Insights from the Frontline: Key Takeaways from the AMS 2024 CEO Panel – 3DPrint.com

On the 2024 Additive Manufacturing Methods (AMS) occasion in New York Metropolis, a panel of sector CEOs took the stage, reworking what may have been simply one other business discuss right into a debate on the way forward for printing every thing from automobile elements to dental implants. In case you missed it, you may need to mark your calendar for AMS 2025.

Moderated by Cantor Fitzgerald Managing Director Troy Jensen, the panel featured a lineup of 3D printing’s most well-known CEOs: Ric Fulop from Desktop Metallic (NYSE: DM), not too long ago appointed Interim CEO Brad Krueger of Velo3D (NYSE: VLD), Sam O’Leary from Nikon SLM Options, and Stratasys’s (Nasdaq: SSYS) Yoav Zeif, who delivered the principle convention keynote speech on February 6. Every introduced a singular perspective, however they painted an fascinating image of an business at a crossroads, brimming with potential but battling its hurdles.

AMS 2024 CEO Panel (from left): Troy Jensen, Ric Fulop, Sam O’Leary, Brad Krueger, and Yoav Zeif. Picture courtesy of Ashley Alleyne/3DPrint.com.

Progress, Resilience, and Drive

All of the CEOs agreed: additive manufacturing (AM) isn’t simply part of the long run; it’s making the long run. Whereas this information may not shock those that have been within the 3D printing world for years, this truth is kind of fascinating for a lot of new to the scene. It highlights the transformative potential of AM, taking it from a distinct segment curiosity to a crucial a part of future technological developments and functions.

From dental labs to aerospace, 3D printing is increasing sooner than you may say “polymer.” However as Fulop identified, “It’s not nearly development; however doing so by addressing particular, impactful wants—fixing real-world issues with precision and innovation.”

“It’s a world of haves and have-nots; large capital is more durable to get than it was. Utility-wise, some elements of our enterprise grew by 20% final yr, just like the printed casting sector. Everyone seems to be doing manufacturing; this development is obvious within the manufacturing of airplane engines and automobiles like BMW and Tesla,” says Fulop. On the healthcare aspect, he explains that development in segments like breast prosthetics, leveraging higher mechanical properties supplied by AM applied sciences, exhibits how the business is rising by addressing particular wants. He concludes, “General, I anticipate continued development this yr. It’s additionally changing into clearer that these in manufacturing favor to buy immediately moderately than by channel companions.”

But, amid the optimism, the CEOs debated the easiest way to deal with the business’s robust challenges. The dialogue round software program growth and collaboration highlighted differing views among the many CEOs. For Fulop and Krueger, proprietary software program can provide firms a aggressive edge, particularly within the aerospace and protection sectors the place customization and safety are essential. O’Leary and Zeif leaned extra in direction of an open structure strategy to foster collaboration and innovation and enhance buyer satisfaction. Drawing from his expertise within the chemical business, Zeif emphasised the significance of working collectively. He mentioned his firm has made software program open for others to simplify the 3D printing course of for everybody concerned.

AMS 2024 CEO Panel’s Yoav Zeif. Picture courtesy of Ashley Alleyne/3DPrint.com.

“I believe it’s a measure of the maturity of a enterprise. All people is with everyone. And the reason being that each byproduct that you’ve will be the uncooked materials for one more molecule. And that’s the key as a result of with out it, you can’t be worthwhile (…) It’s clear that we have to collaborate. Collaboration has some kind of widespread sense or pointers as a result of software program can be a aggressive benefit, and every considered one of us creates a trade-off to ship the highest quality product. However we have to collaborate, and the one solution to do it’s to open up our social platform. On the finish of the day, we have to discover the mechanism to share the worth,” acknowledged Zeif.

Scale Problem

Making a revenue remains to be the most important problem for the business. Despite the fact that everybody is happy about what 3D printing can do and is doing, really earning money from it’s nonetheless difficult. Right here, the panelists identified the necessity for scale, operational effectivity, and, extra importantly, a transparent path to earning money. Because the business matures, discovering the steadiness between investing in R&D and retaining the lights on has develop into a balancing act for a lot of firms.

Jensen summed it up: “To me, there was a scarcity of profitability within the house. And now we’re going right into a recession, with excessive charges, and other people simply don’t need to put money into firms which can be burning cash.”

So, why is there such a scarcity of profitability with publicly traded firms? Krueger highlights the significance of not simply specializing in growing income but additionally listening to different key monetary elements similar to gross margins, management of bills, and operational effectivity. He factors out the necessity for a “balanced strategy” that considers top-line development and bottom-line profitability.

In accordance with Zeif, reaching profitability is paramount for the business’s future success. He emphasised the necessity for important monetary development over the approaching years, stressing that merely discussing altering the world isn’t sufficient with out tangible outcomes. Zeif highlighted the complexity of the business, noting “the necessity to steadiness focus and growth to attain scale successfully.” He additionally careworn the significance of not solely “concentrating efforts” but additionally offering the capability for development, declaring that scale encompasses extra than simply common scaling of the enterprise but additionally the flexibility to have scale throughout applied sciences and functions.

Geopolitical Terrain

The CEOs touched upon a number of different subjects, notably the geopolitical rigidity with China, which, as Krueger highlighted, is not only a backdrop situation; it’s a major drawback that would fully change the manufacturing panorama.

“I believe that the necessity to develop home provide chains is considerably crucial, and that’s the best way the federal government views it from a nationwide safety and protection perspective. It’s completely a excessive precedence for the U.S. authorities to make sure that they’ve provide chains which can be decoupled from China and extra localized within the US,” remarked Krueger.

The opposite panelists agreed on the necessity to strengthen home provide chains and keep away from counting on unsure geopolitical companions. Fulop believes China will develop into a major participant within the business regardless of challenges like patent points and market volatility. Nonetheless, he additionally highlights financial issues in Asia that would have an effect on sustained development, similar to debt points.

O’Leary remarked that so much is being finished to have much less reluctance on Chinese language manufacturing, however not sufficient. “I believe there are a whole lot of technology-focused issues that don’t tackle the political aspect and the chance that exists. So I believe all of us must do extra to coach governments.”

AMS 2024 CEO Panel (from left): Troy Jensen, Ric Fulop, Sam O’Leary, Brad Krueger, and Yoav Zeif. Picture courtesy of Ashley Alleyne/3DPrint.com.

Because the panel wrapped up, one message was fairly simple: the world of AM is dynamic and complex, very similar to the objects it creates. From the probabilities of collaboration and profitability to the uncertainties of world economics, the street forward is paved with each alternatives and hurdles. So, when you missed the show of experience on the AMS 2024 occasion, don’t fear; you might be all invited to attend the following chapter.