Advances in 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, include faster and more precise 3D printers, high-performance materials, and more. Novel 3D printers are capable of producing complex designs with intricate details. They improve the efficiency and accuracy of prototyping, production, and customization processes. Other innovations include compatible materials for medical applications, high-performance materials for aerospace and automotive industries, and metal additive manufacturing. Further, the integration of advanced software and design tools simplifies the creation and optimization of 3D models, enhancing design capabilities and reducing time-to-market. Multi-material and multi-color 3D printing also enables more realistic and functional prototypes.
20 3D Printing Startups to Watch in 2024
- RapAdd MFG – Manufacturing as a Service
- a-metal – Compact 3D Printers
- X-Hab 3D – 3D Concrete Printer
- 3D Architech – Gel-based 3D Printing Technology
- Lines Manufacturing – Large-scale Additive Manufacturing
- 3DX – Product Development
- Syenta – Printed Electronics
- Matta – AI Manufacturing Copilots
- Simplify Orthotics – 3D Printed Orthotics
- Halcyon3D – Additives & Bio-inks
- REV3RD – Large-scale 3D Printing
- 1A Technologies – Industrial 3D Printing
- Rapid Dimension – AM Supply Chain Digitization
- Axtra3D – Continuous Isotropic Printing
- Samisan Tech – AM Workflow Optimization
- Synteris – High-Temperature Ceramic Printing
- Alpha Powders – Waste Plastic Valorization
- Moso3D – Multi-Material 3D Printing
- AMiquam – Real-Time Print Monitoring
- 2oneLab – Fast Metal 3D Printing
Global Startup Heat Map highlights 20 3D Printing Startups to Watch in 2024
Through the Big Data & Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, which covers over 4 760 120+ startups & scaleups globally, we identified 648 3D printing startups. The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights the 20 3D printing startups you should watch in 2024 as well as the geo-distribution of all 397 startups & scaleups we analyzed for this research. Based on the heat map, we see high startup activity in the UK, followed by the US and India. These 3D printing startups work on solutions ranging from production automation and supply chain digitization to large-scale and industrial additive manufacturing.
Want to explore all 600+ 3d printing startups & scaleups?
As the world’s largest resource for data on emerging companies, the SaaS platform enables you to identify relevant technologies and industry trends quickly & exhaustively. Based on the data from the platform, the Top 5 3D Printing Startup Hubs are in London, New York City, Los Angeles, Bangalore & Singapore. The 20 hand-picked startups highlighted in this report are chosen from all over the world and develop solutions for continuous isotropic printing, workflow optimization, ceramic printing, and process monitoring.
Discover 20 3D Printing Startups to Watch (2024)
RapAdd MFG offers Manufacturing as a Service
Swedish startup RapAdd MFG provides 3D printing services through FDM, SLA, and SLS technologies. The startup’s platform allows design uploads for instant quotes, offering a transition from design to manufacturing.
It caters to diverse project requirements with a wide range of materials, including various color and material combinations. Its 3D printing factory produces plastic parts efficiently. RapAdd ensures exceptional quality control by 3D scanning and photographing items for quality assurance.
a-metal provides Compact 3D Printers
Swiss startup a-metal offers 3D printers to optimize manufacturing processes in limited spaces. It ensures minimal contact with metal powder, providing safety in material handling. Further, it offers user-friendly software for easy operations. a-metal makes metal 3D printing accessible and affordable for SMEs, educational institutions, and small development teams
X-Hab 3D develops 3D Concrete Printer
US startup X-Hab 3D builds two concrete 3D printers: MX3DP for mobile and FS3DP for fixed-site applications. MX3DP features a 6-axis robotic arm, material feed system, and hydraulic lift capabilities. It prints structures up to two stories high.
Further, FS3DP, a stationary printer, features a 6-axis robotic arm for detailed and complex structures. It requires minimal assembly and is used for on-site construction. X-Hab 3D’s printers reduce build times, labor, and material costs, supporting sustainable construction practices
3D Architech develops Gel-based 3D Printing Technology
US-based startup 3D Architech introduces a gel-based 3D printing technology for metal manufacturing. This allows for intricate designs and better performance. Further, it lowers the entry cost of equipment and broadens the material selection to metals, ceramics, composites, and multi-materials.
The startup offers high resolution in net-shape metal manufacturing. It allows the recycling of metal scraps into 3D-designed products, thereby promoting sustainable printing. 3D Architech also supports a wide array of applications including jewelry, heat exchangers, motors, and medical tools.
Lines Manufacturing supports Industry 4.0
French startup Lines Manufacturing specializes in large-scale additive manufacturing. It provides solutions for producing large polymer and composite parts. Its technology, including the Lines SONIC machine, combines high productivity with advanced machine tool technologies. This enables production of thousands of large-scale end-use parts annually.
Further, the startup emphasizes sustainability, reduced carbon footprint, and design optimization. Lines Manufacturing cater to various industries, including road & rail, marine, sports & leisure, and architecture.
