The IPO debut was celebrated on both coasts on June 12, 2026. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell and Chief Financial Officer Bret Johnsen rang the Nasdaq opening bell in New York, while Elon Musk joined employees and supporters at the company’s Starbase facility in Texas for a simultaneous celebration. Alongside its Nasdaq debut, SpaceX also became one of the first companies to dual-list on Nasdaq Texas, the exchange’s new Texas-based market launched earlier this year.

SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell and Chief Financial Officer Bret Johnsen rang the Nasdaq opening bell in New York. Image courtesy of Elon Musk via X.

Speaking from Starbase, Musk talked about SpaceX’s early days and said he believed the company had “less than a 10% chance” of succeeding when it was founded more than two decades ago.

“If people told me this was gonna happen, I was like, ‘Man you must be smoking some really good crack, because I think this company is gonna fail,” said Musk. “I told people it was going to fail, but we should give it a chance because if there’s not a new company that enters space, we will never be a truly space-bearing civilization.”

Most investors will probably focus on SpaceX’s launch business, its rapidly growing Starlink satellite network, defense contracts, and future ambitions for Starship and deep-space exploration. Yet the IPO also highlights a company that has become one of the world’s most significant users of additive manufacturing (AM).

Over the past decade, SpaceX has incorporated 3D printing into some of its most important programs. Along the way, it helped demonstrate that AM could move beyond prototyping and into some of the most demanding applications in engineering.

A Long History With AM

SpaceX was an early adopter of metal AM, particularly for rocket propulsion systems. In fact, the company’s SuperDraco engines, which powered the Crew Dragon launch escape system, became one of the first high-profile examples of flight-qualified metal 3D printed rocket components. Manufactured using metal powder bed fusion technology, the engines demonstrated that AM could produce complex, high-performance hardware capable of operating in extreme environments. So the success of SuperDraco helped show that 3D printed parts could be used in real flight hardware, not just prototypes.

Since then, SpaceX has expanded its use of AM across many programs, incorporating 3D printed parts into engines, propulsion systems, spacecraft components, and production equipment. While the company rarely discloses specific details about its manufacturing processes, engineers and industry experts have long seen SpaceX as one of the most powerful examples of how 3D printing can accelerate space development cycles.

Few people have witnessed that transition more closely than Jeff Thornburg. The former SpaceX propulsion executive, who later led propulsion development efforts elsewhere in the space industry before co-founding Portal Space Systems, told 3DPrint.com last year that additive manufacturing changed how rocket engines could be designed and developed. According to Thornburg, the technology dramatically shortened development timelines and opened new design possibilities that were difficult to achieve through conventional manufacturing.

The first Raptor Vacuum engine (RVac) for Starship shipped from SpaceX’s rocket factory in California to SpaceX’s development facility in Texas. Image courtesy of SpaceX via Twitter.

The Velo3D Connection

SpaceX’s influence on the AM industry became particularly visible through its relationship with Velo3D. During Velo3D’s rise, SpaceX emerged as one of the company’s most important customers.

Velo3D’s technology was designed to manufacture highly complex metal components with minimal support structures, making it particularly attractive for rocket engines and other aerospace parts that have internal channels, lightweight geometries, and difficult-to-machine designs. In fact, many times, SpaceX represented an important share of Velo3D’s revenue.

When Velo3D faced financial difficulties in 2024, rumors circulated that SpaceX could acquire the company, but that never happened. Instead, the two signed an $8 million agreement that gave SpaceX a broad license to Velo3D’s AM technology, along with engineering support services. The breakdown estimates that SpaceX paid $5 million for a non-exclusive license to Velo3D’s technology and $3 million for engineering and support services.

Why Manufacturing Matters

Elon Musk at the company’s Starbase facility in Texas before SpaceX went public on the Nasdaq. Image courtesy of Elon Musk via X.

SpaceX helped show that 3D printing could be used for much more than prototypes. Over the years, the company used AM to speed up development and simplify the production of complex aerospace parts. That approach helped SpaceX move quickly and influenced many of the launch companies that came next.

As new launch companies emerged over the past decade, many adopted metal 3D printing from the start. Today, the technology is a common part of the space industry’s manufacturing toolkit, with companies using it to produce everything from rocket engine components to spacecraft hardware. While SpaceX wasn’t the only company driving that shift, it helped prove that 3D printing could be used to build some of aerospace’s most daring hardware. As Musk said earlier today, “it’s about taking the fiction out of science fiction.”

With Stratasys reporting revenue of $551 million, 3D Systems generating around $389 million, Materialise bringing in €267 million, Xometry posting $687 million, Protolabs doing $500 million, and BLT reaching $256 million, we may have to redraw our mental map of the 3D printing market. At the beginning of 2025, we estimated that Bambu Lab would reach $1.1 billion in revenue, while Creality would reach $640 million. In that article, we already asked you to adopt a new worldview; now, with more data, it’s becoming even clearer that this is necessary.

