The war in Iran has pushed the defense sector to rethink supply chains, focusing on additive manufacturing for greater flexibility and resilience. Advanced technologies and partnerships between government and startups enable the production of critical components in record time, reducing dependence on foreign suppliers. Examples like Ursa Major and the Draper engine show how it is possible

The additive manufacturing sector is experiencing a shift: from growth based on volumes to a strategy focused on margins, vertical specialization, and operational optimization. Companies like Materialise demonstrate how consolidation and attention to profitability, rather than expansion, can guarantee positive cash flows and solid financial positions, even

PreFlight is a new open-source slicer for FFF/FDM developed by oozeBot, designed to overcome the architectural limitations of traditional software. With a native 64-bit architecture and modern stack (C++20, OpenCASCADE, CGAL), it aims to ensure greater reliability, precision, and scalability in professional slicing. It introduces advanced features such as Athena Perimeter Generator and Interlocking Per

The PowTReX by Volkmann is an advanced system for the automated management of metal powders in additive production. It integrates pneumatic transport, ultrasonic sieving, and automatic recovery in a closed, explosion-proof environment, ensuring safety, material quality, and production continuity. Ideal for scalable industrial contexts and multi-supplier environments, it supports various metal allo

The filed patents improve dust control in metal 3D printing, monitoring its characteristics and flow in real-time to adapt process parameters. This reduces waste, improves layer quality and increases repeatability, with positive impacts on costs and production times.

The TCT Awards 2026 highlight the growing role of additive manufacturing in strategic sectors such as aerospace, defense, and automotive, with projects that integrate optimized structures, advanced materials, and cross-sector collaborations.

Hybrid metal-polymer FDM extrusion allows printing parts with metallic properties using composite filaments, without complex post-processing. It combines ease of use and safety, reducing costs and production times. Ideal for rapid prototyping and production of complex metal components in sectors such as aerospace, automotive, and tooling.

3D printing is revolutionizing the development of hypersonic vehicles, reducing costs and production times. Programs like the Pentagon's HyCAT focus on rapid and reusable test platforms, such as Hypersonix's DART AE demonstrator, entirely 3D printed. Additive manufacturing allows for complex geometries and the use of advanced materials resistant to high temperatures, accelerating

HP MJF Technology revolutionizes industrial production, enabling flexibility, lead time reduction, and digital warehousing. Ideal for sectors such as aerospace, defense, medical, and data centers, it allows for on-demand production of custom components, improving supply chain resilience and reducing costs. Integration with traditional processes and the use of advanced materials make

An ESA project studies how to transform lunar regolith into conductive materials to print electronic components in space, reducing dependence on Earth supplies.

The direct production of functional parts without post-processing represents an evolution of additive manufacturing, aimed at eliminating post-printing processing stages. Thanks to advanced technologies and specialized materials, it is possible to obtain immediately usable components, reducing costs, times, and variability. Sectors such as aerospace and automotive are adopting these s

New smart heat exchangers, made with 3D printing technologies and patented, offer greater thermal efficiency without pumps or fans. Thanks to innovative geometries such as partial fins and preloaded integration in engines, weight, costs and consumption are reduced, improving reliability and facilitating assembly. Applications in data centers and aerospace confirm adva