Final week, over 500 exhibiting firms and over 15,000 attendees converged on Detroit’s Huntington Place for RAPID + TCT 2025. Regardless of uncertainty round shifting tariff insurance policies and unstable inventory markets, a way of cautious optimism was evident on the present ground.
Many agreed that the trade has entered a brand new stage of maturity, the place hype is fading and sensible purposes and person worth are taking middle stage. The main target of the present additionally shifted away from flashy product launches, and whereas RAPID + TCT 2025 featured a number of new techniques (detailed beneath), they performed a smaller function than in earlier years.
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Steve Prahalis, Chief Working Officer on the occasion organizer SME, recognized that earlier reveals noticed many “massive and delightful cubicles” designed to fulfill shareholders and one-up rivals. He believes this mentality has ceased, with firms extra targeted on demonstrating how they handle buyer challenges.
The general sentiment on the present mirrored a acutely aware shift from revolution to evolution, with much less urge for food for disruption and technological improvements. Throughout the government views panel on day one, EOS President Glynn Fletcher argued that the trade ought to shift from “cool” to “cost-effective” as a result of “cool is just not a enterprise mannequin.” He expressed the necessity for the 3D printing trade to “match into the larger image of producing” and transfer from an “adversarial trade” to a “complementary trade.”
Different panelists emphasised the significance of collaboration. Brigitte de Vet-Veithen, CEO of Materialise, believes that “collaboration can actually drive development.” SME’s Prahalis shares this imaginative and prescient. He instructed me, “The hype cycle’s over, we have to be reasonable. We have to collaborate.”
This was echoed by Stratasys’ CEO Yoav Zeif, who warned in opposition to inside competitors between additive manufacturing firms. As an alternative, he argued that “the competitors is the established order.” For Zeif, delivering worth, assembly half necessities, and decreasing the full price of possession are important to growing 3D printer adoption. “We have to deal with adoption, not hype,” he added. “If we focus and collaborate, we are going to win.”
RAPID + TCT 2025: Insights from the occasion organizers
SME is a nonprofit group with a mission to advertise developments and enhance the adoption of additive manufacturing. 2025 marks 35 years since SME hosted its first “RAPID” convention in 1990, targeted on speedy prototyping and stereolithography. Over three many years later, the annual occasion has grown into North America’s main additive manufacturing commerce present.
This yr’s occasion noticed RAPID + TCT co-locate with SME’s AeroDef Manufacturing, SAE Worldwide’s World Congress Expertise (WCX) mobility present, and America Makes’ Technical Evaluation & Alternate (TRX). Angie Szerlong, SME’s Group Director for Additive Manufacturing, known as this collaborative method “a really massive spotlight” for this yr’s expo. She known as the occasion “a mega place for all manufacturing teams to come back collectively and expertise all totally different components of the provision chain.”
Prahalis echoed this sentiment. He revealed that the co-location helped elevate 2025 to the “largest RAPID we’ve had.” This yr’s 15,000 attendees grew from round 9,000 final yr. It included over 10,000 attending primarily for RAPID + TCT, 1,000 for AeroDef, 4,000 for WcX, and round 500 for the TRX program.
Co-location additionally displays a rising effort to combine 3D printing with broader manufacturing, enhance usability, and ship worth for patrons. Prahalis referenced the sturdy consensus amongst trade executives to “break into manufacturing” and “not simply sing the praises” of 3D printing. He famous that additive manufacturing occasions have beforehand been predominantly attended by “AM lovers” who’ve already purchased into the expertise, stunting scalability.
SME hopes to extend additive manufacturing’s presence at different trade occasions, for instance, IMTS and FABTECH Expo. Growing visibility will “get the overall manufacturing viewers to know the influence of AM,” added Prahalis. As a part of this mission, SME is working to combine 3D printing into its Manufacturing Know-how Collection of expos and conferences. Prahalis additionally shared his imaginative and prescient for co-locating with different unbiased manufacturing reveals in future iterations of RAPID + TCT. He in contrast this method to the “Costco mannequin,” permitting guests from all verticals to get probably the most worth from their journey to the exhibition middle.
New 3D printers unveiled at RAPID + TCT 2025
Whereas RAPID + TCT 2025 was not as launch-heavy as earlier iterations, a number of cubicles hosted new 3D printer bulletins.
Massachusetts Institute of Know-how (MIT) spinout Speedy Liquid Print (RLP) attracted loads of consideration by unveiling its new Levity Machine. Set to start transport subsequent yr, the brand new system options the corporate’s patented “gravity-free” 3D printing expertise.
RLP’s expertise was first showcased at Design Miami 2017. It permits smooth, pliable silicone components to be “drawn” inside a gel suspension. The injected materials is held in place as it’s cured at room temperature, eradicating the necessity for help buildings. In line with RLP’s CEO and Co-founder, Schendy Kernizan, this course of will increase sustainability as a result of customers “solely 3D print the fabric that they want.”