The spinout follows a series of test flights in April aboard Novespace’s Airbus A310 Zero G aircraft, during which three CosmicMaker 3D printers produced parts while the aircraft cycled between roughly 22-second periods of microgravity and higher-gravity periods ranging from 0g to 2g.

According to the company, all three printers functioned throughout the flights and successfully produced parts using four different materials, including silicon carbide, alumina, and two thermoset polymers. The resulting components were reported to be “dimensionally accurate.”

Two Large boxes containing three CosmicMaker printers on the Novespace parabolic flight. Image courtesy of Photocentric.

Perhaps the most surprising result involved the ceramic materials, silicon carbide and alumina. CosmicMaker said those materials actually printed better during the microgravity portions of the flight. Without gravity pulling heavier particles downward, the ceramic mixtures remained more evenly distributed throughout the printing process. During the higher-gravity phases, those particles were more likely to separate from the surrounding slurry.

Unlike many 3D printing systems, CosmicMaker’s process keeps parts surrounded by liquid material as they are being built. That means the printed object remains supported throughout the process, eliminating the need for additional support structures in microgravity. That characteristic could make the technology particularly attractive for future off-Earth manufacturing applications. While many additive manufacturing systems must be adapted to operate in space, CosmicMaker says its process may perform better in microgravity than on Earth.

The company says one of the biggest advantages of the system is that it is built on a technology with a long track record on Earth. According to Photocentric, its LCD-based printing systems have already produced tens of millions of parts. The platform is also designed to work with a range of materials, including plastics, ceramics, metals, and composites, while keeping weight and power consumption relatively low—two factors that become especially important when equipment is headed to space.

Space manufacturing has been part of Photocentric’s plans for several years. In 2020, the company patented a 3D printing process designed for use in space and later received multiple grants through the European Space Agency‘s (ESA) Business Applications and Space Solutions program to help develop and validate the technology. Photocentric, founded in 2002, is best known for helping pioneer LCD-based 3D printing.

By spinning CosmicMaker out into its own company, Photocentric is betting that manufacturing beyond Earth could become a genuine business opportunity. Photocentric believes there could eventually be demand for manufacturing systems that allow astronauts and future lunar crews to make parts where they are needed rather than shipping everything from Earth. That’s their long-term vision. But for now, the next steps include adding centrifugal resin recovery systems and increasing automation so that astronauts would no longer need to participate directly in the printing process.

Just a few years ago, manufacturing on the Moon sounded largely theoretical. Today, with lunar programs accelerating and commercial space stations moving closer to reality, companies are beginning to test the technologies that could make that notion possible. CosmicMaker’s latest flight campaign is one small example of how that work is starting to move from concept to hardware.

The company provides individual reports per spool for filament diameter and average diameter, measured across the entire filament (not just at one point or on one axis), to tolerances of ±0.8μm. They are also known for their Stone Age stone-look filaments and have a basic filament line called The Filament. Spectrum has high-flow filaments, foaming PLAs, electrically conductive materials, glitter, glow-in-the-dark, flame-retardant, and more. They have very high-performance materials such as PEBA, a polycarbonate-PTFE blend for durable, smooth parts; food-safe materials; PPS; and medical ABS. I’m a fan.

Filaments. Image courtesy of Spectrum Filaments.

Spectrum has now received an investment from Blue Gravity Capital. Blue Gravity calls itself a hands-on investor that seeks to work with founders to create value. They are now the majority owner of Spectrum. Terms were not disclosed, but they said the investment was “several tens of millions of PLN,” which could mean they invested about $5 to $10 million.

Filaments. Image courtesy of Spectrum Filaments.

The company says that it grew organically and is “one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of 3D printing filaments.” They also say that, “between 2018 and 2025, Spectrum achieved an average annual production volume growth rate of approximately 50%.” This is commendable, since it was also the time when Sunlu went from terrible to mwah, Amazon’s rise through Hatchbox and beyond, Prusa Research’s Prusament market entry, Polymaker’s rise, and general upheaval in the filament market. Showing growth at this time, and such consistent, high growth, is commendable. Many people went out of business during that period as well. Now, the company will use the investment to further scale and automate production, drive international growth, and invest in R&D. The firm hopes to double its capacity. Management will remain in place, and the company will do what it does already, only more of it.

Spectrum’s CEO Michal Zoladek said,

“Over the past years, we have focused primarily on product development, quality and building our distribution network. Today, we see the market evolving faster than ever before. In practice, for nearly five years we have operated under continuous backorder conditions, with demand regularly exceeding our available production capacity. Through our partnership with Blue Gravity Capital, we will be able to significantly accelerate investments in production capacity expansion, new material development and further development of our organization. For our customers, this means improved product availability, shorter lead times and even faster introduction of new products to the market.”

