TRIDITIVE: Revolutionizing Industrial Mass Production with Automated Additive Manufacturing

In the rapidly evolving landscape of manufacturing, the quest for efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness has become paramount. Leading this charge is additive manufacturing, a transformative technology that promises to reshape industrial production. At the forefront of this revolution stands TRIDITIVE, a Spanish-based innovator founded in 2013, dedicated to establishing a robust additive manufacturing ecosystem for serial mass production using both metal and advanced technical polymers. From its humble beginnings, focusing on training in FFF technologies and pioneering the development of DIY 3D printers, TRIDITIVE quickly identified a significant opportunity to industrialize 3D printing. This early foresight led to the groundbreaking creation of their signature additive manufacturing solution, AMCELL, first unveiled to the world in 2018. AMCELL is not merely a machine; it’s a paradigm shift – a modular, automated system engineered specifically for mass production, capable of simultaneously processing diverse materials. This multi-material capability, coupled with its inherent automation, dramatically increases workflow efficiency and opens new avenues for manufacturers seeking scalable, on-demand production.

The innovative spirit driving TRIDITIVE’s hardware and software development has not only propelled the company into the international spotlight but has also earned them significant recognition. Their commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in additive manufacturing led to their selection as our #3DStartup of the month. To delve deeper into their vision and explore how they intend to revolutionize manufacturing with their advanced 3D printing technologies, we had the distinct pleasure of speaking with Mariel Diaz, the dynamic Founder and CEO of TRIDITIVE.

3DN: Could you introduce yourself and tell us about your first approach to 3D printing?

My name is Mariel Díaz, and my initial encounter with 3D printing dates back to my mechanical engineering studies at the Engineering School of Gijón, part of the University of Oviedo. During a particular project that required me to design intricate components, I found myself drawn into the fascinating world of 3D printing. I began to intensely investigate the underlying mechanisms, the intricate electronics, and the software driving various types of 3D printers. This deep dive wasn’t just theoretical; it quickly translated into practical application. I started designing my own 3D printer models, experimenting with different configurations and functionalities. To further my expertise and gain a broader perspective on this emerging technology, I embarked on a journey across Europe, visiting numerous institutes and research centers. These travels provided invaluable hands-on experience and a comprehensive understanding of the diverse approaches to additive manufacturing being explored across the continent. It was during this formative period that I truly grasped the immense potential of 3D printing to transform industrial processes, sparking the entrepreneurial drive that would eventually lead to TRIDITIVE.

3DN: How did the idea of creating TRIDITIVE come about and what were the initial goals of the startup?

TRIDITIVE emerged from a clear and pressing need within the manufacturing industry: to significantly facilitate the widespread adoption of additive manufacturing, specifically for metals and polymers, in large-scale serial production environments. For too long, additive manufacturing had been largely confined to niche applications, primarily prototyping or highly specialized sectors like aerospace and medical, where the extremely high cost per part was justifiable. While the technological maturity of additive manufacturing had advanced considerably, its prohibitive costs effectively prevented its broader integration into other industrial sectors. The inherent advantages of additive manufacturing – such as design freedom, part consolidation, reduced material waste, and localized production – were undeniably present, but their full potential for mass production remained untapped. This was due to several critical barriers: the exorbitant cost of industrial AM machinery, the necessity of extensive training for operators in an entirely new technology, limitations in manufacturing speed, and the overall high final cost per produced piece. TRIDITIVE was founded with the explicit mission to systematically address these factors, transforming the adoption of additive manufacturing into a simple, straightforward, and economically viable step for the mainstream manufacturing industry. Our initial goal was to democratize industrial additive manufacturing, making it accessible and efficient for businesses looking to scale their production without compromising on quality or cost.

3DN: Can you tell us what your AMCELL solution consists of and what are its benefits for the industry?

Our flagship AMCELL solution represents a pioneering approach to industrial additive manufacturing, built on a foundation of modularity and automation. AMCELL consists of a series of interconnected production modules that can be precisely scaled and configured according to the unique manufacturing demands of each company. This inherent modularity offers unparalleled flexibility, allowing businesses to start with a smaller setup and expand their production capacity as their needs evolve, thereby optimizing initial investment and facilitating future growth. A core feature of AMCELL modules is their advanced automation, designed to enable continuous, 24/7 serial production without constant human intervention. This significantly boosts throughput and minimizes operational costs.

At the heart of AMCELL’s metal printing capabilities lies our proprietary AMD technology, or *Automated Multimaterial Deposition*. This innovative process functions similarly to Metal Injection Molding (MIM) combined with Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) principles. With AMD, we achieve metal parts through the extrusion of specialized material filaments to create what is known as a “green part.” These green parts, after being precisely printed, then undergo a meticulously controlled sintering process. This thermal treatment transforms the green part into a 100% metallic component, boasting exceptional surface quality, superior mechanical strength, and excellent density, making them suitable for demanding industrial applications. By refining this entire process, we have managed to dramatically reduce the cost of mass production with metal 3D printing by up to tenfold compared to conventional additive manufacturing methods. This significant cost reduction makes industrial metal 3D printing viable for a much broader range of applications and industries. Furthermore, AMCELL incorporates a Binder Jetting module specifically for metals. This integration provides immense flexibility to the production workflow, allowing for the creation of larger or more intricate geometries, and offering a broader material palette to meet diverse project requirements. The combination of AMD and Binder Jetting within the same scalable platform offers a hybrid solution that maximizes efficiency and versatility.

