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  • The Longevity Economy Needs a Factory

    Longevity has become one of the biggest stories in healthcare. Every week seems to add a new announcement about an anti-aging therapy, an AI-powered drug discovery platform, or a startup trying to extend how long we live. Investors have poured billions into companies working on everything from cellular rejuvenation to gene therapy. Governments are also preparing for rapidly aging populations that will reshape healthcare systems over the next decades.

    But longevity is not just creating demand for new treatments. It is also creating demand for manufacturing. If people begin living longer and staying healthier for more years, they will not simply need more medicine. They will need more healthcare products, implants, dental restorations, hearing aids, surgical guides, rehabilitation devices, and so much more. And more of those products will need to be customized for each patient. That change could become one of the biggest business opportunities for additive manufacturing.

    Featured rendering courtesy of 3DPrint.com: Concept rendering of a patient-specific 3D printed orthopedic implant, one of the fastest-growing applications of additive manufacturing in healthcare.

  • 30 Women Have Had Breasts Restored with BellaSeno’s Resorbable Scaffolds

    BellaSeno has pioneered resorbable breast implant scaffolds using 3D printing and polycaprolactone. The scaffolds can be printed in a specific structure and then reabsorb into the body. That way, the patient doesn’t need an implant, and the polycaprolactone breaks down completely. The scaffold stays intact long enough for the body to seed it with its cells. The company says that the “scaffolds are inserted into the breast and seeded with the patient’s own fat, acting as a protective framework for tissue growth, gradually regenerating breast volume and shape over one to two years.” So for someone who lost a breast due to a mastectomy, for example, the resulting breast will feel and wear much more naturally.

    Breast scaffold.

    The company reported good initial results from a clinical trial and later said that its process led to good results. It completed two clinical trials in 2025: the first with 19 patients and the second, an ongoing trial, with 11 patients. Now it has announced that two women have had their breasts restored by their scaffolds.

    Thirty Australian women have now undergone life-changing restorative breast surgery using new absorbable scaffold technology specifically designed to regenerate lost breast tissue.

    Professor Anand Deva says,

    Professor Anand Deva.

    “Clinicians who are looking at MRI scans in these patients a few years after receiving these scaffolds would say they were simply looking at normal breast tissue, There are now 30 women walking around the world who have had breast scaffold surgery across both trials. By the end of August, we expect that number will more than double as we have many more patients scheduled for surgery. By the time we conclude this trial, we will have generated a robust scientific evidence base focused on efficacy, safety, and longer-term patient outcomes. It is without a doubt the most significant advancement we have seen in the field of breast surgery for decades. We have now entered the era of medical regeneration.”

    Meanwhile, BellaSeno CEO Dr Mohit P. Chhaya said,

    “When BellaSeno was founded, the ambition was not simply to develop a product, but to help advance a new regenerative approach to soft tissue restoration. The progress achieved to date reflects years of collaboration between scientists, engineers, surgeons and patients who share a common belief that future healthcare will increasingly involve technologies designed to unlock the body’s own regenerative capacity. However, we are now considering the pathway from clinical investigation toward future commercialization and broader clinical access.Regenerative soft tissue surgery is no longer a futuristic idea. Dozens of patients have had these procedures, and many more are going to as part of human clinical studies, which are happening inside operating theatres now.”

    Dr Mohit Chhaya, BellaSeno CEO and Co-Founder.

    These are encouraging results. BellaSeno seems to be on a path here to a diligent, precise revolution. If successful, BellaSeno could become one of the largest companies in additive. There are reportedly more than 2.2 million breast augmentation surgeries worldwide. These procedures carry risks such as cancer, scarring, and more. BellaSeno (and French firm Lattice) could go far in making breast augmentation and reconstruction much safer. With 3D printing customization, they could be the right size, and, because they are ultimately made of the body’s own tissue, they could feel a lot better. This could be hugely beneficial for patients.

    At the same time, a clinically validated safer procedure with better results could eventually net BellaSeno billions in revenue, even if they just conquered a fifth or so of the market. Now we don’t know whether they’ll be alone in the 3D printed breast implant market, or for how long. But beyond breasts, there are more opportunities in noses and other parts as well. The company still has a ways to go, but BellaSeno could very well change the world for millions of patients, and be one of the biggest successes in additive manufacturing.

