Download the 2022 Nov/Dec edition of 3D ADEPT Mag

As 2022 draws to a close, 3D Adept Media looks back over a rather demanding year: from mergers & acquisitions to bankruptcies, expected & unexpected milestones, 2022 led us through an emotional rollercoaster. When one reflects on key moments that shaped this year, one can say there were situations where weighing the ‘risk-reward’ factor was more pivotal than just taking the risk and expecting a reward afterwards – and vice-versa. That being said, this emotional rollercoaster is the sign that this industry never sleeps; it’s the indication that there is still so much to do, to leverage AM and its related technologies properly: whether it is for prototyping, series production or large-scale production purpose.  As you reflect with us in this last issue of the year, make sure to rethink a vision of yourself, of where you want to go – as a person or as a company – and who you want to be; make sure to take accountability for your failures and celebrate your wins; and most importantly, make sure to celebrate the people who are in this journey with you.

Season’s greetings from the 3D ADEPT Media Team.

Exclusive features

Dossier

Rounding off another demanding year: what the AM industry should keep from 2022 to move forward in 2023

As 2022 draws to a close, 3D ADEPT Media is looking back over a year difficult to characterize. To paraphrase a well-known book, we rejoiced with those who rejoiced, we felt empathy with those who were in some real uncomfortable situations, and most importantly, we analyzed, learned lessons and takeaways that hopefully, the industry will consider moving forward. Here is a wrap-up of what we will keep from business, the manufacturing value chain as well as vertical industries & standards.

AM Shapers | Education & Consultancy

Olaf Diegel and John Barnes on the little wins of the 2022 AM market, and questions AM users are asking themselves

Once combined with the right experience and expertise, the unique understanding of experts from academic institutions and consultancy firms enables them to get to the bottom of a problem that often has its roots in the industry itself; or to share takeaways based on their close connections with the AM end user – all of which is useful to help both technology providers and adopters to move forward. In this specific case, the experts we decided to rely on are Olaf Diegel and John Barnes.

Event

Additive Manufacturing Events: ideas & tips for exhibitors and visitors

While most of us were getting back to the new normal brought upon by 2021 – returning to some of the activities we love (going back to physical events, albeit with new protocols and risk calculations) -, it should be noted that other parts of the world didn’t have this luxury. Indeed, USA and Europe have held most, if not all of their industry events this year, whereas Asia is still coping with all the restrictions of the pandemic, and that includes the cancellation of many events in the region. That being said, whether you are based in Europe or in the USA, there are tips that are universal to everyone attending a 3D printing/AM event. To better prepare for next year’s industry events you are likely to take part in – be it as an exhibitor or a visitor, we would like to share some of our best practices to make the most of your time & money on the ground.

Formnext 2022: the killjoys, the elders and the kids of the “fAMily” reunion

At this time of year, for AM enthusiasts and specialists, Frankfurt becomes the global capital of industrial 3D printing. For many I talked to, it’s a bit like Christmas – the grey climate and the timing may have their part to play in this analogy, but I would rather say it’s a fAMily reunion.

Opinion

Thoughts on a changing investment landscape in the AM industry.

A lot of money is being poured into AM right now, a lot more than usual and with a lot of precautions from investors, and I want to understand why and where it can lead us. The change in this investment landscape occurred two years ago, with the pandemic. It brought increased volatility in (almost all) the markets, intensified headwinds for globalization, and industry consolidation which led to a number of IPOs and several M&As. In an attempt to understand the world of stock markets that most additive manufacturing companies were entering, I questioned this trend – with the standpoint of a potential company that could be interested in going public. At the recent Formnext, I discussed with a lot of investors, and found myself in a position where I could see the world just like them.

Interview of the Month

With a 2022 that saw an increasing number of lay-offs across AM companies – especially in the US, we were keen to discover where the labour market is headed. In case you didn’t notice that, recruitment in this industry is as passionate and driven as AM, hence the increasing number of specialized firms that pop up on the market. For this topic, we caught up with Kensington Additive, a division of Kensington Consulting Ltd, established in 2014 that exclusively focused on the Additive Manufacturing Market.

Guest Column

4 trends that hold the key to breaking down the barriers associated with AM adoption

It has become a sort of tradition for Materialise to pinpoint relevant trends that will shape the AM industry of each new calendar year. For 2023, the AM company points out 4 topics that hold the key to breaking down the barriers still associated with adopting AM.

Startup Area

10 3D Printing Start-ups you would probably want to keep on your radar

Ideas are easy. Implementation is hard. In the manufacturing and technology industry, ideas are popping up every day. However, most of the founders choose to remain in stealth mode until they have a MVP (Minimum Viable Product) to introduce to the market – with good reason, given the risks that are often involved. Interestingly, this year, ten startups stood out from the crowd and introduced their products and services for the first time to the “glocal” (portmanteau that combines the words “global” and local”) AM industry.