However, we firmly believe that introducing additive manufacturing into the paradigm of Industry 4.0 demands far more than just advanced hardware. To truly realize the vision of smart factories, a sophisticated software infrastructure is essential. This conviction led us to simultaneously develop EVAM, our comprehensive platform designed to control and manage the entire additive manufacturing process from inception to completion. EVAM goes beyond simple monitoring; it provides unparalleled control over every facet of the manufacturing workflow. This includes real-time data acquisition, process optimization, predictive maintenance, and seamless integration capabilities. Crucially, EVAM is designed as a holistic solution, eliminating the common challenges associated with integrating disparate hardware and software from different manufacturers. Everything within the TRIDITIVE ecosystem is meticulously crafted to work together, out-of-the-box, ensuring a smooth, efficient, and fully optimized production environment. This integrated approach minimizes downtime, reduces operational complexity, and empowers manufacturers to harness the full potential of automated additive production with confidence.

3DN: What other projects related to additive manufacturing are currently under development?

The past year has been incredibly dynamic and productive for TRIDITIVE, particularly on the international stage, as we’ve aggressively pursued growth and technological advancement. We dedicated three intense months, from March to June, in Barnsley, located in the north of the United Kingdom. Here, we were privileged to participate in the prestigious “IoT Tribe” company acceleration program, hosted within the state-of-the-art Digital Media Center (DMC). This experience not only provided us with invaluable strategic guidance but also presented the opportune moment to establish our new UK offices, solidifying our European presence. During this period, our CTO, Sergio Martinez, spearheaded crucial developments, successfully integrating advanced machine learning algorithms and Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities into our core control software and the automation systems of our additive manufacturing platforms. These enhancements allow for greater data-driven insights, predictive capabilities, and even more autonomous operation of our AMCELL modules.

Our global expansion continued with a strategic move to Hartford, Connecticut, where we have also proudly opened new offices. This significant step was made possible by our selection into the highly acclaimed Techstars accelerator program. Being chosen by Techstars is a tremendous validation of our technology and business model, as historically, only about 1% of all companies that apply are accepted. We are incredibly proud and energized by this opportunity to further develop and accelerate our technology within such a high-caliber environment. Since July, we have been actively engaging in the Techstars program in Hartford, while simultaneously maintaining full operations at our factory and headquarters in Gijón, Spain, ensuring seamless continuity across our global footprint. Beyond crucial investment capital, Techstars provides TRIDITIVE with unparalleled access to a vast, worldwide network of experienced mentors, strategic investors, fellow entrepreneurs, and critical resources. This invaluable ecosystem empowers us to refine our business model, optimize our market entry strategies, and ultimately develop a solution with truly global impact in the industrial additive manufacturing sector.

Concurrently, thanks to the prestigious “Emprendedor XXI” award we recently received from la Caixa, we were afforded the incredible opportunity to visit Silicon Valley and participate in ESADE’s highly innovative “Moonshot Thinking” program. This immersive experience granted us profound insights into the dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem of Palo Alto. More importantly, it helped us fundamentally “change the chip” in our thinking, encouraging us to think on a grander scale and embrace truly disruptive ambitions – a mindset essential for creating pioneering technology companies. Our current efforts are intensely focused on continuous innovation, particularly in generating cutting-edge technologies for both our core manufacturing platform, AMCELL, and our intelligent control software, EVAM. We are constantly exploring new material capabilities, advanced automation features, and sophisticated data analytics to further enhance the performance, versatility, and cost-effectiveness of our solutions, ensuring TRIDITIVE remains at the forefront of industrial additive manufacturing.

3DN: Where do you see TRIDITIVE in the next ten years?

Looking ahead over the next decade, our aspirations for TRIDITIVE are ambitious yet firmly grounded in the proven potential of our technology and our strategic vision. We fully anticipate TRIDITIVE evolving into a globally recognized benchmark in the field of automated metal and polymer additive manufacturing, specifically for high-volume, serial production. Our primary objective is to successfully implement and normalize additive mass production across diverse industries, moving beyond the current limitations of prototyping and niche applications. We aim to be the unequivocal leader and go-to manufacturer for automated manufacturing platforms that set the standard in the international market. This involves not only continuous technological innovation to expand our capabilities in terms of speed, material range, and cost efficiency but also building a robust global network of support and partnerships. We envision TRIDITIVE’s AMCELL platforms empowering a new era of distributed, agile, and sustainable manufacturing, where complex, high-performance parts can be produced on demand, at scale, and with unprecedented economic viability, thereby profoundly impacting global supply chains and industrial efficiency.

3DN: Do you have any last words for our readers?

Absolutely. Additive manufacturing is not merely a passing trend; it is a fundamental technological shift that has firmly established itself and will undeniably become an integral and indispensable part of future manufacturing processes across all industries. Companies that proactively adopt and integrate this transformative technology into their operations will gain a significant competitive advantage in the market. This is especially true for those who choose additive technologies that facilitate rapid implementation on the production line without necessitating a prohibitive initial capital investment. TRIDITIVE is committed to providing precisely such solutions, enabling businesses to smoothly transition into the era of industrial 3D printing. We encourage everyone to explore the vast potential of automated additive manufacturing. You can discover more detailed information about our innovative technology and watch a demonstration of AMCELL in action by viewing the video below or visiting our official website HERE.

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