Considering Strategically: AM Business Advisor Tali Rosman on AM for the Protection Market – 3DPrint.com

By now, roughly everybody within the AM trade appears to know the central function in accelerating AM adoption performed by the protection sector generally, and the U.S. navy particularly. Nonetheless, as was highlighted on this current 3DPrint.com interview with Mike Shepard of 3D Methods Company, there nonetheless aren’t that many true broad-based consultants in AM for the navy.

Tali Rosman is one such skilled. The onetime CEO of Xerox’s Elem Additive, which was finally acquired ADDiTEC, Rosman has written a variety of stories for Additive Manufacturing Analysis, together with a number of research particularly on the AM marketplace for protection. Her opinion is sought out by AM corporations and commerce associations around the globe.

At Additive Manufacturing Methods 2026 (February 24-26 in New York Metropolis), you possibly can see Tali moderating a panel on “The Way forward for Metallic Components for Aerospace & Protection,” as she and the panelists dive in to what appears to be like like it can stay one of many key demand drivers for the AM trade for years to come back. Should you haven’t registered for the occasion but, this can be a excellent time to take action — the usual registration deadline expires December tenth.

To get an concept of what sorts of themes will probably be mentioned on the panel, and throughout the Aerospace and Protection session as a complete, Tali shared her beneficial perception on some vital matters at the moment animating the world of navy AM.

Matt Kremenetsky: For a minimum of the final yr or so, everybody targeted on AM for protection has been paying essentially the most consideration to the Navy. Which functions past maritime are you most targeted on?

Tali Rosman: The Navy has rightfully taken the highlight for its work in shipboard AM and the SIB program, however AM is getting used compellingly throughout the DoW. On the Military facet, I’m equally enthusiastic about each expeditionary and floor logistics functions, together with:

• Ahead-deployed half manufacturing for automobile restore, unmanned techniques, or base infrastructure — particularly in contested logistics environments.
• Half restore at each the tactical and depot ranges to scale back lengthy lead occasions and enhance readiness.
• Additive building, comparable to 3DP concrete for barracks, partitions, and shelters — which is quietly transferring from pilot to functionality.

The Air Drive, in the meantime, has a number of attention-grabbing use circumstances in MRO and sustainment, spanning AM applied sciences. We’re additionally seeing rising cross-branch momentum in warfighter medical functions — from surgical fashions to customized orthotics — the place AM’s capability to personalize and ship shortly is a transparent differentiator.

MK: How is what’s taking place in protection a mannequin that may be utilized to profitable AM adoption in different sectors?

TR: Protection has turn out to be a real-world take a look at mattress for de-risking AM at scale — taking applied sciences out of the lab and into a number of the most demanding environments. That’s beneficial far past the navy. Specifically:

• Qualification pathways: The structured, rigorous half vetting in protection can inform frameworks for aerospace, vitality, and different demanding industries.
• Distributed manufacturing fashions: What the DoW is piloting throughout depots, bases, and afloat ships can function a blueprint for distant or multi-site industrial operations.
• Public-private collaboration: Packages like DIU present how stakeholders with very completely different timelines can nonetheless align on shared objectives — a beneficial lesson for any massive OEM attempting to associate with AM startups.

Backside line: protection isn’t simply an early adopter — it’s constructing the playbook for scaling AM beneath real-world constraints, and that playbook interprets on to different high-consequence sectors.

Marines from seventh Engineer Help Battalion together with engineers from the U.S. Military Corps of Engineers Building Engineering Analysis Laboratory pose with a concrete bunker throughout a 3D concrete printing train. Picture by way of U.S. Marines/Workers Sgt. Michael Smith, seventh ESB.

MK: As somebody who has labored with the US navy, what’s some recommendation you can provide corporations who’re hoping to enter the federal government market?

