What has happened is that services offering medium scales production has become quite a lot more accessible. One can get a quote by uploading to online form, no need to enter a long term supplier agreement, few restrictions on minimum order quantity, and the starting points of prices is lower that before. And the 3d printer is key tool in prototyping the solution, and validating the design before sendibg off. It greatly reduces the risk of spending money manufacturing the wrong thing, or in wrong way (design issues).