Launching a company or entering a new market is one thing; achieving lasting growth is another challenge. After highlighting twelve companies and AM-related ventures in 2023, we revisit their progress in 2024. This selection includes both start-ups and established groups; they did not all emerge from stealth.
This retrospective was prepared for the November/December 2024 edition of 3D ADEPT Mag and published online in January 2025. Activities, roles and expectations refer to that period.
Among the wide range of companies and AM-related ventures we noticed in 2023, 12 companies drew our attention: Data center solution company EdgeCloudLink (ECL), Finnish stainless steel manufacturer Outokumpu, provider of filtration and separation of fluids services Evove, KeyProd production monitoring solution provider JPB Système, Swiss robotics company Saeki, 3D BioFibR, a company that specializes in biomaterials for tissue engineering, vertically integrated company flō optics, software company Additive Appearance, manufacturer of 3D printed maritime spare parts Pelagus 3D, steel group ArcelorMittal, 3D printer manufacturer Forivory, as well as Metafold, a Design for Additive Manufacturing software company.
EdgeCloudLink (ECL)
It can be difficult to guess how a data center solution company could leverage Additive Manufacturing but EdgeCloudLink (ECL) initially shared that it would use a construction 3D printer to build a zero-emission data center in Mountain View, California. These modular data centers would stand out from the crowd by the use of construction 3D printing and their ability to run on their own hydrogen-powered microgrids.
At the time of our 2024 follow-up, the company was finalising the integration and commissioning of a 1MW data center, running on fuel cells at its headquarters in California. However, the CEO Yuval Bachar told our media colleagues from DCD that they finally did not leverage construction 3D printing as there was a vacant warehouse on its plot. According to Bachar, quoted at the time, reusing a building is greener than 3D printing a new one “and when 3D printing is needed, it will be the “easy” part of delivering a data center.”
ECL’s pilot description confirms the use of an existing warehouse in Mountain View.
Outokumpu
Outokumpu’s stainless steel powders target processes including metal injection moulding (MIM) and binder jetting. Following the 2023 pilot, the company announced the transition to commercial production in August 2024. Its stated target was up to 330 tonnes annually using stainless steel scrap from its own operations. This capacity target is not a reported production total.
Outokumpu also began several research and development cooperation projects with companies from a wide range of industries that want to use steel powder for new products. Outokumpu entered a collaboration with steel trading company STAHL KREBS, as part of the publicly funded project REACT by the German government. Another collaboration under preparation at the time concerned within the medical and jewelry industry to work on nickel-free materials, which can be used for implants, medical tools and watches. The collaboration formed part of a project funded by EIT Raw Materials, HiPAM, led by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.
That being said, Outokumpu’s primary focus remains the production of metal powders that are not yet on the market – suited for companies that use technologies to produce parts for demanding specialty applications. To support customer-specific requirements, Outokumpu operates its proprietary test laboratory, where the applications can be modified and validated directly on-site.
Evove
Evove caught our attention in 2024 with its Separonics ceramic filter membranes, manufactured using Lithoz’s LCM technology. At Formnext, Andrew Walker, then Chief Commercial Officer, discussed their role in lithium-processing chains. Filtration is one step in these processes; a membrane alone does not produce battery-grade lithium.
Walker described work with SQM in Chile and Northern Lithium in the UK. In June 2024, Evove and Northern Lithium had announced an order for a direct lithium extraction demonstration plant. This approach aims to reduce reliance on evaporation ponds and should not be equated with Separonics filtration alone.
JPB Système
In 2023, JPB Système acquired a stake in French 3D printer start-up Addimetal. The company had announced it would be involved in the development of Addimetal’s open hardware platform, technology and associated process to ensure both existing and future application needs are met. In 2024, ADDIMETAL announced the launch of its flagship metal binder jetting 3D printer. Given ADDIMETAL’s bold ambitions in the industry, we believe we will continue to hear about JPB Système.
SAEKI
SAEKI develops robotic production of 3D printed formwork for custom-shaped concrete elements, including low-volume projects. Its presence on Sika’s stand at Formnext 2024 offered a practical view of this work. Printing the formwork does not remove the need to validate its design and use on a construction project.
Visitors at the show could discover a tool used for the creation of a 3D printed tower. This tool – a concrete formwork – was produced using SAEKI’s printing and machining solution.
3D BioFibR
As a reminder, 3D BioFibR focuses on collagen products that can serve 3D cell culture and tissue engineering applications, especially the cellular scaffolds segment. In 2024, the company was involved in several R&D projects in tissue engineering and had made its μCollaFibR™ – Additive for bioinks and hydrogels – available through distributors worldwide.
flō optics
flō optics attracted attention in 2023 when it launched on the market. The company develops an inkjet-based 3D printing technology that applies unique, multi-material, multi-layer coatings to lenses. Ever since it signed an exclusive agreement with Yeda Research and Development Co., the editorial team had received little further information when preparing this dossier.
When this dossier was prepared in 2024, the editorial team had contacted flō optics’ CEO for an update. No response was included in this version; that does not establish a lack of business activity.
Additive Appearance
Additive Appearance develops print-preparation software for full-colour 3D printing. During 2024, its team presented the project at several events, including to potential investors.
Pelagus 3D
Pelagus 3D, a provider of 3D printed maritime parts and a joint venture of thyssenkrupp and Wilhelmsen, continued to develop partnerships in 2024. An agreement with Immensa addressed spare parts for the maritime and energy industries in the Middle East and North Africa.
In 2024, Pelagus 3D also announced ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 certification for its integrated management system. These concern quality, environmental and occupational health and safety management; they do not individually certify every manufactured part.
ArcelorMittal Powders
In 2024, ArcelorMittal Powders highlighted how the Paris 2024 Olympic Torch’s prototypes were made by laser powder bed fusion, in ArcelorMittal Global R&D’s Additive Manufacturing labs and using ArcelorMittal Powders’ AdamIQ™ 316L powder.
The year also included collaborations with Materialise and HP, alongside development of AdamIQ™ algorithmic optimisation. Applied after build preparation, it reorganises laser paths to reduce idle time while preserving the defined process parameters. Benefits depend on the part, material and equipment, as set out in the case study published with Addimen.
Forivory
“Forivory”, a brand of Jelect, unveiled the industrial 3D printer FT400 with a key focus on the Korean market to start the distribution. The company was supposed to prepare for overseas delivery after participating in SIMTOS in April 2024 but the dossier contained no confirmation of overseas deliveries at the time of publication.
When the dossier was prepared, the editorial team had not found the FT400 in Jelect’s website offering. That observation alone does not establish that the product line had been discontinued; its commercial status remained unconfirmed.
Metafold
Metafold offered a commercially licensable API for web-based geometry creation, editing, simulation, rendering and print preparation.
In 2024, the company’s case studies and collaborations illustrated applications of this software development toolkit.
This dossier first appeared in the November/December 2024 edition of 3D ADEPT Mag. Featured image: flō optics.
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