AMUG 2022 Recap: Unveiling the Future of Additive Manufacturing Through Key Innovations and Strategic Partnerships

The Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) 2022 conference, a premier annual event renowned for its “for users – by users” ethos, concluded on April 7th in Chicago, Illinois. Hosted at the Hilton, this year’s gathering, from April 3rd to 7th, marked a significant step towards pre-pandemic normalcy, reflecting robust health and enthusiastic participation within the additive manufacturing community. Attendees experienced a dynamic schedule packed with conferences, intensive training sessions, insightful technical presentations, interactive workshops, and prestigious awards ceremonies, complemented by engaging networking dinners each evening. While AMUG 2021 also convened physically, the 2022 edition truly signaled a resurgence, demonstrating the industry’s resilience and forward momentum in a post-COVID landscape.

The sentiment of a strong comeback was echoed by Stefan Ritt, Director of the International Committee at AMUG. Ritt observed, “AMUG 2022 saw a return to the old glory from before COVID. This year, there were just under 2000 attendees, compared to approximately 2500 in 2019. We are incredibly pleased to see such a strong turnout, underscoring the enthusiasm and interest people have for connecting and speaking face-to-face within our community. Beyond the attendance figures, it’s evident that the additive manufacturing sector not only survived the challenges of COVID and travel restrictions but thrived. We witnessed a remarkable array of new and innovative projects, alongside the emergence of new markets for AM. These include applications, unfortunately, related to the conflict in Europe and its wider effects, but also those addressing critical technological challenges globally, such as the burgeoning new space race with small rocket launches.” This optimistic outlook from AMUG’s leadership is a highly promising indicator for the broader additive manufacturing industry, setting a positive tone for future conferences and technological advancements expected throughout 2022 and 2023. For those who couldn’t join this pivotal event, we’ve compiled a comprehensive recap of the most impactful news and developments that emerged from the week-long conference.

3D Systems Unveils the Groundbreaking SLA 750 at AMUG 2022

The year 2022 has proven to be exceptionally dynamic for 3D Systems, a long-standing pioneer in additive manufacturing. Following their strategic re-entry into the extrusion market in February through the significant acquisitions of Titan Robotics and Kumovis, the company continued its ambitious trajectory by announcing the launch of its latest Stereolithography (SLA) printer, the SLA 750. This innovative system is available in two configurations: the standard SLA 750 and the SLA 750 Dual, which proudly stands as the world’s first synchronous, dual-laser SLA printer. According to 3D Systems, these new machines represent the fastest SLA printers currently available on the market, setting new benchmarks for productivity and efficiency in resin 3D printing.

Stereolithography, a foundational additive manufacturing technology, is known for producing highly accurate and detailed parts with smooth surface finishes, making it ideal for prototyping, tooling, and end-use applications across various industries. The introduction of the SLA 750 series aims to revolutionize production workflows by significantly boosting throughput without compromising part quality. The dual-laser system, in particular, allows for simultaneous printing, effectively doubling the build speed and overall capacity. This innovation is crucial for industrial users seeking to integrate AM into high-volume production lines. Visitors to 3D Systems’ booth at AMUG 2022 had an exclusive opportunity to delve deeper into the capabilities of these advanced printers, exploring their intricate components, diverse material compatibility, and a wide array of potential applications across sectors like automotive, aerospace, healthcare, and consumer goods. The enthusiastic reception underscored the industry’s demand for faster, more reliable, and cost-effective additive manufacturing solutions. More detailed information about the SLA 750’s revolutionary features and specifications can be found HERE.

NANOE and KIMYA Forge Alliance to Dominate North American Technical Materials Market

The French company NANOE, a recognized leader in advanced materials for additive manufacturing, particularly renowned for its expertise in ceramic and metal powders, made a significant announcement at AMUG 2022. Beyond its specialized powders, NANOE, through its innovative Zetamix brand, offers an impressive range of ceramic and metal filaments, catering to a diverse spectrum of industrial applications. In a strategic move to broaden its global footprint, NANOE is now setting its sights firmly on the North American market, facilitated by a new partnership with KIMYA, a prominent player in high-performance materials.

This collaboration means that NANOE’s cutting-edge Zetamix filaments will now be readily available to customers across North America through KIMYA’s established distribution channels. The agreement underscores a shared vision for advancing technical materials in additive manufacturing. Guillaume de Calan, co-founder of NANOE, articulated the significance of this partnership, stating, “We are delighted to be expanding our distribution channels in strategic regions like North America thanks to our partner KIMYA, with which we share a vision and the know-how in technical materials for the production of finished parts. We are fully confident in its ability to represent our filament range in this market and to help us extend the use of ceramic and metallic additive manufacturing on the international stage.” This alliance is poised to democratize access to advanced ceramic and metal AM capabilities, enabling more manufacturers in North America to leverage these materials for producing high-performance, finished parts with complex geometries. The availability of Zetamix filaments through KIMYA will empower industries such as aerospace, medical, and automotive to explore new design possibilities and enhance product functionality. Attendees at AMUG 2022 had the exclusive opportunity to meet with Guillaume de Calan in a dedicated roundtable and press meeting to gain deeper insights into this groundbreaking partnership and its implications for the future of technical materials in AM. Further details on this exciting collaboration can be found in the official press release HERE.

