Reconnecting to your purpose.

Have you ever felt like working in Additive Manufacturing comes with a monumental mission? The stakes seem huge for developers of Additive Manufacturing solutions: saving the planet, improving healthcare, restoring aerospace’s image, enabling personalized production at lower costs—the list goes on. Yet, AM is just one technology in a broader toolbox of manufacturing solutions.

This sense of a “monumental” mission has a domino effect, pushing AM companies to seek major funding to fulfill their vision. That’s why, when an AM company goes bankrupt, it doesn’t just feel like the loss of a business—it feels like a setback for an entire industry.

The trade press has played a role in elevating AM’s sense of grandiosity, but it also has the power to reshape the conversation. AM companies must rethink how they communicate with vertical industries and future users. Because, at the end of the day, purpose does not have to be grandiose — or move worlds. It should be meaningful. It should be rooted in service.

This guiding principle shaped this first issue of the year—and will continue to shape our coverage throughout 2025.

Exclusive features

Dossier | How AM and the semiconductor industry can help each other

The semiconductor industry always seemed to me to be a distant industry where AM would not have a major role to play, until the recent Formnext edition where I saw several interesting applications enabled by this technology. The more I dive into this topic, the more I realize that these are two sectors that can help each other.

With key contributions from Veeco Instruments’ Dr. Ahmed El Desouky, and Eilis Taylor.

Post-processing | Composites AM: CFIP: A post-processing solution designed to reinforce plastic, metal or ceramic 3D printed parts

Most experts would tell you that Additive Manufacturing’s ability to deliver lightweight structures can be mainly achieved through lightweight design. Considered one of the most promising methods to achieve this objective, lightweight design is made possible via topology optimization or generated lattice structures. For those who would like to achieve this objective while improving the part’s mechanical properties, a recent conversation at Formnext 2024 sheds light on a solution that could help meet these objectives at the post-processing stage: Continuous Fibre Injection Process (CFIP developed by Reinforce3D.

Focus | 3D Systems: Reducing delivery times by up to 75% with a decentralized, IP-secure remote spare parts printing solution

It’s no secret that Additive Manufacturing (AM) has long been hailed as the holy grail of spare parts management across several vertical industries. In theory, the process is quite simple: being able to produce on-demand, sometimes at remote locations an end-use part or a part that can be used as a temporary fix until a regular, conventionally manufactured part arrives. In practice, a remote spare parts management solution requires taking into consideration much more than just an ordinary 3D printer. Although this model fits various industries, the article below will highlight the specific opportunities and limitations that pertain to the automotive industry.

Created in collaboration with 3D Systems.

Business: Is there an AM culture?

For the beginning of this series, and since (business) culture is a set of practices, values and norms that may influence human decision-making in certain regions – let alone in certain companies, we would like to understand this topic by sharing what the AM journey looks like for an AM user and for an AM technology provider – at least the common thread that may exist between both.

With key insights from Markus Seibold, MakerVerse.

Materials | Composites AM: What type of parts drives the composites AM market?

With a market that is expected to surpass $9 Billion in 2028, composites continue to strengthen their reputation as the strongest and most durable engineering-grade materials for professional and industrial 3D printing. If we only look at the wide range of AM technologies that are increasingly being launched in the market, this forecast may prove to be true. But it might not if we consider “commercial” applications as the real driver of any technology.  

With insights from JuggerBot 3D LLC, Massivit, and AMEXCI.

AM Shapers | Sponsored by AMUG: Automotive AM at Toyota: Challenges in complex applications with Additive Manufacturing

Have automotive parts been a difficult space for AM to grow? : The Toyota case

Applications | Automotive: The use of AM in supercars: Existing applications and current challenges

In high-performance cars, manufacturers leverage the flexibility and precision of Additive Manufacturing (AM) to push the boundaries of performance, efficiency, and customization. From engine components to aerodynamic elements, this approach addresses technical challenges while reducing development time and costs. The article below discusses the use of AM in high-performance cars, as well as the challenges and limitations that pertain to this niche segment.

Software: What is the cost of inefficient scheduling in AM?

As a production floor manager, having quick access to crucial manufacturing information is essential: “Which jobs are delayed? How many items can we ship today? Which resources are overloaded?” To get these answers, you might find yourself rushing to an operator, who, in turn, will likely consult an Excel sheet to provide that information.

Kevin O’Keefe and David Bennett from nPower Technologies took 50 minutes out of their busy schedule to discuss “inefficient cost scheduling in AM” with 3D ADEPT Media.

Events

HANNOVER MESSE 2025: Spotlight on what Canada and the Benelux region will bring to the hot spot for industrial transformation

Rapid.Tech 3D 2025: Experience approved AM solutions firsthand

3D PRINT 2025: The leading additive manufacturing trade show will take place from 3rd to 5th June in Lyon – Eurexpo – France