    Images courtesy of BellaSeno

  • Finnish 3D Printed Pharma OEM CurifyLabs Lands $14M Series A

    With verticals like defense/space and opportunities like the AI boom dominating so much of the current focus in the additive manufacturing (AM) industry, it’s easy to forget one of the original strategic sectors driving early AM adoption: medical. This is partially due to the fact that for applications like hearing aids and spinal implants, AM is so integral to the broader markets it’s a part of that it’s become less necessary to draw attention to the fundamental business case involved.

    However, as the focus within AM for medical starts to shift towards applications that are relatively less mature — but no less intriguing — it seems likely that the medical sector could start to regain its traditional share of the AM industry’s attention span. CurifyLabs, the Finnish original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of pharmaceutical 3D printers, has just provided the industry with a good example along those lines, announcing that it has closed a $14 million Series A round.

    Led by Norway-based VC firm Sandwater and Swedish investment fund HealthCap, the Series A financing will go towards a variety of objectives, including CurifyLabs’ expansion of its US operations based in Jacksonville, Florida. The company also plans to bolster its overall supply chain while enhancing both customer service and R&D.

    According to CurifyLabs, pharmacies in 21 states use the company’s 3D printers for drug compounding: producing customized doses tailored to specific patient needs. In addition to printers like the Aurum, CurifyLabs also makes the base ingredients required to print pharmaceuticals, and provides the relevant software for its manufacturing ecosystem.

    In a press release about CurifyLabs’ $14 million Series A round, Morten E. Iversen, a partner at round leader Sandwater, said, “Personalized medicine is one of the most important frontiers in healthcare enabling better patient outcomes and is experiencing solid growth. We are enabling more pharmacies to deliver personalized medicine in a safer and more efficient way. CurifyLabs has built something rare — technology that combines clinical rigor with the speed and precision that busy pharmacy teams depend on. We are excited to support their rapid growth in the U.S. and beyond.”

    Charlotta Topelius, the founder and CEO of CurifyLabs, said, “”This investment reflects the conviction our partners have in what we’re building. We have set a high bar for clinical rigor, product quality, and customer support, and this funding gives us the resources to raise that bar further.”

    Beyond AM, personalized pharmaceuticals (and personalized treatments generally) seem to be poised for continued sustained growth in years ahead, after already growing substantially over the last decade. The FDA has stated that, since 2014, 25 percent of all new drug approvals are for personalized treatments, and around 30 percent of patients require personalized medicine.

    As personalized treatments become even more commonplace, and as they accumulate a more extensive track record, the associated data and medical consensus may very well push the pharmaceutical industry even further in the direction of personalization. Aside from that, the constantly growing obsession with all things ‘wellness’ should create an increasing number of growth opportunities for personalized over-the-counter supplements.

    Against the backdrop of aging populations in all the world’s wealthiest countries, all of the above implies a pretty solid foundation for expanding interest in 3D printed drugs over the long term. One variable that should determine the pace of the adoption curve is how the uniquely robust R&D landscape in the pharmaceutical industry responds to having greater access to 3D printers in the coming decade.

    If the CurifyLabs Series A round is any indicator, though, medical sector stakeholders seem to be quite convinced that the growth story for AM pharmaceuticals has room to run. At least in terms of VC for 3D printing, I think pharmaceuticals could rise more and more to the forefront over the next few years.

    Images courtesy of CurifyLabs

  • Arridex Opens Additive Manufacturing Omnifactory in Lagos for MRO & Spare Parts

    Arridex, formerly known as the RusselSmith Group, has been building additive manufacturing competence and capacity in Africa for years. Previously, the company got approval to use a Roboze 3D printed oil services part, completed maritime work in Ghana, and worked with CEAD on large-format polymer 3D printing.

    Now, the firm is opening its Omnifactory, a Lagos-based additive manufacturing facility.

    At a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the factory was opened by the Governor of Lagos State, along with local and international dignitaries. Meanile, Arridex CEO Kayode Adeleke spoke at the Invest Lagos 3.0 forum commemorating his firm’s move.

    Executive Governor of Lagos Babajide Sanwo-Olu said,

    ¨Today, I opened West Africa’s first multi-technology industrial additive manufacturing facility in Lagos. By producing industrial components and spare parts here in Lagos, Arridex is helping to reduce our dependence on imports, strengthening critical industries and supporting economic growth. I commend the Arridex team for their vision and commitment to building solutions that serve not only Nigeria but the wider African continent. Lagos will continue to support investments that create opportunities, grow local capacity and position our state as a hub for innovation and industry.¨

    Adeleke said,

    “We did not set out to build the biggest company, but a resilient one. For over two decades, we have chosen the harder path, and that is to make in Africa what others import, to meet global standards without exception, and to put purpose before profit. The Arridex Omnifactory is where that conviction becomes infrastructure. The name on the door is new, but the work behind it is not. We are not stopping here. By the first quarter of 2027, we will commission the Arridex Mega Omnifactory, which will stand among the largest single-site industrial additive manufacturing facilities in the world. The next chapter of global manufacturing can be written from Lagos. We are building it.”

