AMUG February 2025

President’s Report

Here we are in the final month ahead of AMUG 2025. And here we are in the midst of a very packed AM-relevant conference season. The amount of industry events peppered throughout Q1 for AM companies continues to grow. I did a little research and found 16 shows scattered between January and March (mind you, there could be more, but they didn’t cross my radar) that our member/sponsor community could be involved in.

PHEW!! The burden of decision-making is upon us. Choosing an event surely considers costs, personnel, travel, ROI, marketing assets, and relevance to a company’s vision for growth. We know this burden as we are facing it, too. For me, I feel it through the lenses of the president of AMUG and the president of Layered Manufacturing and Consulting.

Some things I know to be true about coming together at AMUG…

1. It is a users group. Here, I have the opportunity to meet and engage with other users. Here is where I will learn about others’ experiences, triumphs, and trials. Here is where I gain insights into how to achieve the best return from AM equipment. Here, I can look across the fence to see how other industries are applying AM and identify like-minded avenues for applications in a different vertical. Here is where I might learn how to be more efficient with design, machine operation, and post processing. Here is where I will experience AM through hands-on workshops. Here is where I align with industry enthusiasts eager to grow and help others to do the same.
2. It is not commercially focused (by design). Here is where I gain evidence-based lessons on how to best utilize AM. While we have an expo with sponsors/exhibitors, this is the opportunity to TEACH/DEMONSTRATE to the user-members on how to more effectively succeed with their product/service. Perhaps that lesson is a design strategy to best complement outcomes; maybe it is a lesson in machine maintenance and/or preservation; perhaps it is user tips and tricks. Our sponsors have a product/service… their presence on the expo floor is a great opportunity to dig in and learn about it, whether you are already a customer or not. Learning opportunities are abundant.
3. Networking is yours for the taking. “Everyone you’ll ever meet knows something you don’t,” Bill Nye. Networking at AMUG is not just about collecting contacts and business cards; it’s about starting relationships and alliances. Ask the questions AND share your experiences. You may offer the exact details that another has been seeking. You may hear a solution, or an idea, that is wildly inspiring to you. You may find that an application you thought was not applicable actually has some relevance to a project you are contributing to. You may find friends you never knew you were missing.
4. AMUG is an investment. Whether you are sponsoring or attending, there is a financial investment. If you are on a committee helping us to build the event, there is a time/talent investment. When you participate in AMUG 2025 (be it one day or four-and-a-half days), there is a time investment. Here’s the thing…it is not simply an investment in AMUG; it’s an investment in YOU! You know what? YOU are worth it.

Truly, truly…I look forward to spending days with you in Chicago for AMUG 2025. I look forward to seeing new faces, reuniting with those I anticipate seeing each year, and building your “Why AMUG” story.

With gratitude,

Shannon VanDeren
President
President@amug.com

Technical Competition – Show Off Your Skills

Last Call! The 2025 AMUG Technical Competition is your chance to showcase your AM skills and innovation. Whether you’re pushing the boundaries with Advanced Concepts or highlighting your artistry in Advanced Finishing, this is the ultimate platform to gain recognition.

Submit your project by March 14, 2025, for a chance to win first-, second-, or third-place awards, plus the Members’ Choice award chosen by AMUG attendees. First-place award winners and the Members’ Choice winner each receive a complimentary attendee pass for AMUG 2026.

Don’t miss the opportunity to be featured at the AMUGexpo, celebrate your work, and win a complimentary AMUG pass.

Discover How a New Generation of Alloys Will Fuel Industry Growth

Aluminum has emerged as a pivotal material in AM, revolutionizing industries such as aerospace, automotive, and beyond. Overcoming early processing challenges, advances in AM machines and alloy designs are unlocking aluminum’s potential.

Today, its lightweight, high strength, and thermal properties, combined with advances in powder production and sustainability efforts, are driving its rapid adoption. With growing applications and ongoing materials development, aluminum is poised to play a transformative role in shaping the future of AM technologies.

Read the full article here.

Download the Metal AM Winter 2024 issue for free here.

VoxelMatters Releases New AM Services Focus 2024 eBook

VoxelMatters released its new Metal AM 2024 market report, showcasing a significantly altered market landscape compared to the previous edition. These changes are evident in the latest list of the Top 10 Metal AM companies for 2024 by overall revenue, which features new entries and notable absences. EOS remains at the top of the list, now followed by BLT and Nikon SLM Solutions. In the previous edition, Nikon SLM Solutions held second place, and 3D Systems was third.

In a global metal AM market valued at $4.7 billion in 2024 (including hardware, materials, and services revenues) and expected to grow to nearly $60 billion by 2034, hardware is the leading revenue driver. The list shows a rapid rise of the Chinese “Big Five” metal AM companies, including BLT, Farsoon, EPlus3D, HBD, and Kings 3D (not present in the top 10). Leading companies in the top five also include traditional market leaders such as 3D Systems and Colibrium Additive (formerly GE Additive), which maintain stable positions.

See the full article here or purchase the full market report here.

Hot Isostatic Pressing vs. Annealing: Which Heat Treatment Should You Choose?

As AM continues to industrialize, post-processing is becoming ever more crucial. Through this critical stage, users can improve parts, making them stronger and denser or giving them specific properties, ensuring they can be used for important end-use applications. Out of all the different types of post-processing, one of the most important for powder bed 3D printing — especially for metals — is heat treatment.

But which heat treatment is suitable for a part? How does it work? To answer these questions, we wanted to look at two commonly used heat treatment processes: hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and annealing.

Get the details here.

Consortium to Tackle Energy Supply Chains

A collection of AM and energy industry members have partnered to establish a much-needed consortium dedicated to supply chain resilience in the energy sector. With materials, software, hardware, and other companies and organizations, energize.am intends to create circular supply chains that reduce the carbon footprint of the energy sector, while reshoring manufacturing.

Read the article here.

3DPI Executive Survey & Insights from Joe Allison

One of Michael Petch’s (Editor-in-Chief, 3DPI) favorite things about the AMUG Conference is the unrivaled immersion in the rich history of AM. Attendees with decades of experience rub shoulders with relative newcomers to the benefit of both – one learning from experience, the other seeing things with fresh eyes.

Recently, Petch interviewed Joe Allison, AMUG’s 2025 Innovators Award recipient and someone willing to share both history and experience. Petch hopes you will enjoy the article as much as he enjoyed speaking with Joe Allison. 

3DPI’s annual 3D Printing Industry Executive Survey polls almost one hundred AM insiders. This year, in addition to looking at the near-term and long-range trends buoying the industry, it has a special focus on AI and 3D printing. Bookmark the series if you’re looking for some in-flight reading material as you voyage to Chicago next month.

Latest Issue of Digital Engineering

The January/February issue of Digital Engineering includes an in-depth feature on the movement toward 3D printing directly from CAD files. The issue also features a focus on AI in design and engineering, including a look at synthetic data, surrogate simulation models, and AI-powered design tools.

You can download the issue here.