FROM THE EDITOR SAM DAVIES A reason WHY

In each TCT Magazine issue, we seek to bring you the perspectives of as diverse a group of industry personnel as possible, from applicationspecific insights to thoughts on the broader landscape of the additive manufacturing (AM) sector.

But in pulling this first issue of 2023 together, I was hit with perhaps the most fundamental observation.

“In any industry, there needs to be a reason for these companies to exist.”

Though potentially an obvious statement to make, it is something to come back to as millions continue to be pumped into a market that grows steadily, not steeply, with many in the sector often bemoaning the pace of change. As the technology evolves into a bona fide production tool, the industry remains awash with vendors backed significantly by venture capitalists with little profit yet being made. It could be perceived as an industry built as much on promise as performance.

That promise led to more than half a dozen companies announcing their intention to go public via SPAC mergers between 2021-22. One failed to get off the ground, while another filed for bankruptcy within nine months of its listing. The rest listed successfully, though stock values trend downwards by 50-90%. The analysis of SPACs in our State of the Industry coverage (P14) is what brings us to the reason why. Why would people continue to invest if the promise isn't being fulfilled and enough profit being made? And what then for AM tech providers?

In this issue’s cover story, I’d argue there’s plenty to justify the industry’s existence. Shining a spotlight on the five nominees for this year’s TCT Women in 3D Printing Innovator

Award, there is enthusiasm and achievement in abundance, from academia to materials to medical. The impact of 3D printing in this latter sector, as we’ll highlight in our second TCT Magazine issue of 2023, changes and saves lives. While continued research and material development helps the technology to come into its own in plenty of other markets too.

Throughout the year, we’ll detail the proficiency of AM to supplement, and even enhance, how things are made in transport, heavy industry, and consumer products. Meanwhile, in this issue, we look at how the technology is helping to push the envelope in the manufacture of e-sport gaming mice (P34) and stop animation puppets (P36). Recreational applications they might be, but sizeable markets for the industry to penetrate.

Before that, our other State of the Industry instalment (P12) features the latest findings from CONTEXT, who don’t so much aim to rationalize the industry’s being, but monitor the appetite of the customer base. In Q3 of last year, demand in the Industrial and Design product classes was up, in part thanks to continued innovation from the machine vendors.

And though AM is already proving its worth in a range of industries, that there’s still room for improvement can’t be denied. Between pages 1833, we look at the latest goings-on in software and standards – two pivotal elements when it comes to additive application.

As the industry continues on these endeavours – to prove and improve the tech – we at TCT will keep pace. This issue is a good start, but there's plenty more to come.