    The Omnifactory will have FDM, LPBF, Cold Spray, and polymer LPBF capabilities, as well as large-format 3D printing. At the factory, the company hopes to engineer spare parts, reverse engineer components, make new components, and help with prototyping.

    Arridex got its start in oil & gas in 2005, and now works across demanding industries such as defense, maritime, and aerospace. During its history, the company has “zero lost-time incidents across more than seven million man hours of operations.”

    3D printed compressor coupling used in an industrial application. Image courtesy of RusselSmith.

    Certified by Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and working with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), the Arridex Omnifactory is slated to become a keystone for Nigeria’s additive efforts. Nigeria has significant oil exports and a lot of energy infrastructure. Typically, a lot of consultants, engineers, and parts for these industries come from abroad. Therefore, any work that can be done in Nigeria would be a huge boon for the local economy.

    By tackling 3D printing locally, the Omnifactory could create high value jobs in the area. At the same time, it could help complete MRO jobs faster. Making parts quicker and easier to obtain will be a significant benefit for locally operating energy firms. Spills or stoppages are very expensive, and quicker solutions will make them all perk up. The Omnifactory therefore is an excellent addition. And building on to the company’s accomplishments in additive, the very idea of the Omnifactory is bound to bring in more business and interest. Practically, to have one place to build on making certified parts in several technologies is going to be great for Nigeria, the local oil and gas industry, and the region. Also, being the de facto producer of MRO parts for the energy and defense industries locally is an enviable stable business to be in. All around this is an excellent play, and I can’t wait to see what this firm will accomplish.

  • AMCRC to Give $3.25 Million to SMEs & Startups Adopting 3D Printing in Australia

    Australia’s Additive Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (AMCRC) is set to give $3.25 million in funding to Australian startups and small- and medium-sized enterprises, or SMEs. The money will go to accelerate the adoption of 3D printing by these businesses. This seems like a good move by AMCRC to build out the industrial base of Australia generally, and to increase the number of firms that can use additive in the country.

    The program is called STARTER and it will, dollar for dollar, match money put up by the companies. Each project runs from 3 to 12 months, and is looking at prototyping as well as end-use part production. Sustainability, supply chain, and shorter lead times will also be watchwords. The idea is that these projects will be easy to do for these small firms and lead to knowledge and capability increases.

    AMCRC Managing Director Simon Marriott said.

    “Many SMEs and start-ups recognise the potential of additive manufacturing, but they don’t always know where to begin or have the capability to assess where it can create value for their business. The STARTER Project Funding Program gives businesses a practical pathway to work alongside researchers, test ideas and evaluate how additive manufacturing can improve efficiency, flexibility and competitiveness.

    “Businesses are using additive manufacturing to reduce lead times, overcome production bottlenecks, improve supply chain resilience and bring new products to market faster. This program is about helping Australian companies explore those opportunities in a practical, commercially focused way.”

    AMCRC Managing Director Simon Marriott.

    Each funding package for matching funds is between $20,000 and $75,000, meaning that between 42 and 162 businesses can be helped through the program. In total, this should see Australia spend an additional $6.5 million on implementing additive. The overall project size ranges from $40,000 to $150,000.

    Companies can apply for the program here, and can work with AMCRC-connected research bodies to implement the projects. This seems like a very sensible thing to do altogether. Small businesses are real jobs growth engines. Large businesses tend to outsource a lot and, in their maturity, not really splurge on hiring. Think about being Nike: it’s hard to see how 100 new people can make an impact there, but a better shoe design or a slightly better World Cup ad will have a huge impact. I guess they could throw people at the problem, but generally these companies rely on geniuses, old hands, experts, and those who have generated trust internally or those that are there already, A small business, on the other hand, will hire their first sales person, finally a dedicated marketeer, a new R&D person, someone new to man the store, etc. So not only are they a growth engine in overall jobs, but they also hire people with advanced degrees and those leaving school at the same time. This means that the mix of people they hire is also good for the economy.

