Additive Manufacturing Moves Out Of The Lab And Onto The Factory Floor

3D printers no longer just print crude plastic prototypes. In 2022, 3D printing (or additive manufacturing) plays a role in everything from initial product prototyping to volume production of finished parts, supporting optimization of supply networks and underpinning new business models. Printers produce plastics, metals, advanced composite materials, and more. But traditional manufacturing workflows weren’t designed with 3D printing in mind, and carelessly forcing this technology into established processes will do more harm than good. This report shows business and technology leaders where and how to integrate 3D printing into the rest of their manufacturing business.