While Wojciech Fedorowicz, Managing Partner at Blue Gravity Capital, stated,

“Spectrum Filaments is exactly the type of company we look for as investors: profitable, fast-growing, built around a strong product, significant export potential and a founder who has created a solid business through consistent execution and deep industry expertise. The 3D printing materials market is currently at a very exciting stage. Better, easier-to-use and more affordable printers are continuously expanding the range of applications for this technology, directly driving demand for filaments. Together with Michal Zoladek and the Spectrum team, we aim to build one of the key players in this segment.”

Spectrum PEBA. Image courtesy of Spectrum Filaments.

This is great news for Spectrum. The company is providing customers with high-quality products at fair prices while continuing to innovate. I like it when that kind of good behavior gets rewarded. It’s also good for the European 3D printing business. At one point, nearly all of the filament was produced in Europe, but the intervening years have been tough for European producers. Now, only a few big players are standing strong. Spectrum’s investment is a shot in the arm for the firm and the broader European industry. With a long-term backer and investment, the company can now innovate and compete more effectively.

With labor costs being much lower than those of Dutch and German competitors, Spectrum has a decided advantage. It will still need to keep pace with the likes of ColorFabb and 3D4Makers while offering price-competitive products to competitors like Polymaker. And companies like Polymaker will be more likely to increase production and distribution in Europe amid tariff uncertainty. At the same time, it needs to break into the US market, which has been thoroughly wrecked by Amazon. Toner Plastics, Push Plastic, and 3D Fuel seem to be holding strong, but it’s not easy.

Spectrum refills. Image courtesy of Spectrum Filaments.

To me, the path forward seems clear. If Spectrum can develop more engineering filaments for end-use parts, it can thrive. To me, cosplay deserves its own perfect filament. There should be the perfect cookie-cutter and other food-article filament, the perfect material for vasculature models in hospitals, and the perfect car-repair-under-the-hood material. We’re in a holding pattern, with everyone using PLA and PETG because they’re affordable and work most of the time.

But with more true hobbyists coming into the market due to better printers, we’re getting users who do not care one iota about 3D printing. These people just want to print props for their theater or concrete molds. It’s like welcoming you to the Exacto knife industry with all sorts of knife-related terminology and choices. Who cares? I want to cut. What is the best tool to cut what I need, or for me in particular? So, a safer filament, especially for kids, is a great idea. A better burnout and casting material, a better material specifically for outdoor gear and sports equipment, too, available in the prevailing colors, is the way to go. Making materials that are perfect for these new groups of people who will only print, and typically only print for one part of the family or use case, is the best way forward.

Understanding what cosplay people need in terms of surface quality, what paints they use, what goals they have, and what they struggle with is, to me, the key to victory. At the same time, having the right ESD filament for consumer electronics will also be key. To me, in-depth user understanding and collaboration are the way Spectrum could win.

One of the clearest signs that additive manufacturing is maturing is that its workforce challenges are beginning to look remarkably similar to those faced by manufacturing as a whole. Defense spending is increasing across multiple regions, governments are investing in manufacturing resilience, and industrial organizations continue to explore how technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation, and digital manufacturing can improve productivity and competitiveness.

For AM businesses, these developments present significant opportunities. However, they also introduce a new challenge. As the industry continues to move beyond experimentation and toward industrial-scale adoption, the battle for competitive advantage may no longer be on technology alone. Increasingly, it will be determined by whether companies can build teams capable of delivering reliable, repeatable manufacturing outcomes.

The workforce data emerging from the latest AM Salary Survey Report from Alexander Daniels Global (AD Global) suggests this transition is already underway.

While salary surveys are often viewed through the lens of compensation, they can also provide valuable insight into where our industry is heading. Hiring priorities, salary growth, and workforce composition often reveal strategic shifts long before they become obvious in financial results or market share data.

Looking beyond compensation data, three workforce trends stand out. Each reflects a broader shift in how AM is being deployed, funded, and evaluated.

Signal One: Production Has Become the Industry’s Top Hiring Priority

AM lab at Nottingham University. Image courtesy of Alexander Daniels Global

For much of the past decade, AM hiring was heavily focused on engineering, R&D, and commercial development. Companies were building technologies, developing materials, validating processes, and educating customers about what additive manufacturing could achieve. Today, the priorities look different.

Production has emerged as the industry’s most in-demand discipline in 2026, with the vast majority of employers planning to hire production-focused talent throughout this year (2026 AM Salary Survey Report, Alexander Daniels Global).

This shift reflects a broader change taking place across the AM sector.

The industry has moved away from being dominated by prototyping, proof-of-concept projects, and technology demonstrations. Instead, growth is increasingly being driven by qualified industrial applications, serial production, spare parts manufacturing, defense programs, and industrial deployment.

Success in this environment requires a different workforce. Machine operators, manufacturing engineers, quality specialists, process engineers, and production managers are becoming increasingly critical to organizational success.