    So, by spreading additive to these small businesses, AMCRC is doing well to stimulate the economy. These versatile firms can also make decisions much quicker than larger firms. If a founder is on board, then the firm will go in the direction that she points, and quickly too. This means that if it works well, 3D printing could more quickly be adopted and expanded in the firm. A small firm is much more likely to take risks in new markets, and with new processes as well. So the focus here seems more than sensible.

    Usually, such programs lead to people buying kit that they don’t know how to use well, or the money is spent on reports. So I hope here that it really goes towards implementation and skill transfer. Australia’s remoteness and moderate market size means that a lot of goods are needlessly expensive there. A lot of firms become a sole importer or representative of a brand and hike processes unnecessarily, while the sheer size and low volumes also raise costs. This all compounds the potential usefulness for 3D printing on the continent. 3D printing just makes sense more often than elsewhere. Wait times for parts being longer also adds to the utility. So especially for MRO and spare parts, in the broadest sense, Australia could disproportionately benefit from additive. And the business that could benefit most of all are those small businesses that can’t keep all their spares in stock and rely on a limited number of machines, tools, or processes. So that is a good sign for this implementation. Furthermore, other large countries such as Canada and Brazil should look into similar programs, as they too could disproportionately benefit.

    Images courtesy of AMCRC

  • A 3D Printed Diving Suit Lets Cyborg Cockroaches Swim Underwater

    Cockroaches have been surviving on Earth for more than 300 million years. They can crawl through tiny cracks, climb almost any surface, and adapt to harsh environments. Now, researchers have found a way to help them survive underwater too.

    A team from Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) and Waseda University in Japan has developed a tiny 3D printed diving suit for cyborg cockroaches, allowing the insects to stay underwater for up to three hours while carrying electronic backpacks. The work combines 3D printing, robotics, and biology in a new type of biohybrid system that could one day help inspect flooded infrastructure or search areas that are difficult for conventional robots to reach.

    The research was published in the journal Nature Communications in a paper titled “An amphibious cyborg robot with a miniature diving suit.” The study was led by Hirotaka Sato of Nanyang Technological University.

    Unlike robotic insects, which are built entirely from scratch, cyborg cockroaches are living insects equipped with lightweight electronics. The backpack can include a battery, sensors, and wireless controls that allow researchers to guide the insect as it moves through its environment. Rather than controlling every movement, the system gently steers the cockroach while relying on its natural ability to crawl, climb, and navigate obstacles on its own.

    “By fitting a cockroach, which is a terrestrial species, into this diving suit, we allowed it to survive and operate in oxygen-deprived environments,” the researchers wrote in the paper. “Transforming it into an amphibious cyborg robot capable of operation across land and water.”

    The new addition is a miniature diving suit designed to help cockroaches breathe underwater for longer periods. The lightweight wearable traps a pocket of air around the insect’s breathing openings and includes a tiny oxygen-generation tank, measuring just 10 by 10 millimeters, made from a 3D printed PMMA-like photopolymer resin. Instead of carrying a limited oxygen supply, the device generates oxygen through an electrochemical reaction, continuously replenishing the air pocket while the insect is submerged.

    How the insect diving suit works. Image courtesy of NTU Singapore and Waseda University.

    The oxygen-generation tank and two tiny 3D printed spiracle connectors (small fittings that attach to the cockroach’s breathing openings and direct oxygen through silicone tubes) form the core of the system. A custom flexible waterproof shell and the silicone tubes complete the wearable, allowing the cockroach to remain underwater for up to three hours while moving normally. According to the researchers, 3D printing made it possible to produce the miniature components with the size and shape needed for the wearable device.

    Rather than simply helping cockroaches swim underwater, the researchers expect amphibious cyborg insects to reach places that are difficult or dangerous for traditional robots. As they write in the paper, the system could allow biohybrid robots to “operate seamlessly across terrestrial and underwater environments.”

    To evaluate the system, the researchers sent the cyborg cockroaches through a series of underwater experiments, including fish tanks and 3D printed tube-shaped obstacle courses designed to simulate flooded environments. The insects swam, walked underwater, and crawled through the submerged passages while carrying their electronic backpacks. Even with the diving suit attached, they moved only slightly slower than they did on land, while their underwater survival time increased from just a few minutes to as long as three hours.

    “This is important because real disaster sites can be challenging after heavy rain or flooding, blocking access routes in the rubble, drains and narrow gaps,” said Sato, a professor in NTU Singapore’s School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. “By expanding the operating parameters of our cyborg insects to include underwater travel, we believe they can enhance search-and-rescue efforts.”

