Driving Innovation at RAPID + TCT 2024: An Exclusive Interview with 3D Systems President & CEO, Dr. Jeffrey Graves

With just one week remaining until RAPID + TCT 2024, the additive manufacturing world eagerly anticipates its largest event in North America, scheduled for June 25-27 in the vibrant city of Los Angeles, California. This premier gathering is renowned for its unparalleled ability to unite a diverse spectrum of participants—from those just beginning their journey in additive manufacturing to seasoned experts and industrial end-users. It serves as a crucial nexus where technology manufacturers converge with a broad array of industries, fostering collaboration and groundbreaking discussions. For companies like the multinational leader 3D Systems, RAPID + TCT represents a unique and invaluable platform to unveil their latest innovations and technological advancements. To gain deeper insights into their participation and what attendees can expect, we recently had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Jeffrey Graves, the esteemed President and CEO of 3D Systems. Our conversation explored the strategic importance of their presence at RAPID + TCT, the cutting-edge solutions they will showcase this year, and their vision for the future of additive manufacturing.

3DN: Could you please introduce yourself and your role at 3D Systems?

Certainly. My name is Dr. Jeffrey Graves, and I currently serve as the President and CEO of 3D Systems. My journey with this pioneering company began in 2020, where I’ve had the honor of leading our global teams in advancing additive manufacturing technologies across various sectors. Prior to joining 3D Systems, I held leadership positions as CEO, President, and Director at MTS Systems Corporation, a global supplier of test and simulation solutions. Before that, I served as President, CEO, and Director of C&D Technologies, Inc., a leading producer of batteries and power systems. My career has been dedicated to driving innovation and strategic growth in technology-driven industries, and I am incredibly passionate about the transformative potential of 3D printing, particularly in its evolution from prototyping to high-volume production. At 3D Systems, our mission is to deliver comprehensive additive manufacturing solutions that empower our customers to transform their workflows and achieve unprecedented levels of efficiency and innovation.

3DN: Why is it strategically important for 3D Systems to have a strong presence at RAPID + TCT? What are the key benefits your company gains from attending this event?

I firmly believe that RAPID + TCT stands out as the premier gathering for the additive manufacturing industry, especially within North America. Its strength lies not only in its comprehensive focus on the latest 3D printing technologies but also, and perhaps more importantly, on the diverse range of industries that these technologies profoundly impact. This event uniquely convenes every segment of the industry, from leading solution suppliers like 3D Systems to the diverse end-users across various markets. This rich convergence facilitates an extraordinary level of information sharing and collaboration, offering a crucial platform to explore not only the current widespread applications of additive manufacturing but also its immense potential for unlocking entirely new applications in the future. We gain invaluable opportunities to engage directly with a broad spectrum of customers, understanding their evolving needs as they transition from traditional manufacturing methods to integrated additive solutions.

This direct interaction is particularly vital as we observe a significant industry-wide shift: customers in both the industrial and healthcare markets are rapidly moving beyond mere prototyping applications towards establishing full-fledged, high-volume production factories utilizing additive manufacturing. RAPID + TCT allows us to have real-time dialogues about these critical shifts, ensuring our solutions remain perfectly aligned with market demands. Furthermore, the event provides an excellent opportunity to connect with our key suppliers. These partnerships are crucial, as their components form integral parts of the robust solutions we deliver to our customers worldwide. For 3D Systems, RAPID + TCT is an incredibly efficient and impactful event. It serves as a vital venue for receiving updates on all aspects of the industry, gaining broad perspectives on its future trajectory, and strategically aligning our business roadmap to capitalize on emerging trends and opportunities. It’s not just an exhibition; it’s a strategic intelligence hub.

3DN: What exciting innovations and technologies will 3D Systems be showcasing at RAPID + TCT this year?

RAPID + TCT’s comprehensive scope, addressing how additive manufacturing can benefit a vast array of industries, perfectly aligns with 3D Systems’ core go-to-market strategy. Our advanced solutions are expertly utilized across a diverse range of high-value applications within both the healthcare and industrial sectors. This includes critical areas such as medical and dental device manufacturing, intricate aerospace and defense components, sophisticated automotive parts, and a wide variety of durable goods. Consequently, this event serves as an unparalleled opportunity for our current customers and prospective clients within these key markets to engage directly with us, explore their specific areas of interest, and experience firsthand the power of our cutting-edge technologies.

At this year’s highly anticipated event, we are thrilled to announce a significant number of advancements across our key technologies. These include substantial upgrades and new introductions within our 3D printing platforms, as well as breakthroughs in our extensive portfolio of materials. RAPID + TCT has progressively become a favored venue for us to make these pivotal product introductions due to its concentrated audience of industry decision-makers and innovators. Beyond these exciting launches, we will also leverage this unique platform to provide our customers with a forward-looking perspective on how our technology is evolving. We aim to share our vision for the future of additive manufacturing and how 3D Systems is actively shaping that trajectory.

