In November of last year, Solaplast, a division of Marion, Ala.-based Algix, a company that converts algae from commercial catfish ponds into plastic, announced the opening of a facility in Meridian’s G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Industrial Park.

    At the time, officials with Solaplast predicted the company would hire up to 100 people to work at its Meridian plant over the next few years.

    We were excited then that a high-tech industry that specializes in a “green” industry chose Meridian for its base of operations.

    The news keeps getting better. Algix has partnered with 3D Fuel, a manufacturer of 3D printer filament, to manufacture an “earth friendly” line of printer filament, which is basically the ink for 3D printers.

    Production of filament for 3D printers is predicted to take off in the near future. According to the independent research firm, Canalys, the predicted yearly growth rate in the global 3D printing market is expected to top 45 percent.

    In 2013, the worldwide market for 3D printing was estimated at $2.5 billion and is expected to top out at $16.2 billion by 2018.

    Furthermore, some 80 percent of 3D printer filament in use in the U.S. is shipped in from China, according to officials at 3D Fuel. Not only will Algix — and subsequently Meridian — benefit from an increased worldwide demand, but the company also will be poised to supply a growing need for 3D filament right here in the U.S.

    The technology is heady stuff. 3D printers use plastic, ceramic or metal to add layers to create three-dimensional objects from designs created on a computer. Prostheses, car parts, guitars, jewelry and fashion accessories are just a few of the items 3D printers have been used to produce.

    3D printing is also being used by aircraft manufactures and the medical industry to produce specialized parts.     

    Like most evolving technologies, the reality is it isn’t fully known what new uses will eventually be found for 3D printing. As the technology improves and the price of 3D printers drops, some predict 3D printers will one day become commonplace in homes.

    It is exciting to think that a Meridian business will be a part of a trending technology whose full potential has yet to be realized.