    That could include inspecting flooded pipes, tunnels, sewers, or disaster areas where small, mobile systems have an advantage over larger robots. Because cockroaches can already crawl through tight spaces and climb over obstacles, giving them the ability to go underwater opens up even more places they can explore.

  • 3DPOD 305: Automating AM with Grenzebach’s Oliver Elbert

    Oliver Elbert‘s over ten years in additive manufacturing have been spent automating LPBF. For large, high-volume, or critical parts, Grenzebach has provided custom automation solutions. Depowdering, powder handling, sieving, heat treatment, part handling, resurfacing, QA, and Grezebach Additive can automate all of these processes. The company could give you a 3D printing factory or automate that key step important to your safety, reliability, ot cost. We talk to Oliver about his journey, what Grenzebach does, how it sees the market, and where it is headed. We also talk more generally about automation and producing at scale.

    This episode of the 3DPOD is brought to you by HeyGears, an innovation-driven 3D printing solution company devoted to taking digital manufacturing to the next level for individuals and businesses around the world. HeyGears’ extensive expertise and self-developed resin, 3D printing hardware, software, materials, and service platforms mean they can offer complete, easy-to-use, and reliable 3D printing workflows for all types of users, from beginners to advanced professionals looking to get things made. Learn more about them at HeyGears.com.

     

  • AMPulse Asia: Chinese IPOs, Defense Deals, and Dental 3D Printing Lead APAC Roundup

    The second half of June brought a wave of additive manufacturing activity across China, Japan, South Korea, India, and Australia. From Chinese IPOs and funding rounds to defense, aerospace, construction, dental, and medical advances. Here are 11 developments worth watching.

    China

    Yuding Additive Manufacturing files for a STAR Market IPO to raise about RMB 1.8 billion

    Yuding Additive Manufacturing (煜鼎增材), a metal AM company founded by a team led by academician Wang Huaming and Beihang University and registered in Xiongan, filed for an IPO on Shanghai’s STAR Market to raise about RMB 1.8 billion to expand large-format metal additive manufacturing capacity for aerospace and nuclear applications. The Shanghai Stock Exchange accepted the application on June 23, 2026.

    Jiangsu Runice 3D raises €12 million to expand production of core printer components

    Jiangsu Runice 3D Technology (锐力斯) raised about EUR 12 million (nearly RMB 100 million) in a round led by Cowin Capital to scale production of core printer components such as hot ends and extruders, expand a second Dongguan site, and build out digitized manufacturing.

    Strlaser launches a 1,000W ultra-thin fiber laser for high-reflectivity metal printing

    Strlaser (思创激光), a Sichuan-based laser maker, launched a 1,000W ultra-thin fiber laser for metal additive manufacturing, featuring anti-back-reflection technology for high-reflectivity materials such as copper and aluminum.

    SHINING 3D launches the Ceramix-Nano chairside ceramic 3D printer

    SHINING 3D (先临三维) launched the Ceramix-Nano, a chairside ceramic 3D printer for dental clinics, with a scan-to-cementation workflow that the company says takes about 30 minutes.

    SHINING 3D Dental launches Ceramix-Nano chairside ceramic 3D printer with 30-minute workflow. Image courtesy of Shining 3D.

    Japan

    Polyuse passes 300 construction 3D printing projects in Japan

    Polyuse (ポリウス) surpassed 300 construction 3D printing projects in Japan, with about 40 of its Polyuse One systems installed since the model went on sale in September 2025.

    South Korea

    Holosmedic wins Vietnam approval for its biodegradable 3D-printed mesh

    Holosmedic (홀로스메딕) received approval from the Vietnamese Ministry of Health for its biodegradable, 3D printed Holosmedic Mesh, a craniomaxillofacial bone-reconstruction scaffold, marking its second ASEAN clearance after Thailand.

    VF Space raises a Pre-A round to commercialize wire-laser metal additive manufacturing

    VF Space (브이에프스페이스), a South Korean startup, raised a Pre-A round from MYSC and Harang Technology Investment to commercialize its wire-laser additive manufacturing (WLAM) technology, which uses metal wire instead of powder, for shipbuilding, aerospace, energy, and defense.

    Metal 3D printing equipment based on its proprietary Wire Laser Additive Manufacturing (WLAM) technology. Image courtesy of VF Space.

    Daegun Tech shows its metal powder-bed fusion systems at ME2026 in Bangkok

    Daegun Tech (대건테크), a South Korean metal AM maker, exhibited its industrial metal powder-bed fusion printers at Manufacturing Expo 2026 in Bangkok, promoting them for defense, aerospace, medical, and mold applications across Southeast Asia.