TR: Breaking into the DoW isn’t nearly promoting a product — it’s about studying to function inside a singular procurement and decision-making ecosystem. My high items of recommendation:

• Begin small however strategic — a profitable prototype by way of an SBIR or a DIU pilot may be your wedge into a lot bigger alternatives. We’ve seen success when packages give innovators a transparent path into sustainment — just like the Navy’s CRADA with FormAlloy at FRCSW, which turned a pilot restore course of right into a funded functionality. Streamlining requirements throughout branches would multiply these sorts of wins.

• Get fluent in “DoW-speak” — align your worth proposition to not “higher printing,” however to operational readiness, price avoidance, or logistics discount.

• Usher in somebody who’s walked the halls — hiring or partnering with a former DoW insider dramatically accelerates the training curve, from navigating procurement guidelines to discovering the best champions. For instance, in 2024 Nikon appointed Admiral Mike Mullen (Ret., USN), former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers, as a Strategic Advisor — and not too long ago introduced a partnership with the U.S. Navy to broaden maritime AM.

• Be affected person however persistent — timelines are lengthy, budgets are cyclical, and success comes from repeatedly aligning with shifting program priorities.

MK: As navy AM adoption steadily expands, do you see cybersecurity as an more and more vital difficulty?

TR: Completely — and I’d truly broaden it to incorporate each cybersecurity and sourcing integrity. As we digitize extra of the protection provide chain, the assault floor is getting wider — not simply when it comes to information, but in addition when it comes to the machines we’re counting on.

• On the cyber facet, AM introduces actual dangers: design information, course of parameters, monitoring information — they will all be tampered with in methods which are arduous to detect however catastrophic in the event that they fail within the area.
• On the provision chain facet, we’re nonetheless seeing corporations label issues as “Made within the USA” whereas quietly reselling imported machines — together with techniques with unknown firmware and connectivity threat. It checks the compliance field however misses the purpose solely.

Backside line: in AM, the machine is the manufacturing unit, and if we’re severe about nationwide safety, we are able to’t deal with the digital and bodily layers individually. It’s not nearly securing information — it’s about securing the total stack: {hardware}, software program, sourcing, and the ecosystem round it. Securing the file is desk stakes; securing the manufacturing unit is the actual problem.

3D printed metallic elements from Trident Warrior 25. This helicopter hangar door sensor bracket was printed by NAVSEA Warfare Facilities/Naval Floor Warfare Middle Carderock Division (NSWCCD) and put in on a DDG. Picture courtesy of FLEETWERX.

MK: Should you had the flexibility to alter one factor about how protection procurement works within the context of AM, what wouldn’t it be?

TR: Just one factor? I’ve a couple of in thoughts, however to select one, I’d begin with streamlining the qualification and procurement requirements throughout branches. Immediately, you possibly can qualify a component with one service and begin again at sq. one with one other — even when the fabric and utility are almost similar.

This fragmentation slows innovation and frustrates suppliers. A extra unified strategy would speed up adoption and cut back redundant price and energy.

MK: Do you see AM for the US navy transferring extra within the route of 1 enterprise setting that works throughout the entire division, or do you assume the navy’s AM exercise will all the time be primarily siloed into every department/company?

TR: Realistically, some siloing is inevitable, given the distinctive mission units and platforms of every department. However I do assume we’re seeing momentum towards a extra interoperable and related AM ecosystem:

• Shared repositories for certified elements.
• Frequent supplies libraries and testing protocols.
• Cross-branch pilots and consortiums.

Even when we are able to’t keep away from silos solely, we should always be sure that data, information, and elements can movement between them — particularly in joint operations or contested logistics situations. We don’t want full uniformity — simply interoperability. That’s what’s going to make AM really scalable throughout the providers.

Should you’re excited about extra of what Tali thinks in regards to the present state of the AM trade, catch her on this episode of Printing Cash. And don’t overlook to register for AMS 2026!

This interview was initially seen in AMS: The Preprint. 

---

Add your 3D Fashions and get them printed shortly and effectively.

---