But as developments in the 3D printing space continue to move forward (such as the Stratasys acquisition of MakerBot for $604 million), it's becoming clear that 3D printing is not temporary trend, but an emerging industry. Keying in on this development, UPS has decided to enter the space by offering 3D printing services at select U.S. locations.  

The announcement is a pretty major milestone as it makes UPS the first nationwide retailer to offer such a service. Staples has its own in-store 3D printing service called Staples Easy 3D, but so far it's reportedly only available in Belgium and the Netherlands. Using the Stratasys uPrint SE Plus printer, UPS will target its service at small businesses looking to harness the power of 3D printing without committing to the expense of owning a 3D printer.