The brand new Levity Machine can rapidly fabricate large-scale components with versatile, elastic properties. Initially designed for 3D printing furnishings, Kernizan mentioned RLP now focuses on medical purposes similar to orthotics and prosthetics. The Boston-based firm has additionally expanded into large-scale gasket and sealing parts for the aerospace, automotive, and marine industries.
Standing within the bustling RLP sales space, Kernizan expressed his pleasure on the “wonderful” suggestions his crew acquired throughout RAPID + TCT 2025. “It’s displaying that we’re fixing the issues which have been requested by way of velocity limitations and half high quality,” he added. “Our purpose is to present individuals the chance to carry this expertise into their manufacturing facility ground, and to go from prototyping to full manufacturing with the identical machine.”
Stratasys as soon as once more stood out with one of many greatest cubicles at RAPID + TCT. In line with the corporate’s Chief Enterprise Unit Officer and President, Wealthy Garrity, exhibiting at North America’s major additive manufacturing expo continues to repay. “It’s been an excellent present up to now,” he instructed me. “We had, I believe, 40% extra leads on day one than a yr in the past.”
Throughout the present, the corporate offered its new Neo 800+ large-format SLA 3D printer, first introduced throughout the AMUG 2025 convention within the week earlier than the Detroit occasion. The up to date system options Stratasys’ ScanControl+ scanning expertise, reportedly accelerating 3D printing speeds by as much as 50%. Vacuum System Safety, Z-Stage Collision Detection, and reside environmental monitoring options are additionally included to reinforce half high quality and enhance uptime.
On the Stratasys sales space, guests may additionally get hands-on with components 3D printed utilizing the corporate’s new PolyJet ToughONE photopolymer resin. This high-strength materials delivers the mechanical efficiency for useful prototypes and end-use components. ToughONE gives the very best influence resistance and shock absorption of any PolyJet materials. As such, it carefully mimics the properties of sturdy plastics like HDPE, PP, PBT, PC-ABS, PC, Nylon 12, and Nylon 6.
The buyer resin 3D printer market additionally witnessed a brand new addition in Detroit. Shenzhen-based Elegoo revealed the Jupiter 2, a brand new LCD 3D printer that includes a 14-inch, 16K decision display and upscaled 302.40 x 161.98 x 300.00 mm construct quantity. Designed to instantly handle suggestions from Elegoo’s buyer base, the Jupiter 2 incorporates a modular design and LCD display that may be swapped in 10 seconds. A 2kg removable resin dealing with system has additionally been added to automate materials feeding and recycling.
Coco Lee, Elegoo’s Model Director, defined that whereas the Jupiter 2 will proceed to serve the corporate’s core base of entry-level shoppers, it has additionally been optimized for prosumers. Its elevated construct quantity expands Elegoo’s attain to these eager to fabricate giant components, obtain higher-quantity manufacturing runs, and entry improved floor decision. The desktop 3D printer’s worth is but to be revealed, with shipments set to start in Q3 2025.
One other Chinese language firm that launched new {hardware} was Shanghai-headquartered Raise3D. The corporate has entered the SLS 3D printing market with its RMS220 3D printer. That includes a 220 x 220 x 350 mm construct quantity, 75-watt fiber optic laser, and as much as 30,000 mm/second scanning velocity, the system gives a most throughput of two.2 liters per hour. Two swappable construct chambers are included to maximise productiveness and help batch manufacturing purposes.
Ruben Nigaglioni, Raise3D’s Gross sales Director, defined that the RMS220 hopes to extend adoption by providing a “cost-effective option to get into industrial SLS 3D printing.” He added that combining a low worth with superior options helps the RMS220 differentiate throughout the industrial 3D printer market. Pre-orders are anticipated to open in Q3 2025, with the primary techniques being shipped the next quarter. Clients can buy the 3D printer alongside Raise3D’s cleansing unit for de-powdering, and a sand-blasting unit for post-processing.
RAPID + TCT 2025 additionally witnessed new developments in steel 3D printing. Notably, Florida-based ADDiTEC launched the Fusion S vary, marking its entry into the steel laser powder mattress fusion (LPBF) market. The corporate’s compact Fusion S 3D printer and Fusion Cabin unpacking station make the most of a completely enclosed cartridge system. This permits customers to securely transport 3D printed components between machines with out instantly contacting the powder, eradicating the necessity for PPE and stopping materials contamination. That includes a 200 W laser and 50 µm welding spot, the Fusion S can fabricate components with 10-50 µm layer thicknesses at as much as 5 m/s.
Collectively, each models are priced at round $150,000, making them an economical choice within the LPBF house. ADDiTEC CEO Brian Matthews mentioned the compact system is optimized for dental, medical, jewellery, and small aerospace components. Its low price and streamlined workflow additionally make it engaging to universities and analysis establishments. Though it debuted in Detroit, Matthews reported that the Fusion S has already acquired “an enormous variety of quotations” from clients. The British-born CEO plans to construct a worldwide distribution community for the Fusion S by yr’s finish.
