Phoenix Analysis & Design Technology, a tech firm with an office in Littleton, showed off the latest in 3D printing at St. Patrick's Brewing Company on July 25.

The Stratasys J750, for which PADT is a dealer, is the world's only multi-material, full-color 3-D printer, PADT co-owner Eric Miller said. He called the new printer a “game-changer,” allowing firms to save time by not having to switch materials.

Advancements in 3-D printing allow companies to economically manufacture low-volume parts, he said, and gives them greater design freedom. As the technology has progressed, he said that it has moved to actually creating products for consumers, which require greater durability than the prototype parts earlier 3-D printers were mainly used for.

“This is the closest thing we've got to the Replicator on “Star Trek,” Miller said of the new printer.