One of the most significant developments in the market is that many of the largest investment programs are no longer focused solely on AM. Investment is increasingly being directed towards defense capability, digital manufacturing, automation, and industrial resilience, with AM deployed as part of a wider manufacturing strategy.

As a result, workforce requirements are changing. Companies need people who understand not only additive manufacturing but also production systems, quality management, industrial operations, and manufacturing execution.

For AM businesses, attracting and developing that talent may become just as important as developing the next generation of technology.

Signal Two: Software Is Becoming a Manufacturing Skill

One of the most notable findings in this year’s salary data was the continued strength of software compensation. At first glance, this may appear to be a technology trend. In reality, it is more accurately an industrialization trend.

Modern manufacturing increasingly relies on software to connect machines, manage workflows, monitor quality, optimize production, and support decision-making.

The same transformation is occurring within AM. As organizations scale operations, they are investing more heavily in:

• workflow automation
• process monitoring
• manufacturing execution systems
• machine connectivity
• production analytics
• AI-enabled decision support

The result is a growing demand for professionals who can operate at the intersection of software and manufacturing.

This is particularly significant because AM is entering the market for talent traditionally associated with industrial automation, digital manufacturing, and smart factory initiatives. These individuals are in high demand across the manufacturing sector.

The organizations that successfully integrate software, automation, and production expertise into their operations are likely to gain a significant competitive advantage.

Technology alone is unlikely to be enough. The strongest performers will be those who understand precisely where they create value within a customer’s manufacturing environment.

Signal Three: Application Expertise Is Becoming a Strategic Asset

Perhaps the most important workforce trend is the continued growth of customer-facing and application-focused roles, which now account for approximately 40% of the AM workforce (2026 AM Salary Survey Report, Alexander Daniels Global).

For many years, AM companies competed primarily on technology. Machine performance, materials portfolios, build speed, and technical specifications often formed the basis of competitive differentiation. That is beginning to change. As additive manufacturing becomes more established, customers are becoming less interested in the technology itself and more interested in the outcomes it delivers.

Evidence of this shift can be seen across the market. Increasingly, AM companies are positioning themselves within broader advanced manufacturing ecosystems rather than exclusively within AM events and communities.

Customers want solutions to specific manufacturing problems. They want improved supply chain resilience. They want lower inventory requirements. They want lighter components, shorter lead times, and more efficient production processes. Meeting those needs requires a workforce capable of translating technology into business value.

Application engineers, consultants, technical sales professionals, and customer success teams are becoming increasingly important because they sit at the intersection of engineering, manufacturing, and commercial strategy.

These roles exemplify the growing importance of T-shaped talent within the AM industry. Professionals who combine broad knowledge of manufacturing, applications, and commercial requirements with deep expertise in a specific discipline are becoming increasingly valuable.

Examples of T-Shaped Talent in Practice. Image courtesy of alenia.co.uk

Their role is not simply to explain additive manufacturing. It is to identify where it creates measurable value and ensure successful implementation. As a result, application expertise is emerging as one of the industry’s most valuable strategic assets.

The Bigger Picture

Viewed individually, these workforce shifts may appear unrelated. Production hiring is increasing. Software salaries are rising. Application expertise is becoming more valuable. Taken together, however, they tell a much larger story. The strongest workforce signals are emerging in the areas that connect AM to wider manufacturing outcomes. That means building organizations that are:

• reliable
• repeatable
• application-driven

These themes are becoming increasingly visible across the broader manufacturing landscape as defense investment accelerates, industrial automation expands, and AI begins reshaping how businesses operate.

The AM industry is no longer developing in isolation. It is becoming increasingly embedded within a much larger manufacturing ecosystem, where success is measured by productivity, quality, reliability, and commercial impact.

Looking Ahead

What is changing is not the relevance of additive manufacturing, but the context in which it is being adopted.

Much of the investment now flowing into the market is being driven by broader initiatives around defense capability, supply chain resilience, digital manufacturing, and industrial automation. In these environments, AM is not being evaluated as a standalone technology. It is being evaluated as one component within a wider manufacturing strategy.

That has important implications for the workforce.

Companies do not simply need people who understand additive manufacturing. They need people who understand how additive manufacturing integrates with production systems, quality frameworks, software platforms, customer requirements, and industrial operations. The challenge is becoming less about finding AM specialists and more about building teams capable of delivering manufacturing outcomes.

The workforce signals highlighted in this year’s survey suggest that this shift is already underway. Production talent is becoming more valuable. Software expertise is becoming more important. Application knowledge is becoming a competitive advantage.

Viewed together, these trends point to an industry increasingly measured by the same standards as manufacturing more broadly.

In many respects, additive manufacturing is becoming manufacturing – with a different toolset.

In July, the next AM Salary Survey will open for participation, giving professionals and employers the opportunity to share how these market dynamics are affecting their organizations. The insights gathered will help build a clearer picture of how workforce priorities, hiring demand, and talent requirements are evolving as additive manufacturing becomes further embedded within the wider manufacturing landscape.

