Materialise, an established provider of 3D printing solutions, recently presented a perspective on the further development of the industry. Brigitte de Vet, CEO of the company, analyzes the current challenges of additive manufacturing and outlines strategies to better exploit its industrial potential. Her approach emphasizes the role of 3D printing as a supporting technology in combination with traditional manufacturing processes.
The industry is at a turning point: investment is stagnating and many companies are struggling with profitability. Some experts question whether the technology can deliver on its promises.
“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.
To further integrate 3D printing into the industry, Materialise is focusing on two key areas: practical applications and industry-wide collaboration. A crucial step is the customer-centric approach that prioritizes solutions tailored to specific needs. One example of this is the release of algorithms from Materialise’s Magics software that manufacturers can use to develop customized workflows.
Additionally, scaling the technology requires overcoming obstacles such as complexity, quality assurance and cost control.
“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.”
De Vet concludes with an optimistic outlook: By combining user-centricity and collaboration, 3D printing can create a new industrial reality and deliver measurable added value for companies.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
3DPresso is a weekly newsletter that links to the most exciting global stories from the 3D printing and additive manufacturing industry.
