DEFEND3D Talks Increasing the Security of Additive Manufacturing in the Defense Sector

One of the sectors where where we have seen rapid growth of additive manufacturing is defense. From defined additive manufacturing strategies in both the UK and the US as well as a number of applications from trainings to active warfare, 3D printing is praised for its adaptibility and ability to increase field readiness. But that does not mean it does not have its issues. Lack of security, for example, is one of the biggest obstacles to adoption of AM in militaries worldwide. That is where DEFEND3D comes in. The company is redefining security for additive manufacturing in the defense sector and making the use of digital files more secure than ever before. We sat down with the founder to learn more.

3DN: Could you introduce yourself and your connection to additive manufacturing?

Hello, my name is Barrett Veldsman, I am the founder of DEFEND3D. My journey started as a creative director for some of the world’s top automotive, fashion, and sports brands. While working on an additive manufacturing project with Bugatti, I recognized the critical need for IP protection in the digital space, which ultimately led to the creation of DEFEND3D. What began as a commercial platform to safeguard the IP of leading brands and designers quickly evolved into a solution addressing a much larger market need — secure, on-demand manufacturing.

Barrett Veldsman, founder of DEFEND3D (left). Veldsman receiving recognition from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment (right)

3DN: How did DEFEND3D come about? What is its mission?

DEFEND3D was founded to solve a critical problem: how do you enable distributed manufacturing while ensuring that designs and proprietary data remain secure? With the growing adoption of AM across defense, the risks of cyber threats and IP theft have never been greater. Our mission is clear — deliver a real-time transmission service at ultra-low bandwidth that allows manufacturers to produce parts anywhere in the world, even extreme austere environments without ever handing over sensitive design files.