The concept printer was announced at the Lenovo Tech World conference in Beijing last month, which was the first of its kind to take place.
The Times of India and 3DPrint.com reported on the innovation, which Lenovo would not give a release date for. 3DPrint.com commented that the company seemed “keen on entering new verticals such as 3D printing” which may take off over the coming years, adding that “if a multi-billion dollar corporation like Lenovo were to enter this space we may soon begin to see a flurry of additional activity within the food printing industry”.
Also announced were Smart shoes able to detect your mood, a smartwatch with a virtual display and a phone with a built-in projector, in a bid by the company to provide technology solutions for PC and smartphone businesses competing with Apple and Samsung Electronics. The shoes have neon yellow laces and soles, and can track fitness data such as heart rate and calorie consumption, and provide maps and directions.
Lenovo is looking to achieve a greater share of the internet-linked appliances market, which some analysts have said will be worth $7.1 trillion (€6.4 trillion) by 2020. It is championing its new internet-based ShenQi unit to do this, creating products able to wirelessly link home appliances and other gadgets with smartphones and tablets.
The unit is also working on robots and drones, and Chief Executive Officer Yang Yuanqing said in January 2015 that Lenovo may make the division public. The Beijing-based technology developer spent around $5 billion (€4.5 billion) on acquisitions last year, including buying out Motorola Mobility.
It hopes to boost its smartphone business by offering Chinese buyers the chance to customize their phones under the Moto X brand. Users will be able to choose the colours, memory size and materials, such as leather and wood, for their smartphones, with prices starting at CNY2,799 ($451/$413).
Yuanqing said: “Lenovo Tech World was a celebration of innovation with some of the world’s great tech leaders, our partners and suppliers, and most important of all, our fans and customers. Lenovo has a unique position in our industry because we can deliver the devices, smart connectivity and infrastructure required to create a great user experience and satisfy real user needs.
Even more, we talk to our fans everyday about how we can innovate together. They are our partners in defining the future of technology.”