14 DAY TRIAL // Until a couple years ago or so, 3D printing technology was mostly unknown to the common man, having been used only in some factories, where it was known as additive manufacturing.
Now, though, many people know about 3D printing, and 3D printers and printing services sell so very well that some companies are climbing very fast, finances-wide. Reputation, too, has been amassed.
It has reached the point where market analysts and financial publications are ready to pronounce the biggest 3D printing companies as part of the top companies in the world, or at least the USA.
More specifically, financial and investing news magazine Forbes has recently stated that 3D Systems, the company that essentially established 3D printing as its own industry more or less singlehandedly, is now among America's Best Small Companies.
Back in July, 3D Systems was ranked thirteenth on Forbes' Most Innovative Growth Company in 2014, so this is the second time the company gets a mention here.
On the annual America’s Best Small Companies list, 3D Systems is ranked 43rd. The classification took into account sales growth, earnings growth, stock performance, and return on equity between a one to five-year period.
It won't raise awareness of 3D printing to the same extent as president Obama getting his portrait 3D printed but it's still a significant recognition.
