profitable levels.
A 4D Software Pioneer
Now you know why I want you to take a good look at a company at the forefront of this innovation: Autodesk (ADSK).
It’s led the computer-aided design field for decades. Autodesk's strength lies in its comprehensive software ecosystem that powers the entire 3D printing workflow.
Its software is already the preferred choice for professionals working with 3D printing technology. Now, they're set to extend that leadership into the 4D realm.
The company has been developing sophisticated simulation tools that can model how 4D-printed objects will transform over time and in response to different stimuli.
This capability is critical for 4D printing applications, as designers need to precisely predict how objects will change shape after printing.
What makes Autodesk particularly compelling is that they don't need to build printers or develop materials themselves.
Instead, they're creating the essential software platform that many in the 4D printing ecosystem will need to use — the classic "selling picks and shovels during a gold rush" strategy.
Why Autodesk Is Positioned to Dominate
Autodesk's sales model offers major advantages for investors. The company has successfully transitioned to a subscription-based approach, providing more predictable recurring revenue.
As 4D printing adoption accelerates, Autodesk stands to benefit from increased subscription sales — without major cost increases.
Its recent acquisition of simulation software firm Ansys for $13.5 billion strengthens its position in modeling complex material behaviors — exactly what's needed for advanced 4D printing applications.
With roughly $3 billion in cash, Autodesk has the resources to invest heavily in 4D R&D while maintaining profitability.
And make no mistake. This is a very efficient firm.
Over the past three years, Autodesk has grown per-share profits nearly 65% faster than sales.
At its current growth rate, the company is on pace to double its earnings in as little as four years.
Add it all up and you can see that Autodesk is poised to capture the upside of the coming 4D manufacturing breakthrough.
Best,
Michael A. Robinson
P.S. My colleague, Chris Graebe, just found a private startup that holds the key to the biggest energy revolution in 10+ years.
And now, you can claim early shares in it BEFORE it ever goes public.
If you act quickly, you can check out this special deal on day one.
