One of the fastest-growing industries, both here in the Valley and nationwide, is 3-D printing. Hubbard-based 3D Printerworks showed off its printer at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last month.

"Being from Youngstown area, I know it's a former steel capital. I believe 3D printing can bring Youngstown back into the mainstream of manufacturing," said 3D Printerworks co-owner Ben Kilar.

For Ben Kilar a couple years ago he looked at some of the machines out there on the market and simply thought he could make something better.

"I love technology. I was going to build a 3D printer for fun, but realized I could build a better 3D printer and sell them," said Kilar.

So that's exactly what he did. His latest model is selling for $2,100 - with buyers from all over the world.

"My printer's geared more toward a 'pro-sumer,' an individual that knows more about technology, as well as businesses and schools," said Kilar.

The exhibit area for 3-D printing at CES was massive, so Kilar knows he has to stand out in the crowd.

"It's more like molding my baby as it grows. Due to the technology of 3-D printing, rapid prototyping, over the (last) year we have made so many improvements on the printer itself... sometimes weekly we'll change something to make it better and easier to use," said Kilar.

 At CES, Ben teamed up with 3-D Fuel, now known as ALGIX 3-D, a company that makes the material used to create those 3-D objects. During the show, he made a vase that took 22 hours to complete. Increasing speed is the biggest hurdle right now, but once that happens the industry could explode.

"Most people believe that in the next ten years, just kind of like inkjet printers, 3D printers are going to become much more prevalent in people's homes," said ALGIX 3-D communication manager Barbara Zeller.

3D Printerworks, one of several local companies already on board.