Download the Nov/Dec 2024 edition of 3D ADEPT Mag

Forging a way ahead

“Difficult times create strong people. Strong people create easy times. Easy times create weak people.” It’s cyclical. These words may not be mine but as we are wrapping up 2024, I believe they offer a profound analogy to our industry.

For a year that many would describe as difficult with regards to the economy, the number of companies entering the market and those developing new and advanced solutions urge us to think otherwise. The truth is, although they are great, these innovations are sometimes not enough to immunize companies against economic slumps, slowing sales, management missteps, and myriad other issues that caused their demise and the destruction of immense shareholder value.

Whether they are consolidating or growing naturally, those who are still in the game teach us one lesson: One must have the discipline to stay the course (and even rebalance). With 2025 approaching, this time of the year is perfect to reflect and to embrace underlying opportunities with fresh perspectives.

Beyond a deep analysis of 2024, this issue of 3D ADEPT Mag sheds light on these opportunities. While we don’t know exactly yet how we will take advantage of them, the number of companies that are doing fine makes me confident that with a collaborative approach, we will discover it together.

Exclusive features

2024 year in review: History repeats itself? (Part 1)

Whenever I sit down to write our “year in review” articles, I can’t help but notice that coincidentally, these articles are prepared right after Formnext – the world’s largest Additive Manufacturing event of the industry. It may probably look weird to you but since I usually leave that event pumped with positive energy and inspiration, it is tempting to limit what happened in eleven months to just one week. And just before writing a romance novel about our industry, the analyst in me tells the optimist part of myself: think twice – this industry is more than glitz and glamour.

And that’s what I did. I thought twice – and more.

10 technology  that shaped the Additive Manufacturing industry in 2024 (Part 2)

Before entering a new year, at 3D ADEPT Media, we have made it a tradition to sit down and discuss highlights, milestones, or solutions that have somehow marked our industry throughout the year. Reasons that may explain the choice of one highlight differ from one person to another. For some reason, the picks above underscore the ingenuity and resilience driving this ever-evolving field.

Careers | Joy Gockel on workforce development needs and opportunities in AM

Have you ever realized that most AM experts who have started their career in academia usually move to the industry side after some time? It’s like a silent rule that’s passed down among professionals. It turns out Joy Gockel did not receive that memo as she steered her career in the opposite direction.

Lessons from the AM industry’s frontlines

No one is very good at consistently getting market forecasts right. As a matter of fact, every time we tried, we were surprised by the turn of events. However, one thing is certain, at the end of each year or at the end of a given period or event, we should be able to sit down, reflect and draw lessons from what has worked and what still needs to be improved.

With that in mind, we posed a simple yet revealing question to industry experts: ‘What lessons did you take away from the AM market this year?’ From VC advisors to associations and AM specialists, their insights offer a multifaceted view of the market’s successes and ongoing challenges.

Business | Differences in the pace of AM adoption across regions: The Lithoz case

When a short conversation led to a number of questions on the peculiarities related to the way AM is adopted across the world: do people buy more machines in Europe or do they invest more in applications? What does the process for approaching AM in the USA look like? What are the similarities or differences with Asia? Etc.

Startup Area | 10 Additive Manufacturing companies that turned stealth mode off in 2024

Even though there is an economic downturn affecting the industry, this does not prevent bold entrepreneurs and long-standing companies from trying their luck in the AM market. This year again, several companies made their debut in the industry. We have gathered here ten companies that caught our attention.

Startup Area | What happened to 3D printing ventures that turned stealth mode off in 2023?

Launching a company or breaking into a new market is one thing; achieving lasting growth is a whole other challenge. In the ever-evolving world of Additive Manufacturing, where innovation meets fierce competition, entrepreneurs are constantly seeking opportunities to drive the industry forward. At 3D ADEPT, we’ve made it our mission to spotlight the bold newcomers shaping this dynamic industry. With this in mind, we’re circling back to some of the 3D printing ventures that emerged from stealth mode last year. Have they survived the test of time?

Event | Formnext 2024: The problem vs The opportunity in the solution