Amace Solutions, a subsidiary of ACE Designers Limited, has been active in metal additive manufacturing for over eight years. Based in India, the company focuses on laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technology to produce complex metal components for sectors including aerospace, defense, automotive, and education. Its STLR series of 3D printers supports applications ranging from prototyping to the manufacturing of functional parts for critical systems. In an interview, CEO Vishwas Puttige discusses trends in metal AM, challenges related to production scalability and material development, and how the company is positioning itself for future growth.
Building on this foundation, Amace Solutions has developed machines such as the STLR 120 and the STLR 400, the latter equipped with a multi-laser system to increase throughput. These systems are in use at institutions like the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and the National Centre for Additive Manufacturing (NCAM). Smaller systems are installed at leading technical institutes and startups, facilitating research and small-batch production. With more than 20 qualified materials available, amace tailors its solutions by applying metallurgical expertise to meet specific application needs, supporting the broader adoption of metal AM in industrial and educational environments.
In parallel with machine development, amace focuses on research and material innovation. The company has achieved material qualification across a wide range of alloys and has secured several patents for unique subsystems and process improvements. Ongoing efforts aim to enhance process stability, reduce production costs, and expand the range of printable materials. As demand for metal additive manufacturing grows both domestically and internationally, amace is positioning itself to support evolving industrial requirements with scalable and application-specific solutions.
Insights from CEO Vishwas Puttige
In the interview with 3Druck.com, Vishwas Puttige provides insights into the current state and future potential of metal additive manufacturing. He highlights promising application areas, addresses the main challenges facing broader adoption, and outlines how ongoing innovations are shaping the development of more productive and accessible 3D printing technologies.
What sectors and application areas of metal additive manufacturing do you currently see as the most exciting or high-potential for growth?
The biggest growth for metal additive manufacturing is being seen in sectors such as aviation, space & defense, medical, automotive, and education (teaching & research). The aviation industry is evaluating various low-volume complex parts printed in metal for airworthiness. These include fixed-wing, rotary-wing, manned, and unmanned aircraft, with growing demand from drone manufacturers. The space segment is more mature, with multiple machines installed in both public and private sector organizations. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been getting parts printed for various space missions, has successfully tested them for flight, and is the most advanced adopter of this technology in India.
The medical industry has been increasingly using additive manufacturing for both medical equipment manufacturing and medical implants (both generic and patient-specific). With more productive machines and lower powder costs—both being manufactured locally—today the cost of manufacturing these implants is far more affordable than before.
The automotive industry remains the largest producer of prototype parts using additive manufacturing. Design validation to check fit and form is the largest application. In some cases, these components have also been used for functional testing. Other industries such as mold manufacturing, pumps, and valves have also been progressively adopting AM. The education segment has been very eager to widen its teaching and research portfolio by including AM, especially metal AM.
Metal 3D printing has advanced rapidly in recent years. Which innovations or technological breakthroughs do you consider particularly transformative for the industry?
Agreed, in recent years the metal 3D printing industry has rapidly progressed. From being predominantly used and known for prototyping components, the technology has come a long way, now producing high volumes of complex and critical functional parts. One of the best innovations has been in productivity, with higher-powered and multi-laser systems featuring high-speed scanners. Another innovation is in the field of software, both in pre-processing, such as optimization, simulation, and analysis.
One of the breakthrough innovations is certainly in the field of material development. Significant progress has been made over the past 5–6 years in developing new alloys for specific applications. Further trends in these areas will make the technology more adaptable and accessible to a larger set of customers.
What do you see as the biggest challenges in integrating metal additive manufacturing into existing industrial production processes or supply chains?
One of the key challenges in the wider adoption of the technology is the cost of producing high-volume parts, especially for industry sectors such as automotive, where the volumes are very high. The availability of raw materials in powder form is also limited compared to the diverse applications that conventional materials cater to.
Another challenge is the printability of certain metals, such as high-carbon steels, which are used in diverse applications but are very challenging to print due to their high carbon content. Similarly, aluminum alloy 6061, in its standard composition, is challenging to print due to crack formation. Finally, the productivity of 3D printers is another inhibiting factor slowing down wider adoption.
How do you envision the future of metal AM over the next 5 to 10 years, and what developments is amace particularly focused on to help shape that future?
The next 5 to 10 years are going to be focused on innovation and productivity. Metal AM is expected to see higher growth due to new applications being taken up for serial production and widespread research being undertaken at universities and research institutes.
End users from different sectors have realized the value metal AM can deliver and are leveraging these strengths, which will bear fruit in the next 5–10 years.
We at amace are excited about some of the innovative projects we are undertaking. Our product portfolio is evolving to address higher productivity, better user interfaces, greater software integration, and the development of new and complex materials. Industry-specific products are also being developed to address specific needs.
Our R&D team is focused on reducing the overall cost per component to match and surpass conventional methods such as investment casting for low-volume parts.
Here you can find further information on Amace Solutions.
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