Industrial 3D printing with recycled materials offers environmental benefits but requires balancing between quality, cost, and performance. The use of recycled powders, if well managed, can reduce the carbon footprint without compromising mechanical properties, provided that parameters such as sphericity, oxygen content, and particle size distribution are controlled. Studies show up to 98.71% reduction

Investors in additive manufacturing are increasingly focusing on operational efficiency and solid business models, leaving technological speculation behind. Businesses with stable contracts, sustainable margins, and the ability to generate real value in the production chain are being rewarded.

Mass customization is now possible thanks to additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and parametric design. These technologies allow for the production of thousands of customized variants while maintaining efficiency and margins, overcoming the limits of traditional production. The integration of software toolchains and automated processes enables the management of variability without au

Bio-based materials for SLS 3D printing, such as PHB and PA11, offer more sustainable solutions but still present technological limitations compared to traditional polymers like PA12. Although they improve stiffness and thermal stability, they suffer from lower ductility, high porosity, and a narrow process window. Research continues to optimize composition and parameters, aiming for a balance between sust

The industry is implementing bio-based sustainable materials on a large scale, integrating responsible agricultural supply chains, technological innovation and circular economy. Projects such as Pragati, Bio.3DGREEN and Virtucycle demonstrate how sustainability and industrial performance can coexist, thanks to strategic partnerships and standardization.

A new innovative method enables the automatic identification of 3D printed parts directly using CAD models, without the need to retrain machine learning models. Developed by KU Leuven, Materialise, and Iristick, the system leverages geometric representations and few-shot learning techniques to classify new parts quickly and efficiently, reducing times and

Chemical vapor is revolutionizing the post-processing of 3D parts, offering smooth, waterproof, and repeatable finishes without material removal. Automated technologies like AMT PostPro eliminate production bottlenecks, reduce costs, and improve mechanical properties, making additive production scalable and certifiable for demanding industries.

The Additive Manufacturing Alliance, born from the union of Leading Minds and AM I Navigator, promotes the industrial integration of additive manufacturing through structured governance, standardization, and operational support.

The adoption of additive manufacturing in industry requires operational discipline, focus on defined part families, and rigorous process control. Technology alone is not enough: organizational management is needed to ensure reliability and repeatability. Winning applications are born where performance advantages outweigh complexity, such as in aerospace, medical, and tooling. Integration

Implementing the digital thread in additive manufacturing is now an operational necessity, no longer a futuristic vision. Multi-CAD integration requires reliable solutions to overcome interoperability barriers, ensure traceability, and maintain data consistency throughout the entire production cycle. Case studies and best practices show how middleware, clear governance, and hybrid toolchains can

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