Vision for the 3D printing industry includes Power to the People and Industry Collaboration
Materialise, a global leader in 3D printing solutions, today unveiled a vision for the 3D printing industry as shared by CEO Brigitte de Vet. In her address, de Vet analyzes the industry’s current challenges while offering a roadmap to realize its full potential and drive broader industrial adoption.
A Balanced Perspective: the Supporting Role of 3D Printing
As we step into 2025, the once-promising skies of the 3D printing industry seem overshadowed. Investments have slowed, fewer startups are emerging, and many publicly traded companies struggle to make a profit. Some people question whether the industry can fully deliver on its initial promises. Industry insiders know that this period simply reflects the growing pains of a transformative technology whose biggest potential lies ahead.
In this context, de Vet emphasizes the need for a shift in perspective: “While 3D printing has incredible potential, it won’t transform industries on its own. Like a movie with lead and supporting actors, traditional manufacturing will continue to take the lead, while 3D printing plays a vital supporting role.”
This balanced approach is already seen in applications like the millions of 3D-printed metal hinges for foldable phones, which blend innovative design with the scale of traditional manufacturing. This example illustrates how 3D printing complements conventional methods to achieve efficiency, flexibility, and innovation.
To fully realize the potential of 3D printing and drive its industrial adoption, two key actions are essential: prioritizing practical applications through a customer-centric approach and addressing barriers through industry-wide collaboration.
From Innovation to Industrial Applications – Power to the People
Brigitte de Vet envisions a shift in focus from technological innovation to practical applications and stresses the need for a more customer-centric approach: “Power to the people means recognizing that while we understand 3D printing, our customers are the experts in their industries – whether that’s aerospace, eyewear, medical or consumer products. By empowering them, we can help them meet their specific needs and challenges.”
A concrete example of this customer-focused approach is Materialise’s initiative to share the algorithms of Magics, its software for data and build preparation. This decision allows manufacturers to create workflows tailored to their unique manufacturing needs, such as better quality, faster production times, or reduced costs.
Removing Barriers Through Collaboration
Scaling 3D printing for industrial use requires overcoming the remaining barriers, including complexity, quality assurance, and cost control. This is where collaboration within the 3D printing community becomes crucial. “Overcoming these hurdles requires more than individual efforts; it calls for industry-wide collaboration to make 3D printing more accessible to a broader range of manufacturers,” the Materialise CEO says.
As an example, de Vet cites the newly launched “Leading Minds” consortium, which aims to address the most pressing challenges that manufacturers face in adopting and scaling 3D printing technology for industrial use. The founding members of the consortium —Ansys, EOS, HP, Materialise, Nikon SLM, Renishaw, Stratasys, and TRUMPF—share a common belief in the power of 3D printing, and through collaboration, they aim to ensure that 3D printing is more accessible and scalable across diverse industries.
Journey to a New Industrial Reality
“While the once boundless possibilities of 3D printing now face challenges, there is a clear path forward,” says Brigitte de Vet. “By empowering users and fostering collaboration across the industry, we can shift from focusing solely on innovation to delivering tangible business value, accelerating the transition to a new industrial reality.”
About Materialise
Materialise incorporates more than three decades of 3D printing experience into a range of software solutions and 3D printing services that empower sustainable 3D printing applications. Our open, secure, and flexible end-to-end solutions enable flexible industrial manufacturing and mass personalization in various industries — including healthcare, automotive, aerospace, eyewear, art and design, wearables, and consumer goods. Headquartered in Belgium and with branches worldwide, Materialise combines the largest group of software developers in the industry with one of the world’s largest and most complete 3D printing facilities. For additional information, please visit www.materialise.com.
