A.M.BestTV: Insurers Brace for 3-D Printing Revolution

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- This A.M.BestTV episode looks at how insurers are preparing for a host of coverage issues, including product liability, intellectual property claims and other concerns as 3-D printers become more advanced and available. Click on http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=3d715 to view the video program.

3-D printing, which has tremendous capabilities and is revolutionizing the world, is expected to be a $21 billion industry by 2020, according to Wohlers Report 2014.

“Today, a lot of the headlines concerning 3-D printing are about consumer applications; however, it is really in the industrial area that it is most exciting, because for some of these industries it is a real game changer,” said Robert Weireter, vice president, senior underwriter, treaty officer at Swiss Reinsurance Corporation.

According to Cindy Slubowski, vice president, head of manufacturing at Zurich North America, 3-D printing is being used in “the medical field, construction and food and traditional manufacturing.” She said that the challenges are in the risks, noting that it is uncertain whether the responsibility would lie with the consumer, the people who designed the product, the 3-D printer or the people who designed the material if something were to go wrong. “That is the difference between the traditional manufacturing environment and what we’re going to encounter in this 3-D world,” Slubowski said.

To learn more about 3-D printing please see the July issue of Best’s Review or visit http://www.bestreview.com.

Recent episodes of A.M.BestTV include:

• Digital, Social Media Remaking Insurance Marketing: Insurance marketers at the Insurance Marketing & Communications Association’s annual conference in Nashville, TN, said the growing array of communication channels is presenting greater creative opportunities but new resource challenges: http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=imca715.

• Insurers Brace For Rising Risks of Drones: Insurers are saying surging demand for drones is adding a host of new liability and property exposures: http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=drones1715.
• A.M. Best's Mosher: Capital Influx Drives Today's Insurance M&A: A.M. Best Senior Vice President Matt Mosher says capital providers are seeking insurance underwriting expertise, which is changing today's competitive and acquisition environments: http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=ma715.
• Global Broker Rankings See Shift Near Top: Best’s Review’s annual ranking of global brokers shows a change at the top of the list, as Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has moved up to the third position, based on revenues. However, that may be short-lived, since the Willis Group and Towers Watson recently announced their merger, which will give the new company combined estimated revenue of $8 billion: http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=brokers715.

A.M.BestTV covers exclusive A.M. Best information and reports, targeted topics and key developments in the (re)insurance industry every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Sign up for alerts of episodes at http://www.ambest.com/multimedia/ambtvsignup.html. View A.M.BestTV episodes at http://www.ambest.tv.

A.M. Best Company is the world’s oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2015 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150720006100/en/

A.M. Best
Lee McDonald, 908-439-2200, ext. 5561
Group Vice President, Publication and News Services
[email protected]

Source: A.M. Best

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