Our customers greatly appreciate this forward-looking approach because the evolution of our solution roadmap directly impacts the design and efficiency of their future factories and production workflows. By understanding where the technology stands today, and crucially, where it is projected to be years from now, they can make more informed strategic decisions. These invaluable conversations not only play a significant role in guiding our own technology development and product roadmap but also empower our customers. They gain the foresight and understanding necessary to more rapidly adopt and seamlessly integrate advanced additive manufacturing technologies into their existing or future production workflows, thereby enhancing their competitive edge and operational agility.

3DN: What are your primary expectations from the show this year, and what aspect are you personally most excited about?

RAPID + TCT is truly unique in several critical aspects, making it a standout event on our calendar. Firstly, it offers an unparalleled opportunity for a company like ours to showcase our most advanced current technologies. It’s also an ideal forum to share our future concepts and prototypes, allowing us to gather essential early feedback from both customers and suppliers on these emerging innovations. This direct and timely input is invaluable, enabling us to fine-tune and optimize our offerings as we progress towards the eventual launch of these products. This iterative process, fueled by real-world insights, ensures that our future products are precisely aligned with market needs and customer expectations.

Secondly, this event is an exceptional forum for observing and understanding broader industry trends. We are currently at a profoundly critical juncture in this disruptive industry. We are witnessing an incredibly rapid transition from traditional prototyping applications to high-volume production environments, which brings with it a unique set of demanding requirements concerning speed, reliability, cost-effectiveness, and scalability. RAPID + TCT offers a fantastic opportunity to engage in vital discussions about how we, as an entire industry, are collectively addressing these evolving trends and challenges. It also provides a crucial platform for customers to offer us early feedback on the strategic directions we are pursuing and the plans we have in place to achieve these ambitious goals. The energy and collaborative spirit at RAPID + TCT are always palpable, and that dynamic exchange of ideas is what excites me most each year.

3DN: What valuable takeaways can attendees expect from the exhibition, and what would you tell them to encourage their participation in the show?

Additive manufacturing is unequivocally entering a transformative phase, moving decisively from its early stages primarily focused on prototyping into robust, mainstream production applications. To effectively navigate and accelerate this transition, there is an urgent need for dedicated forums that bring together key customers, innovative suppliers, and thought leaders to engage in meaningful dialogue. We must collectively address the complex demands and unique requirements of these future factories and advanced production needs. In this regard, I firmly believe that RAPID + TCT is a truly exceptional and indispensable event. I consider its value to be immeasurable, which is precisely why I have personally prioritized my active participation, ensuring I am present to contribute and learn.

It stands out as one of the very few global events that successfully brings together companies at every conceivable stage of their additive manufacturing journey. This ranges from those who are just beginning to explore and learn about the technology to sophisticated organizations that have already fully implemented additive manufacturing into their established production workflows. This diverse ecosystem allows participants not only to learn invaluable lessons from one another’s experiences but also to gain a holistic view of the technology from a multitude of solution providers across the entire industry. It’s a convergence of ideas, expertise, and future possibilities.

For 3D Systems, we are acutely aware that our customers are facing increasing pressures to bring their production operations closer to home, thereby enhancing flexibility, reducing lead times, and significantly improving cost-effectiveness. We view RAPID + TCT as a critical opportunity to stay ahead of these powerful market trends and ensure that we are perfectly positioned to support our customers through these evolving challenges. It is an extraordinary event for strategic planning, for fostering deep collaboration, and for ensuring that we are all aligned on where this industry can—and absolutely should—progress. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the future landscape, actionable insights, and valuable connections that will drive their own success in additive manufacturing.

3DN: Do you have any final words or a message you’d like to share with our readers as we approach RAPID + TCT 2024?

Absolutely! We warmly invite all attendees of RAPID + TCT 2024 to visit 3D Systems at Booth 2401. Our team will be on hand to demonstrate our latest advancements, discuss your specific application needs, and explore how our comprehensive additive manufacturing solutions can empower your business. It’s an incredible opportunity to see firsthand what we have been diligently working on to push the boundaries of 3D printing technology. We’re excited to share our passion and expertise with you.

For those who haven’t yet secured their entry, you can save $125 by getting a FREE ticket to RAPID + TCT 2024 HERE. We’d love to hear from you: will you be visiting 3D Systems at the event? Let us know your thoughts and plans in a comment below or connect with us on our social media channels, including LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages! And don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly newsletter here to receive the very latest 3D printing news directly to your inbox. You can also explore all our insightful videos and demonstrations on our YouTube channel. We look forward to a fantastic RAPID + TCT and hope to see many of you there!

*All Photo Credits: 3D Systems