German steel 3D printer producer Ponticon showcased a number of components fabricated utilizing pE3D, its ultra-high-speed, laser DED system. This method incorporates a distinctive tripod kinematic structure. A stationary nozzle combines with a fast-moving construct platform and precision-firing laser to 3D print at as much as 200 meters per minute. The high-power laser melts the steel powder or wire feedstock, creating molten steel which is deposited onto the construct platform layer by layer.
In line with Dr. Simone Maffia, Head of Software Growth, Ponticon’s expertise is 200 occasions quicker than most DED rivals, which might solely produce components as much as two meters per minute. He additionally highlighted the pE3D’s means to manufacture high-precision steel components with partitions as skinny as 0.4 mm. This makes it properly fitted to aerospace, protection, and commodity purposes. Each Ponticon system is personalized for the client and their particular utility wants.
Enhancing AI course of monitoring in additive manufacturing
3D printing software program at RAPID + TCT 2025 witnessed a powerful deal with course of monitoring optimized by synthetic intelligence (AI) and machine studying.
One such exhibitor was Interspectral. Primarily based out of Norrköping, Sweden, the corporate gives AM Explorer. This course of monitoring and high quality assurance software program is optimized for steel additive manufacturing. In line with CEO Isabelle Hachette, the corporate has made personalized installations of its AI-powered defect detection software program with steel 3D printer OEMs. She added that these “deep integrations” cowl 60-70% of the steel LPBF 3D printer market, together with EOS, Colibrium Additive, AddUp, Velo3D, and Nikon SLM Options’ NXG XII 600 vary.
AM Explorer makes use of reside 3D printing information and AI evaluation to observe the construct course of and detect defects in real-time. Its built-in AI fashions are educated to identify anomalies and set off alerts and corrective actions. Customers can view defects layer by layer by reside visualization, enabling fast identification and response. That is particularly invaluable for high-volume runs utilizing pricey steel powder. “We will filter out the dangerous parts from the nice ones in a construct job,” mentioned Hachette. The software program can then ship an alert to pause the construct and recommend changes to the method, like re-coating or altering the laser energy.
In line with Hachette, the corporate’s modular, vendor-specific AI structure is exclusive amongst 3D printing software program. “There is no such thing as a one else that has this modular AI structure,” she defined. “We will calibrate and use totally different AI fashions for particular techniques, so we are able to actually customise.”
One other emergent firm within the AI course of monitoring software program house is Euler. The Icelandic startup gives AI-powered defect detection for LPBF and SLS 3D printing. Its instrument makes use of 3D printing digital camera information and AI algorithms to unlock automated evaluation with out the necessity for costly monitoring gear. It might detect half defects, predict 3D printing failures, and spotlight frequent points like uneven powder distribution, unfinished layers, and burns.
At RAPID + TCT 2025, Euler launched its course of monitoring instrument for EOS 3D printers. The plug-and-play software program installs in below 5 minutes and requires no calibration, in response to the corporate. Finnish steel 3D printing service supplier Delva will use Euler’s instrument to spice up the effectivity of serial manufacturing with its EOS techniques.
The present additionally noticed Phase3D introduce a brand new model of Fringe, its steel 3D printing in-situ inspection platform, for chilly spray additive manufacturing. Referred to as Fringe Inspection: Chilly Spray, the brand new instrument was supported by $1.25 million from the Air Pressure Analysis Laboratory (AFRL).
Phase3D’s newest providing leverages structured gentle to seize floor information and measure every construct layer, figuring out defects similar to cracking, cratering, and pitting. The software program additionally evaluates the flatness and form of deposited steel, permitting engineers and technicians to regulate parameters extra successfully. Fringe Inspection: Chilly Spray has already been examined by the College of Dayton Analysis Institute (UDRI) and evaluated in an operational setting at Ellsworth Air Pressure Base.
Away from 3D printing software program, Hexagon’s upcoming Leica Absolute Tracker ATS 800 3D scanner seeks to reinforce high quality inspection and digitization in large-scale manufacturing. The brand new gadget stands out because of its spectacular scanning attain, with the ATS 800 able to capturing information at distances as much as 40 meters. It combines direct scanning and reflector monitoring expertise to scale back the necessity for up-close scanning operations, that are impractical and unsafe for large-scale components.
Joel Martin, Hexagon’s Director of Product Gross sales Administration, defined that these capabilities are properly suited to “something that’s massive” in industries like aerospace, protection, shipbuilding, nuclear and wind vitality manufacturing, and agriculture.
Martin emphasised that the ATS 800 stands out for its exact edge measurement capabilities. Most standard scanners solely seize the final level earlier than dropping off an edge. Nonetheless, Hexagon’s ATS 800 measures throughout the laser beam itself, not simply on the floor contact level. This permits customers to measure deep inside options that had been beforehand unreachable. “Nothing else exists the best way this factor does,” Martin mentioned.
Because the solar set on the ultimate day within the Motor Metropolis, three themes stood out: collaboration, buyer worth, and purposes. Zeif known as it a “decisive second” for 3D printing. Trade leaders agreed, arguing it’s time to maneuver previous the hype and combine with broader manufacturing to achieve market maturity.
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Featured picture reveals Huntington Place, Detroit. Picture by 3D Printing Trade.
