40 - How Acquisition and Investment Activity Affects AM Users and Adopters

06/26/23 • 43 min

Additive manufacturing is a dynamic space for various reasons: The technology is advancing and application possibilities are still being developed, and as a direct consequence, the landscape of AM companies is subject to change due to investor moves; mergers and acquisitions; and startups emerging from “stealth mode.” On this podcast, and in related reporting for Additive Manufacturing Media, we serve manufacturers by covering AM technology and applications — the corporate and financial moves are not the focus. And yet, one realm affects the other. The company moves shape what we cover and affect the choices of manufacturers as they aim to proceed with the technology. In this episode of AM Radio, Peter Zelinski and Stephanie Hendrixson talk about this. They discuss how the corporate and financial developments among AM companies play out for AM users, and where the dynamism of the additive space is likely to lead in the future.

This episode of AM Radio is brought to you by Formnext Forum: Austin.

Mentioned in this episode:

Stratasys and Desktop Metal
Other recent company moves: Ultimaker and Makerbot; Markforged and Digital Metal; Shapeways and Linear AMS; Nexa3D and Addifab
AM provider Zeda opening new facility
Tangible Solutions built its process on machines from Concept Laser. Concept has since been acquired and Tangible has been acquired.
RP+M succeeding with FDM, its initial process
Facilities with space to add more additive capacity: GKN in Michigan; Wabtec in Pittsburgh; Collins Aerospace in Charlotte
HP binder jetting, and HP Corvallis legacy developments such as first laptop
Fortify applications to mold tooling and radio frequency devices
Evolve STEP process
Stratasys and Origin work together, then join
Dayton Horvath on AM investor shift toward applications

Subscribe to THE BUILDUP, our newsletter on 3D printing for industrial production

This episode of AM Radio is brought to you by Formnext Forum: Austin.

Mentioned in this episode:

Stratasys and Desktop Metal
Other recent company moves: Ultimaker and Makerbot; Markforged and Digital Metal; Shapeways and Linear AMS; Nexa3D and Addifab
AM provider Zeda opening new facility
Tangible Solutions built its process on machines from Concept Laser. Concept has since been acquired and Tangible has been acquired.
RP+M succeeding with FDM, its initial process
Facilities with space to add more additive capacity: GKN in Michigan; Wabtec in Pittsburgh; Collins Aerospace in Charlotte
HP binder jetting, and HP Corvallis legacy developments such as first laptop
Fortify applications to mold tooling and radio frequency devices
Evolve STEP process
Stratasys and Origin work together, then join
Dayton Horvath on AM investor shift toward applications

Subscribe to THE BUILDUP, our newsletter on 3D printing for industrial production

Previous Episode

39 - 3D Printing for Supply Chain Resiliency

Additive manufacturing offers significant promise for strengthening and simplifying manufacturing supply chains.

We glimpsed this during the pandemic, when 3D printers provided a quick response for needed medical components for uses such as ventilators and personal protective equipment.

What are the ways AM can answer supply chain problems longer term, and how close are we to realizing this promise?

In this episode of the AM Radio podcast, I am joined by Penn State’s Dr. Tim Simpson as we discuss additive manufacturing as a logistics solution, 3D printing for faster lead time relative to casting and forging, AM for MRO and sustainment needs, and other aspects of additive as a supply chain solution.

Mentioned in this episode:

Dr. Tim Simpson’s additive manufacturing research organization at Penn State University
Additive manufacturing for personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic
Sand 3D printing as a way to improve metal casting
3D printed TPU seals for GM’s Chevy Tahoe
AMNOW digital additive manufacturing supply chain
Navy’s use of distributed manufacturing for T-45 Goshawk oxygen vent
IMI Critical Engineering demonstration of globally distributed additive manufacturing for valves
AM as a spare parts inventory solution for the oil and gas industry
AM Radio episode on bridge production
Made in the USA podcast

Next Episode

41 – Data: The Dark (and Light) Side of Additive Manufacturing

As a “born digital” technology, additive manufacturing intrinsically relies on data, more so than any other manufacturing process. That data reliance potentially exposes AM users to data security and cybersecurity issues; efforts are underway to help these users protect designs, print parameters, machines and even 3D printed parts. But beyond the dark side of data, figuring out secure ways of storing and sharing data also opens the door to more freely distributing manufacturing, sharing material and print profiles, and flexible, secure supply chains. Stephanie Hendrixson and Dr. Tim Simpson discuss all things AM data on AM Radio.

This episode of AM Radio is brought to you by Formnext Forum: Austin.

Mentioned in this episode: