AMUG February 2026

President’s Report

February is the shortest month of the year, and I am feeling that. Time is moving at such a rapid speed. Why do some times of year feel that way? I think this is a busy period, especially in the AM space. There are so many AM events in the first quarter of the year (you might remember my slide from last year listing all the ones I knew about in Q1 alone). It makes for a harried travel schedule, a significant time and money investment to participate, and ultimately, little rest.

Here at AMUG, we have had a very busy last couple of months as we prepare for our reunion next month. Our track leader team has been poring over submissions. We are delighted to see so many eager to share their messages and learnings with the user group. We received nearly twice as many submissions as we have speaking slots. That took a fair bit of weeding through and active discernment to identify which sessions would be on our 2026 agenda. There is so much happening and changing in AM that it is no wonder there is so much interest to share.

The changes in AM are plentiful. We are seeing a heavy shift toward AI and automated integration. Of course, there are new technological advancements in hardware, software, and materials. Market consolidation continues. Applications that were once only for prototyping are migrating into production solutions. This excitement lends to the fast pace we are experiencing as well.

For some, change can be difficult. For others, change can be exciting. It’s an important difference to discern between “change for the sake of change” and “change to make something better.” Change should be meaningful, careful, thoughtful, intentional, and purposeful. While the industry continues to change, some things remain constant. This also rings true for AMUG. AMUG has made changes every year (new content, new attendees, new sponsors, new board members, new committee members, and new employees). AMUG also maintains some constants (event intimacy within a hotel, intentional networking opportunities, and education focus). It’s important to navigate these carefully so as not to disrupt the organization and event entirely, while also recognizing the importance of staying relevant and meaningful to our members/sponsors.

AMUG is, indeed, meaningful. By design, we yearn to create an event where we can have meaningful conversations with our industry colleagues; meaningful learnings to bring back to our places of employment; meaningful relationship building to ensure we have fellow users to lean on both professionally and personally when needed; meaningful experiences that create an eagerness to engage further and grow more in our industry; and meaningful impact that creates significant change in outcomes.

These meaningful gains are so much more important and relevant than the number of people in attendance or the number of booths at the AMUGexpo. “Butts in seats” are not indicative of success. We continue to build an event FOR the users… not for the numbers, not for the marketing, not for the boasting. We are deliberate in upholding our value as a users group. We are intentional to ensure the meaning of the conference will be met for our attendees and sponsors.

We are ready for you. Our AMUGexpo floor is almost at capacity with companies eager to share their products and services and help each user to be more productive/successful. Our attendee registration continues to grow with individuals seeking networking and education from their fellow industry colleagues. Our conference agenda is full with presentations, panels, workshops, and training labs.

We are prepared. Are you? Have you registered and booked your hotel room? We are looking forward to welcoming you to the Grand Sierra Resort in just a few short weeks.

Be safe. Make good choices. Create impact.

You are the reason we are meaningful…

Shannon VanDeren
President
President@amug.com

Looking Back: 2025 Launchpad Cohort 

The inaugural 2025 lineup featured 3D Spark GmbH, Alpha Powders, AM Academy GmbH, GZERO Additive, Hyphen Innovations LLC, Supernova, ToffeeX, Tyson Build Plates, and Vixiv, representing a diverse and global group of innovators entering the AM landscape.

Why the Launchpad Matters 

As AM continues to evolve rapidly, the Launchpad provides a much-needed bridge between early-stage creators and the established AM ecosystem. For start-ups, it represents an environment built on collaboration and technical depth—not just traditional trade‑show marketing. For attendees, it is an opportunity to discover cutting-edge tools, materials, and workflows poised to shape the future of AM.

With the AMUGexpo’s reputation for hands-on interaction, the Launchpad amplifies this experience by giving emerging teams a stage where new ideas and disruptive thinking stand front and center.

Thank You to Our Sponsor:

A special thank‑you to Toyota Production Engineering, the proud returning sponsor of the AMUG Start-up Launchpad, whose support helps provide this high-visibility platform for early-stage innovators advancing the future of AM.

Advance to the next level at AMUG 2026.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a newcomer just learning the controls of AM, this is the ultimate game night for the AM community. Don’t miss out — register now before the final countdown hits zero!

Wednesday evening’s activities are themed “Game On.” While everyday attire is welcome, we encourage you to show up ready to play—retro arcade vibes, full character costumes, gamer gear, board or card game icons, or your own creative take on game-day style.

Let the games begin — see you on the leaderboard of innovation!

Exclusive AM Insights

TCT is looking forward to joining the AM user community in Reno with our new-look, premium, quarterly print magazine.

Attendees can pick up a copy and access exclusive AM insights such as:

• General Motors gets serious with AM
• How 4WEB Medical figured out AM at scale
• The lowdown on Boeing’s 3D-printed solar arrays
• AM: Painkiller or vitamin?

Re-engineered for 2026 and beyond—faster, cleaner, and built for outcomes—connect with us to find out how you can reach, influence, and convert the people who matter most across print, web, and inbox.

Meet us on site at AMUG 2026 or connect with the team here.

Underwater Concrete 3D Printing Using Seafloor Sediment

The ocean has never been an easy place to build. Depth, pressure, and limited visibility make even routine construction and repair complex and expensive, particularly for the infrastructure hidden beneath the surface. At Cornell University, researchers are exploring whether these constraints could be addressed through in situ construction.

Rather than adapting traditional land-based methods to underwater conditions, the team is developing a way to fabricate structures directly on the seafloor using concrete 3D printing. The approach could enable maritime infrastructure to be built where it is needed, without prefabrication on land or deployment from the surface.