    Link Solution extends its defense 3D printing partnership with the ROK Army

    Link Solution (링크솔루션) extended its defense 3D printing agreement with the ROK Army 7th Logistics Support Group. The unit has operated Link Solution’s container-based AM Fab field printing system since 2024, producing discontinued repair parts and drone components.

    India

    PTC Industries clears up to Rs 1,800 crore fund-raising to expand aerospace metals capacity

    PTC Industries, an Indian aerospace-materials group whose Aerolloy Technologies subsidiary runs metal additive manufacturing alongside titanium and superalloy casting, received board approval to raise up to Rs 1,800 crore (about US$210 million) through a qualified institutional placement, a preferential issue, or convertible warrants to expand manufacturing capacity.

    Australia

    AML3D commissions its first two ARCEMY X systems at Newport News Shipbuilding

    AML3D completed commissioning of its first two ARCEMY X systems at Newport News Shipbuilding, a roughly A$4.5 million (about US$3 million) order that triggered final payment. The wire-arc systems will support U.S. Navy submarine and aircraft carrier programs under the Maritime Industrial Base plan, which aims to deploy up to 100 large-format metal 3D printers and produce about 1,600 additive parts annually by 2030.

    AML3D Arcemy printer. Image courtesy of AML3D

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Prepared by AMPulse

  • Mimaki & Cleeks Golf Club Collaborate for Miniature 3D Printed Golf Bag Collectibles

    Japan-headquartered Mimaki Engineering launched its first full-color inkjet printer in 1996. Not long after, the company established its US-based Mimaki Inc. operating entity, which manufactures digital printing and cutting products, including industrial inkjet printers. Mimaki USA installed its first 3D printer, the 3DUJ-553, in the Americas in 2018. Since then, the full-color printer has been used to fabricate everything from artwork to gaming collectibles and even sports miniatures.

    Recently, Mimaki partnered with the Crewe Alexandra football club to make a 3D printed miniature of the club captain. Now, it’s 3D printing a series of full-color, highly detailed, miniature golf bag collectibles through an exclusive collaboration with Cleeks Golf Club, a professional, franchise-based team. These limited edition prints are from the club’s Art of Golf cultural series: a collection of artist-designed golf bags used by Cleeks’ professional golfers during the 2026 LIV Golf tournament.

    “Built to tour standards and played in competition, the bags carry individual creative perspectives directly onto the course,” the Art of Golf website explains.

    “Art of Golf is about expanding what golf can be. We use the golf bag as a canvas to celebrate artists, cultures and creative voices from around the world, bringing a new dimension to the sport and creating experiences that resonate beyond traditional golf audiences,” explained Jonas Mårtensson, General manager, Cleeks Golf Club.

    “These collectibles capture that idea perfectly. They’re not simply miniature golf bags; they’re miniature works of art. Mimaki’s technology has allowed us to faithfully reproduce each artist’s vision and create something that fans can take home while preserving the integrity of the original work.”

    There are 14 events in the LIV Golf tournament, which runs through the end of August. Crowds in the US, Spain, Korea, and Mexico have already been impressed with the 3D printed mini golf bags, and Mimaki is helping with the design and 3D printing of more bags for upcoming rounds in the UK and US. In total, 14 different artists from the Art of Golf collection designed 14 different miniature golf bag collectibles—one for each event.

    According to the Art of Golf website, “Each artist is invited to respond to golf as a system built on discipline, repetition, and pressure. The golf bag becomes the artist’s canvas, not as a symbolic gesture, but as a functional object used under real tournament conditions.”

    Most of the golf bags in the Art of Golf series are made by an artist who’s local to the region of the various tournament events. So each design is reflective of the artist’s language, as well as the culture in the area surrounding the golf course. For instance, the design for the sixth bag incorporates the Northern Cardinal and Flowering Dogwood for Virginia.

    Using traditional production methods to make the miniature golf bags would have meant reducing the amount of color, simplifying the shapes, and lots of manual finishing. That’s why Cleeks Golf Club went with 3D printing.

    Each 15 cm golf bag is 3D printed in one piece on the photorealistic, full-color 3DUJ-553 system. There is no assembly or painting required, and only a little post-processing. Mimaki’s flagship 3D printer can produce more than 10 million unique colors, and enables texture, fine detail, and color transitions, which makes for visually stunning golf bag collectibles.

