How can additive manufacturing respond in times of crisis? Experts give their advice!

The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the global economy and the way we work, forcing us to rethink our current value chains, trade, production, and communication. The additive manufacturing sector is no exception, however it’s true that the market adapted very quickly to provide medical solutions during this emergency. Additive manufacturing technologies allow local production, faster iterations and shorter manufacturing times; in the face of such a crisis, these are key benefits. If additive manufacturing proved its effectiveness during the crisis, it is interesting to ask what will happen afterwards, during the gradual return to normal life. Will it be able to maintain such an important place in our manufacturing systems? Has the global crisis changed mindsets? What challenges remain to be solved and what lessons can we learn?

To answer these questions, we interviewed three industry experts who explained what this crisis has revealed for them and how they see the future of additive manufacturing. Sumeet Jain is Managing Director of 3D Printing Solutions by Arkema, the French group’s business dedicated to additive manufacturing. It has developed a polymer offering dedicated to 3D printing, whether for extrusion, powder bed sintering or photopolymerization processes. Our second expert is Mark Seaton, EVP of Global Sales at Link3D, a software platform that allows companies to streamline their additive manufacturing workflows. Finally, Thierry Rayna is Professor of Innovation Management at Ecole Polytechnique and is mainly interested in the impact of digital technologies on innovation and how they affect our business models.

Additive manufacturing vs. COVID-19

The last few months have been challenging in every respect for many. However, there has been a great deal of solidarity as demonstrated by the additive manufacturing market. All players mobilized to produce personal protective equipment (PPE), respirators or other medical solutions to protect and fight the spread of the virus. Sumeet Jain explains: “As our global supply chain of critical equipment got strained, it was immensely gratifying to see how everyone along the value chain came to the rescue using 3D printing technologies. Arkema helped the community in a variety of ways – Arkema manufactured materials were used by partners in manufacturing of nasal swabs, face shields and ventilator/respirator parts.” Additive manufacturing has addressed a number of challenges, including the disruption of our global supply channels.