If we look at subsea (a $30 billion industry) marine construction for things like wind farms, wave energy, sea floor mining, and defense, this could be a considerable business, one much larger than additive manufacturing alone. DEEP Manufacturing is a subsidiary of DEEP, which hopes to build its own habitats while DEEP Manufacturing prints them. But, DEEP Manufacturing will also print large-scale structures and pressure vessels for clients as well.

This specialization gives DEEP an edge in a potentially very lucrative market. To make its synchronized multi-robot approach work, the company has partnered with software, toolpathing, and robot arm companies, and now Fortius Metals. Fortius received $2 million from AM Ventures in 2022, and another $2 million from investors in 2024. The firm also won Air Force and other contracts for hypersonics. Fortius spun out of LPBF materials firm Elementum 3D, and we talked to their CEO about the firm last year. Its DED materials have nanoparticle reinforcements that improve mechanical properties such as fatigue and strength.

Fortius will help DEEP with simulation, toolpathing, and its welding wire products. This should help DEEP go to market quicker and make stronger parts. The duo will test out samples before attempting full-sized parts in July. The goal is to build a multi-metal cylinder at scale, to show that these technologies are capable of delivering the process control, precision, and repeatability necessary for industrial environments.

DEEP Manufacturing CEO Peter Richards said,

“Multi-material manufacturing will help transform industries that rely on parts performing in the most demanding environments. But getting there takes more than depositing metal. It takes process knowledge, monitoring and control at scale. This project is about proving those capabilities can come together to move hard problems closer to production.” 

Meanwhile, Fortius Metals CEO Jeph Ruppert, stated,

“By combining simulation, toolpath design and advanced wire with a highly capable printing platform, we can explore what’s genuinely possible for complex parts. Working with DEEP Manufacturing lets us apply our modelling and materials expertise to a real, demanding structure.”

This is good news for DEEP because it builds on the firm’s inevitability and progress. DEEP is moving quickly in something that is very quality and precision driven. If you are in the market for human-rated pressure vessels, then you could care about cost, but you’ll always care more about quality. Also, if you want to put humans on the ocean floor for any length of time, whether it be for a spot of underwater welding (yes, that’s a welding joke),  or perhaps some sea floor defense activity, the cost of the pressure vessel will be a small component of an expensive endeavor. Dive Support Vessels, medical staff, ROVs, sensors, and more will see your costs balloon before you put one person under the surface.

But, if that person stays there, or if you establish an ROV base at the bottom of the sea to monitor internet cables, the costs will be much lower per day. So this could be a very exciting long-term business with good margins and long-term contracts. It could also be a business of considerable volume that could disrupt parts of the subsea market. For Fortius, this is an excellent development because it is essentially locking the customer into its designs using its materials. This is a variant of the Hotel California strategy that we see ADDMAN and others do. From simulation to design and qualification, using only your materials, is a super lovely place to be.

DEEP Manufacturing is bringing together the knowledge, talent, and procedures of many vendors to one place and aiding in one effort: its own manufacturing needs and prowess. This approach will probably be much faster than others. From this perch, DEEP could then grow and get revenue more quickly as well. At the same time, it must prolong its relationships with key partners once they become a part of their spec.

According to Chinese state media outlet China Global Television Network (CGTN), China exported 2.46 million 3D printers during the first four months of 2026, a 44.7% increase from the same period last year. The report also cited industry data indicating that Chinese manufacturers now account for roughly 90% of the global consumer-grade 3D printer market.

While that number may seem incredibly high, other data points to a similar trend. Market intelligence firm CONTEXT reported that Chinese manufacturers accounted for more than 90% of global entry-level 3D printer shipments in 2025. In fact, in some quarters, their share climbed to 95%. The firm recently compared China’s rise in consumer 3D printing to Japan’s dominance of consumer electronics in the 1980s. And it is undeniable that companies like Bambu Lab, Creality, Elegoo, Anycubic, Flashforge, and QIDI are driving much of the industry’s growth.

If the estimate is accurate, it stresses just how dramatically the desktop 3D printing industry has changed over the past decade. What was once a market with major players in the United States and Europe is now increasingly driven by Chinese manufacturers, particularly in the consumer segment.

But this trend has been building for years. Many of the world’s most popular desktop printers are now designed and manufactured in China, especially in Shenzhen, which has emerged as the industry’s main hub. The city gives these companies direct access to a dense network of suppliers, electronics manufacturers, logistics providers, and engineering talent, allowing them to develop and launch products at a much faster pace, one that the competition in other regions cannot match. In fact, the latest export figures suggest that the demand is still strong despite the global economic uncertainty and ongoing trade tensions in several markets.

Creality’s IPO. Image courtesy of Creality via LinkedIn.

