LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., Dec. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Industry analyst Joshua Greenbaum, a speaker at IEEE Computer Society's Rock Stars of 3D Printing on March 17, 2015 in San Jose, Calif., said 3D printing technology will not only transform prototyping and manufacturing, but will also become a major vehicle for counterfeiting. In this, Greenbaum agrees with research firm Gartner that 3D printing will be responsible for counterfeiting $100 billion of U.S. goods by 2018.

"Companies can't ignore this fact," said Greenbaum, principal, Enterprise Applications Consulting. "People argue that 3D printers are not sophisticated enough for counterfeiting, that they are limited by materials, and that parts derived from 3D printers are easily distinguished from standard manufacturing. This is the same type of argument people made against 2D printers before they became a major source of false documents and currency. Nothing propels a market forward faster than the prospect of a quick illegal buck."

3D printing is also known as additive manufacturing and involves the use of one of various processes to make a three-dimensional object from a digital file. In 3D printing, hundreds of successive layers of materials such as plastic, nylon, or metal, are laid down under computer control. These objects can be of almost any shape or geometry, and are produced from a 3D model or other electronic data source. A 3D printer can be used to copy almost any object including art, components, and toys.

To prevent counterfeiting, Greenbaum cites a number of emerging techniques, such as embedding quantum dots or using anti-counterfeiting ink or digital signatures. Greenbaum will expand on this discussion further during his panel onThe Future of 3D Printing at Rock Stars of 3D Printing.

Among the other featured speakers and presentations at the March 17 conference in San Jose are:

• Paul Brody, Vice President & Global Industry Leader of Electronics, IBM: The Emerging Software Defined Supply Chain
• Terry Yoo, Computer Scientist and Head, 3D Informatics Group, National Institutes of Health: 3D Printing for Biomedical Research, Education, and Discovery
• Brian David Johnson, Futurist and Director, Future Casting and Experience Research,Intel: 21^st Century Robot
• Prabhjot Singh, Manager, Additive Manufacturing Lab, GE Global Research:Additive Manufacturing for Industrial Growth – Transformational Opportunities ... and Challenges
• Jesse Harrington Au, Chief Maker Advocate, Autodesk: The Future of How Things are Made
• Paul Benning, Print Engines Chief Technologist, HP:Manufacturing the Future
• Cliff Waldman, Council Director and Senior Economist, Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation: 3D Printing as a Driver of New Regional Economies
• Brian Gaff, Partner, McDermott Will & Emery, LLP: Intellectual Property Issues in 3D Printing

For information on registration for Rock Stars of 3D Printing, a one-day event which will include actual production of 3D printed products, go to www.computer.org/3DPrinting. Discount early registration and team pricing are available. Lunch, cocktails, and networking are included.

About IEEE Computer Society

IEEE Computer Society is the world's leading computing membership organization and the trusted information and career-development source for a global workforce of technology leaders including: professors, researchers, software engineers, IT professionals, employers, and students. The unmatched source for technology information, inspiration, and collaboration, the IEEE Computer Society is the source that computing professionals trust to provide high-quality, state-of-the-art information on an on-demand basis. The Computer Society provides a wide range of forums for top minds to come together, including technical conferences, publications, and a comprehensive digital library, unique training webinars, professional training, and the TechLeader Training Partner Program to help organizations increase their staff's technical knowledge and expertise. To find out more about the community for technology leaders, visit  http://www.computer.org.

Media Contact: Margo McCall, IEEE Computer Society, (714) 816-2182, Email Contact

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SOURCE IEEE Computer Society