DropForce proposes mobile factories for 3D printing structural drone components near the place of use. The model combines locally printed parts with electronics and subsystems supplied externally, shifting the focus from the individual machine to the distributed production organization.

Oerlikon has started up the first ATLIX xBUILD 5000 at Huntersville, an LPBF printer with four 1 kW lasers and automatic build module changing, designed to reduce downtime between one production cycle and the next.

General Electric has patented a monitoring system for metal 3D printing that analyzes high-frequency oscillations of the light emitted during laser melting, separating them from the average signal, to detect defects in real time via machine learning.

PharmaTher has obtained exclusive rights for North America to the CraftMake 3D drug printing platform, aiming for a distributed on-demand production network with up to 50 installations in 12 months among pharmacies, hospitals, and manufacturers.

In Q2 2026 the global 3D printing industry grows, but listed companies show mixed results. Amid price pressures, leadership changes and Chinese competition, the sector's growth is not fully reflected in the financial statements of public companies.

EXPO3D Istanbul closed its first edition with 11,224 professional visitors and 127 exhibitors. In 2027, the trade fair will expand its focus from additive manufacturing to the entire production chain, including robotics, CAD/CAM software, and reverse engineering.

The additive manufacturing skills shortage risks leaving 2.1 million jobs unfilled in the USA by 2030. University of Tennessee and America Makes discussed training strategies to bridge the gap.

Design Museum Gent has a new entrance: a 250 kg gate in 3D-printed aluminium by the studio Unfold, which reproduces a textile curtain frozen in motion. Installed on 3 October 2026, it combines WAAM printing and traditional construction.

AM-Platform, a European additive manufacturing network active since 2007, has joined Addliance as a Core Member, the European alliance of AM hubs, bringing over 500 stakeholders from more than 25 countries. The membership is organizational and aims to coordinate national networks.

Warner Bros. adds Harry Potter to the Toybox catalog: from October 23, 2026, official wands and figures can be 3D printed at home. The model moves production of the licensed toy directly into the user's printer.

The US Army is seeking alternative suppliers for 166 critical components of the Abrams tank, using digital twin and additive manufacturing to address spare parts obsolescence and reduce dependence on a few specialized manufacturers.

Chinese researchers have created 3D-printed cementitious supercapacitors capable of combining energy storage and mechanical strength. The prototypes, with interdigitated electrodes, open the way to building components with integrated electrical functions.