Last year, 3D ADEPT Media closely tracked how additive manufacturing was moving from pilot projects to operational reality in the maritime industry. From naval sustainment to port infrastructure and offshore maintenance, AM is increasingly adopted as a strategic industrial capability in this vertical. As that evolution is accelerating, Additive Manufacturing Strategies (AMS) 2026 will offer a front-row seat to understand what comes next.
Maritime AM: From technical feasibility to business imperative
Shipbuilders, defense organizations, and operators are leveraging AM to reduce downtime, secure supply chains, and extend the service life of critical assets. The business case in this segment highlights large-format metal AM, digital inventories, and qualification frameworks around how spare parts are sourced and certified as key performance indicators to assess.
At AMS 2026, these realities take center stage through the growing role of the U.S. Maritime Industrial Base (MIB). What was once discussed as a roadmap has now become an execution phase, with demand signals, workforce development, and industrial partnerships moving in parallel. For maritime professionals, this goes beyond applications to focus on scale, governance, and long-term competitiveness.
Applications revealing the current industrial reality
The maritime sector is also proving to be a testing ground for AM applications with implications far beyond shipbuilding. From structural components and repair tooling to infrastructure-scale parts, the technologies and processes being validated for naval and commercial fleets are directly transferable to adjacent sectors such as energy, aerospace, and civil infrastructure.
Speakers from organizations deeply involved in U.S. shipbuilding and defense manufacturing, including General Dynamics Electric Boat, Newport News Shipbuilding, and Lincoln Electric, will share lessons learned on what is being printed, and how industrial AM is being integrated into certified, mission-critical production environments.
These insights are highly relevant for any organization navigating the jump from AM experimentation to industrialization.
Much more than maritime
While maritime AM is a powerful draw, AMS 2026 deliberately goes further. The conference agenda reflects the growing maturity of the AM ecosystem by tackling themes that increasingly shape adoption decisions at the executive level.
Sessions on venture capital and investing will explore where capital is flowing, and why, while discussions on intellectual property and legal frameworks address one of the most pressing challenges for companies scaling digital manufacturing across borders and supply chains.
For technology providers, end users, and investors alike, this broader perspective is what makes AMS more than a sector-specific event. It is a strategic checkpoint for understanding how AM fits into global manufacturing, defense readiness, and industrial policy.
Why register for AMS 2026
AMS 2026 brings together policymakers, OEMs, technology leaders, and investors at a moment when additive manufacturing is shifting from promise to proof, especially in demanding industries like maritime and defense.
Whether your focus is applications, business strategy, workforce development, or investment, the conversations happening in New York City from February 24–26 will help shape decisions well beyond 2026.
And for attendees, there’s an extra bonus: visitors can also expect to pick up the latest edition of 3D ADEPT Mag onsite, your curated snapshot of where industrial AM truly stands today.
There is still time to save your spot, here.
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