Siemens and Roboze Form Strategic Partnership to Advance Industrial AM Workflows

In another significant development announced just prior to AMUG 2022, industrial giants Siemens and Roboze revealed a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the industrialization of 3D printing. This collaboration seeks to integrate their respective strengths to develop “complete workflows for the industrializing of 3D printing and increase the production opportunities of companies involved in the energy, mobility and aerospace sectors.” This announcement aligns perfectly with prevailing trends in the additive manufacturing sector, which increasingly emphasize a definitive shift towards industrial-scale production. This shift inherently pushes companies to adopt comprehensive, end-to-end production workflows, often achieved through strategic alliances between various businesses across the complex AM value chain.

In this powerful synergy, Siemens, a global technological pioneer with extensive expertise in infrastructure, automation, and mobility solutions, is combining forces with Roboze, a recognized leader in the industrial 3D printing of high-performance super polymers and composite materials. The core objective of this partnership is to significantly enhance the productivity, competitiveness, and overall efficiency of manufacturers operating in critical sectors. By pooling their profound skills and cutting-edge technologies, Siemens and Roboze intend to create integrated solutions that streamline the entire additive manufacturing process, from design and simulation to material selection, printing, and post-processing. This holistic approach is expected to unlock new possibilities for innovation, reduce time-to-market, and optimize cost structures for companies looking to leverage the full potential of industrial 3D printing. The implications for industries like energy, where high-temperature and chemically resistant parts are crucial, or aerospace and mobility, which demand lightweight yet incredibly strong components, are immense. This partnership exemplifies how cross-industry collaboration is becoming the bedrock for truly industrializing additive manufacturing, moving it beyond prototyping to mainstream production. Further details regarding this transformative partnership can be accessed HERE.

Mantle Showcases Innovative 3D Printed Tooling Inserts at AMUG 2022

Ahead of the AMUG 2022 conference, Mantle, a notable 3D startup recognized as one of our “3D startups of the month” in 2021, made waves with announcements regarding new collaborations for its TrueShape 3D printed tooling inserts. Mantle’s unique metal 3D printing process, known as TrueShape technology, combines additive and subtractive manufacturing to produce high-precision metal parts with superior surface finish and accuracy. This hybrid approach enables the creation of complex geometries while achieving the stringent tolerances required for demanding applications like injection molding tools.

The newly forged collaborations with industry leaders such as Westminster Tool, Wepco Plastics, and Precision Laser Technology are crucial in validating and expanding the practical applications of Mantle’s proprietary H13 Flowable Metal Paste material. These partnerships have been instrumental in demonstrating that Mantle’s 3D printed H13 tooling inserts offer performance equivalent to, and often superior to, conventional H13 tool steel, a benchmark material in the tooling industry. This equivalence is a game-changer, as it means manufacturers can achieve the benefits of additive manufacturing – such as design freedom, reduced lead times, and lower production costs – without compromising on the material properties and durability expected from traditional tool steels. Attendees at AMUG 2022 had the unique opportunity to examine these precision components firsthand. Mantle exhibited various prototype and production tools, molds, and dies manufactured using their technology, showcasing the intricate details and robust performance achievable. Furthermore, visitors gained valuable insights into Mantle’s innovative hybrid manufacturing process, understanding how it bridges the gap between traditional manufacturing and advanced additive techniques to address critical challenges in toolmaking. The ability to rapidly produce high-quality, durable tooling inserts is poised to significantly impact industries reliant on injection molding, die casting, and other manufacturing processes requiring custom tooling. You can discover more about Mantle’s revolutionary technology and its impact on the tooling industry HERE.

AMUG 2022 has unequivocally reinforced the additive manufacturing industry’s resilience, innovation, and unwavering commitment to pushing technological boundaries. From groundbreaking machine introductions like 3D Systems’ SLA 750, promising unprecedented speeds in Stereolithography, to strategic material partnerships such as NANOE and KIMYA expanding access to advanced ceramics and metals, and industrial collaborations like Siemens and Roboze streamlining production workflows, the conference was a vibrant testament to progress. Mantle’s advancements in 3D printed tooling further highlighted the industry’s capacity to disrupt traditional manufacturing processes. These developments collectively paint a picture of an industry not just recovering, but accelerating towards a future where additive manufacturing is an indispensable part of global industrial production. The enthusiasm for face-to-face interaction and the breadth of new projects signal a healthy and expanding ecosystem, ready to tackle complex challenges and open new markets.

Did you have the chance to attend AMUG 2022? What were your key takeaways from the event, and which innovations impressed you the most? We invite you to share your thoughts and experiences in a comment below or connect with us on our Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t miss out on the latest 3D printing news; remember to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here, delivered straight to your inbox. You can also find all our compelling videos on our YouTube channel.

*Cover Photo Credits: 3Dnatives