    Each one of the 14 golf bag designs is printed in a limited quantity of just 25, for a total of 350 models that people can purchase as a keepsake at the LIV Golf tournament events.

    “When it comes to high-quality collectibles, this project perfectly exemplifies the capability of our 3D printing proposition – namely short-run, highly precise, full color output consistent from one piece to the next and delivered in a matter of hours,” said Matthew Stark, 3D Segment Manager at Mimaki.

    “The reality is that for projects like this, 3D printing is really the only viable option. Aside from the time and cost associated with conventional methods, the level of realism and fine detail we’re able to achieve would be impossible with techniques like traditional hand model-making.”

    Additionally, Cleeks Golf Club also commissioned Mimaki to make a half-scale 3D printed reproduction of the players’ bags for each of the designs in the Art of Golf series. The 50 cm models are not for sale, but are instead displayed as a showpiece at each clubhouse for LIV events.

    Here are the dates and locations for the rest of the 2026 LIV Golf tournament:

    • July 23-26, LIV Golf UK, JCB Golf and Country Club, Rocester, England
    • August 6-9, LIV Golf New York, Trump National Golf Club, Bedminster, New Jersey
    • August 20-23, LIV Golf Indianapolis, The Club at Chatham Hills, Westfield, Indiana
    • August 27-30, LIV Golf Michigan, The Cardinal at Saint John’s, Plymouth, Michigan

    Any golf fans attending the remainder of the events can see the 3D printed golf bag miniatures for themselves, and even buy one if they’re looking for a one-of-a-kind keepsake.

    We’ve seen 3D printed art, and 3D printed sports equipment—even golf clubs. It’s nice to see the two brought together in this unique way.

  • 3D Printing News Briefs, July 4, 2026: AMUG, Metacrystals, Coral Reefs, & More

    We’re starting this 4th of July 3D Printing News Briefs with some AMUG news, and then moving on to business with DSH Technologies and materials with Markforged. We’ll end with some interesting 6G research and 3D printed coral reefs in India.

    AMUG Announces Board of Directors for 2026-2027 Term

    AMUG’s newly elected and appointed board members: Top row (from left)—Dallas Martin, Daniel Landgraf, and Daniel Braley; bottom row (from left)—David Leigh and Bruce LeMaster.

    The Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) announced the results of the recent board elections and appointments for the 2026-2027 term. After three years of service, current AMUG President Shannon VanDeren and Treasurer Robin Van Bragt will assume ex officio roles on the board, as Immediate Past President and Immediate Past Treasurer, respectively. William “Dallas” Martin was elected President, Daniel Landgraf was elected Vice President, and Daniel Braley was elected Director of Membership, while the board appointed David Leigh as Treasurer and Bruce LeMaster as Director at Large. All five have received the AMUG Distinguished INnovator Operator (DINO) Award, and their multi-year terms began this week. Martin is a Senior Engineer in AM at Toyota, while Landgraf is Vice President Global Sales, Marketing & Business Development at 3D Spark. Braley is Senior Manager – Engineering & Depot Solutions for V2X Modernization & Sustainment, Leigh is Director of the Center for Additive Manufacturing & Design Innovation at The University of Texas at Austin, and LeMaster operates as an independent contractor.

    The other AMUG Board Members for 2026-2027 are:

    • Secretary: Heather Natal, GoEngineer
    • Director of Education & Conference: Alex Roschli, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Director of Marketing & Events: Kim Killoran, Stratasys
    • Director of Sponsors & Exhibitors: Thomas Murphy, New Jersey Innovation Institute

    DSH Technologies Transforming Powder Metallurgy with Membership Program

    DSH Technologies, the international authority on debinding and sintering services, is increasing its commitment to powder metallurgy production with its new membership program, DSH Advantage. Meant for MIM and sinter-based AM shops, OEM captive parts makers, and industrial manufacturers, the DSH Advantage program offers proactive, structured guidance, troubleshooting help, and access to laboratory services to help improve yield and eliminate production downtime. Participants will enroll in a monthly program led by the company’s Chief Metallurgist, Bryan Sherman, to get access to expert support and process control for metal parts manufacturing. DSH Advantage is technology-agnostic, designed for quick ramp-up, and should integrate right into any metals operation. The company says the program results in “higher first-pass yields and reduce rework” for better cost savings in production.

    “DSH Advantage was built to solve the real, day-to-day challenges that MIM and sinter-based additive manufacturers face when moving from prototypes to production. By marrying deep metallurgical expertise with powerful instrumentation and process, we’re helping customers make better parts faster, and protect their margins while doing it,” said DSH Technologies President Stefan Joens.