One company attracting particular attention is Creality, which just a week ago went public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, a move that gave investors a chance to buy shares in one of the sector’s best-known brands. According to IPO documents, Creality sells products in more than 140 countries and generates roughly 90% of its revenue outside Asia. The filings also show gross profit reached nearly RMB 708 million ($99 million) in 2024. The company is also one of the largest players in the market, with a global market share of nearly 28% between 2020 and 2024.

Bambu Lab is another company that has benefited from the boom in consumer 3D printing. Founded in 2020, the company went from a newcomer to the market leader in just a few years. By 2025, Bambu Lab had overtaken Creality as the world’s largest entry-level 3D printer brand, capturing a 37% market share and ending Creality’s long run at the top of the category.

The A2L. Image courtesy of Bambu Lab.

The result is a market that looks very different from a decade ago. During the early years of desktop 3D printing, many of the industry’s best-known brands were based in the United States and Europe, including MakerBot, Ultimaker, and Prusa Research, as well as a number of smaller manufacturers. Today, the center of gravity has moved to China.

That change is very similar to what has happened in other technology sectors. Chinese companies have already proven they have strong positions in industries such as drones, electric vehicles, batteries, and solar energy. In many cases, Chinese firms are no longer known simply for making cheaper products. Consumer 3D printing appears to be another example, with Chinese manufacturers now leading much of this market.

Of course, consumer 3D printers are only a small portion of the overall additive manufacturing market. But they are a really important one, as they often introduce new users to the technology. For many users, a desktop printer is their first experience with additive manufacturing, making this segment an important source of future customers and talent.

The industry’s rise has been incredibly fast, especially when you consider that some of its biggest companies did not even exist until the 2020s. And today, these manufacturers are exporting millions of machines every year and competing for market share on a global scale. The question is no longer whether China has become a major player in consumer 3D printing, but how long competitors can keep up.

Nutrition brand Nourished sells its gummies in France. Image courtesy of Nourished.

The funding round was backed by several investors, including Suntory, Estrella Galicia, Apollo Hospitals, and French pharmaceutical company UPSA. The company said the capital will support expansion into the United States, India, the Middle East, and North Africa, as well as further investments in automation, artificial intelligence, and manufacturing.

For the additive manufacturing industry, the announcement represents another milestone for a company that has spent years trying to prove that 3D printing can be used not just for prototypes or specialty products, but for high-volume consumer goods.

Founded by entrepreneur and nutritionist Melissa Snover, Rem3dy Health developed a manufacturing platform capable of producing personalized vitamin gummies using proprietary 3D printing technology. The company’s Nourished products are built as seven-layer nutrient “stacks,” with formulations tailored to individual health goals. Customers complete an online questionnaire and receive a customized blend of vitamins, minerals, and supplements.

Since its launch, Nourished has become one of the most clear examples of food- and nutrition-related 3D printing. The company now sells through major UK retailers including Boots, Holland & Barrett, and Ocado, and also distributes products through thousands of pharmacies across Europe.

According to the company, its manufacturing operation currently produces approximately 500,000 personalized gummies per day. Rem3dy also reports holding 29 patents related to its technology and manufacturing processes.

Melissa Snover, CEO and Founder of Nourished. Image courtesy of Nourished.

The funding comes after a year of growth for the company. Rem3dy reported more than £10 million in revenue in 2025, up about 61% from the previous year. The company also said it increased production and improved its manufacturing processes through greater automation and the use of artificial intelligence.

Personalized nutrition has become quite popular in recent years and is now often linked to interest in longevity and preventive health. We recently explored this trend in more detail in our PRO article, The Longevity Gold Rush Could Become a Major Opportunity for Bioprinting.

In the case of Nourished, instead of buying the same vitamins as everyone else, customers receive supplements designed around their own health goals, lifestyle, diet, and age. The concept attracted plenty of interest from people looking for more personalized ways to manage their health.

Even more so, investor interest in the sector continues to grow. Personalized nutrition is at the intersection of several major trends, including digital health, AI-driven recommendations, preventive healthcare, and what some consumers view as “longevity hacks,” or products and services that seek to extend healthspan and maintain quality of life as people age.

Rem3dy’s investors come from several sectors. Along with consumer brands Suntory and Estrella Galicia, the round included Apollo Hospitals, one of India’s largest healthcare providers. So, rather than relying only on traditional venture capital, the company seems to be building a network of strategic partners that could help accelerate entry into new markets.

Nourished products are available at retail chain Holland & Barrett. Image courtesy of Nourished.

The company is also planning to expand beyond human nutrition. Rem3dy said part of the funding will support the development of personalized health products for pets, another rapidly growing wellness category.

For the 3D printing industry, the funding is about more than nutrition. For years, companies have promoted the idea of 3D printed food and supplements. But turning that vision into a real business has proven much harder. While many projects never moved beyond demonstrations and pilot programs, Nourished has built a product that consumers can buy in retail stores and has grown its customer base. Now, backed by £14 million in new funding, Rem3dy is looking to take that model into new markets, and it may turn out to be one of the most interesting applications for personalized products in the 3D printing industry.