If successful, the method could support a quieter and more adaptive model of maritime construction, reducing both logistical complexity and environmental disruption. Learn more in the full story here.

VoxelMatters Composite AM Focus 2026 eBook

We are kicking off our 2026 eBook series with our Composites AM focus. This vertical, which we have closely and eagerly watched over the years, is versatile and encompasses all processes and materials associated with AM reinforced plastics. While historically the production of composite parts was reliant on mold-based, highly labor-intensive techniques, AM has introduced a more efficient and dynamic way to create composite parts.

As we’ll explore in this publication, composites represent a rich area in the broader AM market that is enabling myriad applications. We start the eBook off with an analysis chapter that leverages VoxelMatters’ market data to illuminate the growth of the segment, largely driven by materials consumption and services revenue. Next, we present MOI Composites’ latest LFAM solution, the SFM-based Hybrid Fabrication Platform, capable of printing high-quality near-net shape parts from short-fiber-reinforced thermoset composites.

In our mapping chapter, we cover over 45 of the leading players in composites AM—from hardware suppliers to material developers—with a particular emphasis on the top 20. Next is a record-breaking case study from UAE-based AM service Proto21 and robotic LFAM company Caracol. Leveraging Caracol’s Heron AM platform and reinforced PETG (as well as its broader 3D printer fleet), Proto21 3D printed a full-scale, 16-meter-long Seaglider aircraft model for the Dubai Airshow. Finally, we take a look at five recent composites AM applications that showcase the segment’s diversity, spanning aerospace, architecture, marine, and more.

VoxelMatters’ Composites AM eBook can be viewed by scrolling through the document or downloading it here.

NASA’s GRX-810: The Story of an Oxide-Dispersion-Strengthened Superalloy Designed for AM

In high-temperature propulsion applications, materials set the boundaries of what is possible. AM may have changed how we build components, but it hasn’t necessarily changed what extremes these components can endure in service.

NASA’s GRX-810 oxide-dispersion-strengthened superalloy tackles that constraint head-on: a high-temperature alloy designed, unlike legacy alloys, specifically for AM. Here, NASA’s Tim Smith and Paul Gradl explain how GRX-810 was developed, what has been demonstrated to date, and the pathway to commercial success.

Read the full article here.

3DPI Executive Survey 2026: A New Framework for AM Success

AM is entering a phase defined not by technical possibility, but by survivability under institutional scrutiny.

Drawing on responses to 3DPI’s annual Executive Survey, a new framework identifies five filters now shaping the industry: institutional, economic, operational, narrative, and geographic. Together, these filters explain why defense requirements are setting new production standards, why margin compression is accelerating consolidation, and why qualification, auditability, and workflow integration have become minimum requirements.

The shift reflects a deeper transition from selling machines to delivering reliable, repeatable manufacturing outcomes that can withstand procurement and regulatory oversight. The results of our annual survey show that in 2026, AM success is determined not by what can be printed, but by what can be consistently delivered at scale within institutional, economic, and geopolitical constraints.

Read the details here.

AMUG 2026 to Feature LEGO, Aerospace Collaboration Keynotes

AMUG 2026 puts the spotlight on the people and partnerships driving AM forward. According to AMUG’s pre-conference overview, this year’s agenda reflects cross-industry collaboration, hands-on learning, and tangible business impact.

One of the keynotes will feature Ronen Hadar, who leads AM at The LEGO Group. His talk will offer insight into how a major global brand uses additive technologies. Another anticipated session on Tuesday will feature Steve Fournier of General Atomics and Scott Sawyer of Divergent Aerospace & Defense, who will explain how a connection they made at AMUG turned into a partnership between aerospace and automotive. Their story reflects a key point of the conference: conversations at events like this can turn into real business results.

Meanwhile, the Innovators Showcase will feature Max Lobovsky, co-founder and CEO of Formlabs, as the 2026 Innovators Award recipient.

The conference will also cover sessions about AI-driven qualification, multi-sensor in situ monitoring, serial production for hypercars, bioprinting realities, and lessons from America Makes projects. Hands-on workshops and the Start-up Launchpad complete a program built around real skills and future ideas.

AMUG 2026 runs March 15–19, and 3DPrint.com’s Managing Editor Sarah Saunders will be there to follow the conversations and developments firsthand.

Aerospace Engineering Focus in February Edition

The February issue of Digital Engineering magazine includes a feature on materials development for AM  applications, as well as stories on the use of AI agents in design and the impact of aerospace certifications on aircraft design and simulation.

Download your copy here.

The Best Moment for Making Decisions

The best decisions are rarely about choosing more or less. They are about choosing when.

Across industries, many strategic choices are still made during annual planning cycles, often based on assumptions that once made sense. Revisiting those assumptions later is harder, even when reality has changed. Yet, delaying that reassessment can quietly amplify risk.

This dilemma feels particularly familiar in the AM industry.

As AM introduces new materials, processes, and qualification pathways, long-standing reference points are increasingly questioned. Are existing TRLs still fit for purpose? When does upgrading equipment make sense, and when is replacement the better option? At what point can AM truly be considered defense-ready?

From a leadership perspective, similar questions emerge. What does taking a leadership role in a new company mean for its next chapter? After a previous company’s failure, at what point do you realize that the venture you have been quietly building is no longer just a continuation, but something that is actively reshaping other businesses?

With a strong focus on Aerospace & Defense, the latest issue of 3D ADEPT Mag explores these moments of reassessment. It looks at AM through the lens of decisions that matter now, and the assumptions that deserve to be challenged.

Ultimately, while the goal remains to de-risk AM adoption, this issue suggests something more fundamental: making the right decision often starts with asking better questions, at the right moment.

You can access the digital version here and pick up your print copy at AMUG 2026.