    Markforged Brings Functional Color & Industrial Strength to Factory Floor

    Markforged recently announced the release of Onyx GF for its FX-series industrial printing platforms. This is a chopped glass fiber-filled nylon material that pairs the trusted stiffness and strength of the Onyx material family with functional color for manufacturing environments. Color is one of the fastest, most reliable visual signals in fast-paced manufacturing facilities for communicating critical operational information, like part classification and hazard warnings. With Onyx GF, which is available in six highly visible colors, operators can deploy color-coded tooling, safety indicators, and error-proofing fixtures on the factory floor. The color is embedded within the material formulation, so you don’t need to do any secondary painting, label applications, or related post-processing. Additionally, the excellent tensile strength, surface finish, stiffness, print reliability, and dimensional accuracy from the Onyx family have been carried over to Onyx GF. It’s naturally non-conductive, which makes it great for applications that need strong electrical isolation, and can be reinforced with Continuous Carbon Fiber using the CFR process for advanced structural jobs.

    “Bringing color to the factory floor is about far more than aesthetics; it is about unlocking a new level of operational velocity, safety, and error-proofing for our customers. Until now, manufacturers often had to choose between the industrial-grade performance of materials like Onyx or the use of brittle, weaker materials like ABS or PLA. With Onyx GF, we are removing that compromise entirely. We are delivering the same trusted mechanical foundation our users rely on every day, but with the immediate communication benefits that functional color provides. This allows teams to scale visual management seamlessly across their entire enterprise,” said Jon Bond, General Manager of FFF at Markforged.

    Researchers Make 3D Printed Metacrystal Panels to Guide Wireless Signals

    A passive 3D printed metacrystal panel redirects radio waves around obstacles and toward users, offering a low-cost way to improve indoor/outdoor wireless coverage without adding base stations, wiring or powered electronics. Illustration: Aalto University / Mahdi Asgari

    Normally when you have a weak Wi-Fi or mobile signal in places like basements or large buildings, people just throw more electronics at the problem. But as we get closer to a 6G mobile network, this can be costly and unsustainable. The higher-frequency channels of 6G should add much more data bandwidth than 5G, but they’re blocked more easily by obstacles like walls. Researchers at Aalto University have come up with a fairly low-tech solution: passive, 3D printed smart panels of metacrystals that can guide wireless signals and radio waves around these barriers without using a power supply, electronics, or active tuning. These panels have several potential advantages: they could handle multiple incoming waves at the same time, operate simultaneously over different frequency bands, be installed on furniture, ceilings, or walls, and even fully absorb unwanted signals. Most reconfigurable intelligent surfaces need complicated control circuits and tuneable elements, but 3D printing metacrystals enables the fabrication of custom panels for specific environments.

    “When a room is too dark, you can bring in more lamps – or use simple mirrors to guide the already available light. This is what these metacrystals do, but with radio waves. Unlike previously proposed single-layer intelligent surfaces, these volumetric metacrystals can be designed to control multiple incoming signals or frequency bands independently — a key requirement for realistic wireless communication,” explained doctoral researcher Mahdi Asgari.

    You can learn more about their work in the published paper.

    India’s “First” 3D Printed Artificial Coral Reef Modules Deployed

     

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    In the coastal waters off Ramanathapuram, an ambitious marine habitat restoration initiative is underway. Last month, what’s reported to be the first 3D printed artificial reef modules in India were sunk in the Gulf of Mannar. It was the last leg of a project, carried out over 213 artificial reef sites in Tamil Nadu, that was funded by both the state government and the Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s (ICAR) Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute. The concrete 3D printed modules each weigh about 1 tonne, and were created by the Visakhapatnam Regional Centre and Indian automation firm Tvasta. They have multiple folds, crevices, and attachment surfaces to help enhance biodiversity. While they were fabricated with no iron reinforcement, the modules do feature material innovations meant to increase porosity and create substrates specifically for marine organisms. Traditional fishing communities in nearby districts cooperated with the implementation of the program, which will help scientists evaluate the ecological performance and durability of the modules.

    “The objective so far has been fish habitat restoration and strengthening the resilience of coastal communities,” explained Dr Joe K Kizhakudan, who leads the Visakhapatnam Regional Centre. “These new-generation modules provide immense possibilities because they allow greater structural complexity, higher surface area, and species-specific habitat design.”