Fabric8Labs, the San Diego-based company that leverages its proprietary Electrochemical Additive Manufacturing (ECAM) process to produce thermal management hardware for the data center and semiconductor industries, has entered into an agreement to be acquired by TDK, in an all-cash deal worth up to $400 million. Fabric8Labs will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of TDK, and the total value of the transaction will depend upon Fabric8Labs’ ability to meet undisclosed performance milestones.

Through its venture arm, TDK has been an investor in Fabric8Labs since at least 2021, when the Japanese multinational invested in the startup’s Series A round worth nearly $20 million. Additionally, TDK participated in two subsequent funding rounds, each worth $50 million. With its process for printing liquid-cooling cold plates, Fabric8Labs is targeting a market that AM Research forecasts will see exponential growth through 2035, as one of the biggest long-term catalysts for AM demand expansion.

TDK’s journey from early investor in Fabric8Labs to parent company has proceeded in parallel to, and in alignment with, its Digital Transformation initiative, a plan to build the TDK enterprise AI business on a foundation of the company’s own internal AI adoption strategy. TDK’s acquisition of Fabric8Labs gives both companies the opportunity to use the buildout of TDK’s in-house data management transformation as a test run for a broader B2B scale-up in the future.

High-purity components. Image courtesy of Fabric8Labs.

In a press release about TDK’s acquisition of Fabric8Labs, the president and CEO of TDK, Noboro Saito, said, “This acquisition marks a pivotal step in accelerating TDK’s value creation. By harmonizing our technologies with Fabric8Labs’ innovative capabilities, we will be uniquely positioned to provide customers with innovative thermal management systems, high-efficiency power components, and advanced packaging techniques that define the next generation of data center performance.”

Jeff Herman, the CEO of Fabric8Labs, said, “Joining TDK group will give us the resources to scale our technology globally and to supply our current and future Tier 1 customers with the solutions they need with confidence in our ability to scale while we remain focused on our core mission.”

Moreover, TDK could ultimately leverage Fabric8Labs’ technology for data center thermal management in more ways than one, as the ECAM process is also a viable method for advanced packaging, and TDK has invested heavily in lowering the power consumption requirements for AI chips through advanced packaging. A two-pronged approach — lowering the power demand of the chips themselves while also minimizing the power demand requirements of the associated cooling hardware — could give TDK a serious edge in the biggest value differentiator in the AI infrastructure market, compute power efficiency.

I absolutely love this acquisition. In a PRO article published last year, I suggested that we’d start to see more examples of diagonal integration in 3D printing industry deals: integration in which the purchaser expands into a new market that’s synergistic with its existing business model. TDK’s Fabric8Labs acquisition is a textbook example of that, instantly accelerating its movement into providing AI infrastructure solutions.

It’s obvious that being part of a global brand like TDK will help Fabric8Labs scale up at the precise moment when it’s technologically capable of doing so. At the same time, Fabric8Labs can help its new parent corporation scale up its AI enterprise strategy at a time when this is difficult for everyone, even a giant like TDK. One of the main things delaying the AI buildout, especially in the US, is a shortage of the required power hardware and underinvestment in the value chain needed to address the shortage.

The other obstacle is public opposition. For something that hardly anyone seemed to think much about until quite recently, data centers have rapidly become one of the most polarizing topics for the communities aiming to attract investment, largely because of their enormous resource usage.

In order to proceed forward with as little friction as possible, AI infrastructure hopefuls must, at a bare minimum, incorporate comprehensive sustainability initiatives into their business plans from the start. TDK already understood that before there was even widespread awareness of an AI boom on the horizon. By acquiring Fabric8Labs, TDK is signaling its commitment to sticking to that vision.

Images courtesy of Fabric8Labs

Stratasys Holds Grand Opening Event for Americas Headquarters

Ribbon-cutting ceremony at the grand opening of Stratasys’ Americas Regional Corporate Headquarters in Minnetonka, Minnesota, with Stratasys leaders, partners, and community guests, including Rich Garrity, Scott and Lisa Crump.

Days after announcing its acquisition of Markforged, 3D printing leader Stratasys celebrated the grand opening of its new Americas Regional Corporate Headquarters (ARCH) in Minnetonka, Minnesota. In addition to company leadership, partners, customers, and community stakeholders, several VIPs made the guest list, including United States Representative Betty McCollum, United States Representative Brad Finstad, United States Representative Kelly Morrison, EVP of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Erin Streeter, and Stratasys Board Member Scott Crump, who invented fused deposition modeling (FDM), and his wife Lisa Crump, Stratasys Co-Founder. ARCH is a 200,000 square-foot facility, housing advanced R&D, applications expertise, engineering, customer collaboration capabilities, and on-demand manufacturing business Stratasys Direct. The opening comes after an independent audit of the company’s Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) management systems at the campus in Minnetonka; the audit confirmed alignment with ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards. ARCH drives home just how committed Stratasys is to the U.S. market.

“Bringing our teams together under one roof has a meaningful impact on how we operate, innovate, and serve our customers. ARCH gives us the scale and workspace to accelerate collaboration across engineering, manufacturing, and customer facing teams, enabling faster delivery of high-quality solutions,” said Rich Garrity, Chief Business Unit Officer of Stratasys and NAM Board Member.

Nanoscribe Invests in Expanding Manufacturing Capabilities for Key Photoresins

Selected high-demand photoresins, now manufactured with industrial-grade quality and available with batch-specific Certificates of Analysis (CoA).

High-precision 3D microfabrication market leader Nanoscribe is seeing increased industrial demand for its photoresins, and is meeting that demand by scaling up manufacturing capabilities for five of its requested materials. Early demand for its two-photon polymerization (2PP) and two-photon grayscale lithography (2GL) systems mostly came from academic research facilities, but last year, every third system the company sold went to industry, particularly in photonics packaging and optics manufacturing applications. So Nanoscribe has responded with extra manufacturing capabilities for IP-Dip2, IP-S, IPX-Q, IPX-S and IPX-Clear, though the names of the resins, their chemical composition, material handling, and print parameters will stay the same. Plus, for customers that need batch-specific traceability, Nanoscribe can provide Certificates of Analysis (CoA) on request. Measurements are taken by an independent external service provider, and the certificate acts as an extra record for batch-specific documentation, which can be helpful for purchasing, internal quality management, or incoming inspection.

“The five key photoresins are already used in a wide range of applications and markets,” explained Dr. Alexander Quick, Head of Materials at Nanoscribe. “Our investment in expanded manufacturing capacity supports industrial-grade material quality while maintaining material properties and established customer workflows. This benefits customers from both academia and industry.”

RIC Robotics Aims to Scale Additive Construction Adoption with RaaS Platform

RIC Robotics recently announced the launch of its Robotics as a Service (RaaS) ecosystem, in order to help scale adoption of autonomous construction. The company, which specializes in large-scale additive construction robotics and autonomous building technologies, has supported some major commercial projects, including 3D printed Walmart expansions. Its new RaaS offering is a flexible deployment model, meant to help contractors, developers, and construction firms efficiently integrate robotic construction into their real-world projects. The platform will expand access to the company’s proprietary mobile robotic construction systems and 3D concrete printing technologies, in order to make these technologies more accessible for both residential and commercial applications. In addition to its systems, RIC Robotics says it also offers clients hands-on training, project execution, material solutions, and implementation support, and that it’s investing in training infrastructure and workforce development to support long-term adoption of robotic construction.

“Construction is entering a period of significant technological transformation, but widespread adoption depends on making these technologies more accessible and operationally practical for real-world projects. Our Robotics as a Service platform is designed to lower barriers to adoption while giving developers and contractors the flexibility, support and deployment expertise needed to successfully integrate robotic construction systems into active projects,” said CEO of RIC Robotics Dr. Ryan Cox, who also served as COO of Alquist 3D, where he oversaw major 3D concrete printing projects, including the Walmart expansion developments.

Nike & Zellerfeld Rolled Out Version 2 of 3D Printed Air Max 1000

Image courtesy of Zellerfeld

Once again, Nike and Zellerfeld have teamed up for the 3D printed Air Max. There was the single-color Air Max 1000 in 2024, the Air Max 95000 last year, and the multicolor Air Max 1000 this winter. Last month, they dropped version 2: the Nike Air Max 1000.2 Black Hyper Crimson. Printed out of zellerFOAM TPU material, the shoe kept the triple-black upper from the first 1000.2, but added a Hyper Crimson red to the Air bubble in the heel. This makes the branding really stand out on the see-through window. The design of the shoe mostly stayed the same, but the geometry was refined, and the lugs and outsole of the Air Max 1000.2 Black Hyper Crimson were both reshaped, resulting in what Zellerfeld says is an “improved feel.” These changes made it faster to produce the one-piece 3D printed shoe, and also introduced new colorways to the market much sooner.

“What hasn’t changed is the soft, responsive design that blends a utilitarian build with plush support and one-of-a-kind looks,” the Zellerfeld website states. “Wavy patterns and textured tooling throughout the upper mimic the original Air Max 1 mudguard, creating depth and complexity. The laceless design makes it simple to slip into the familiar feeling of Max Air-infused bliss.”

Unfortunately, the $179 Nike Air Max 1000.2 Black Hyper Crimson was only available through an EQL raffle from Zellerfeld that ran from May 25-28, so the website says they’re sold out. But, you can visit the Zellerfeld website and subscribe to get access to exclusive products, new arrivals, and be among the first to know about future limited drops.