3DX accelerates Product Development
UAE startup 3DX leverages 3D printing technologies to print complex geometries, shapes, and sizes. It uses durable and lightweight materials, ensuring high-quality production for both prototypes and final products.
The startup’s platform facilitates seamless design to production workflows, emphasizing efficiency and precision. 3DX focuses on custom solutions, meeting specific client needs through innovative design and manufacturing strategies.
Syenta offers Printed Electronics
Australian startup Syenta specializes in electrochemistry-based 3D printing technology for manufacturing electronic components with speed and efficiency. This method enables the production of high-quality electronics at a scale and precision. Further, it reduces energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Syenta’s application spans various sectors, enhancing the production of solar cells, semiconductors, and more.
Matta creates AI Manufacturing Copilots
UK startup Matta leverages AI to enhance manufacturing processes, focusing on desktop and industrial 3D printing, as well as CNC machining. Its AI copilots assist operators by automating tasks, and reducing errors, material waste, and setup times. Through error correction and analytics, the startup optimizes manufacturing runs. Matta makes advanced manufacturing more efficient and less wasteful.
Simplify Orthotics provides 3D Printed Orthotics
UK startup Simplify Orthotics leverages 3D printing technology and design automation to create custom orthotic devices. This allows for precise customization, ensuring a perfect fit and optimal comfort for each user. The platform integrates seamlessly into clinical workflows, enhancing efficiency and patient satisfaction. Simplify Orthotics offers a streamlined solution for patients and healthcare providers.
Halcyon3D provides Additives & Bio-inks
UK startup Halcyon3D develops Hygroscopic Bio-ink and Elastomeric Resins for photo 3D printing. Its products offer high hydrolytic stability and hygroscopic properties, ensuring longevity, durability, and optimal printing conditions.
The startup’s bio-inks provide control over water saturation for reliable outcomes and have efficient curing times. Halcyon3D has a variety of applications, including tissue engineering, drug delivery, and regenerative medicine.
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REV3RD offers Large-scale 3D Printing
Italian startup REV3RD specializes in large-scale additive manufacturing with recycled materials. RD-HUGE is the startup’s large-format 3D printing machine that facilitates the 3D printing of very large engineered parts. It is an effective industrial solution to create full-scale geometrically complex products.
The printer’s proprietary pellet extrusion system also supports a range of compounded materials. These include very soft rubber plastics to strong, high-temperature, or carbon-fiber-filled plastics. The solution thus allows engineers to realize prototypes and projects.
1A Technologies provides Industrial 3D Printing
German startup 1A Technologies utilizes its proprietary screw extrusion additive manufacturing for industrial 3D printing. The startup’s extrusion units are integrable with 5-axis machines, hexapod tables, and gantry machines. This enables additive and subtractive processing in one machine, decreases part production time, and eliminates the need for support structures.
The technology also allows the use of cost-effective standard granulates compared to conventional plastic printing materials. This way, the startup reduces printing costs while maintaining high throughput.
Rapid Dimension aids AM Supply Chain Digitization
Swedish startup Rapid Dimension develops a fast and accurate fusion deposition modeling (FDM) system that enables the easier adoption of additive manufacturing. The startup’s solution combines rapid manufacturing, digital warehousing, and inventory management in a single platform. Its cloud-based inventory software stores digitalized parts and facilitates central control of the printer fleet.
Further, the startup’s bio-based approach to material development allows a wide range of functional materials, ensuring a high conversion rate from raw materials to the final product. This allows manufacturing units to coordinate additive manufacturing and related material movement with no software infrastructure.
Axtra3D enables Continuous Isotropic Printing
US-based startup Axtra3D develops additive manufacturing solutions based on optoelectronics. The startup’s proprietary Hybrid PhotoSynthesis technology combines laser and projector techniques to enable a print speed surpassing conventional stereolithography printers.
The high resolution of Axtra3D’s Lumia 3D printer eliminates the need for post-print refinishing while ensuring a smoother surface without aliasing or stair-stepping. The resultant printed products are suitable for orthodontic models, biocompatible surgical guides, and high-resolution industrial prototypes.
Samisan Tech facilitates AM Workflow Optimization
Indian startup Samisan Tech offers build processing software for 3D printing. MIRA3D is the startup’s machine-independent software that aids in build preparation for 3D printing and requires minimal operator input. The startup’s software enables automatic model repair and supports 2D nesting, re-meshing, slicing, and lattice infill. This solution thus streamlines the workflow in additive manufacturing stations.
Synteris enables High-Temperature Ceramic Printing
US-based startup Synteris develops a selective laser sintering (SLS) process that enables additive manufacturing of ceramic parts. The startup’s proprietary SLRS technology utilizes a reactive shielding gas to break down elemental particles into non-oxide ceramics. The process is material agnostic, enabling the 3D printing of any carbide or nitride ceramics.
Synteris’ manufacturing method avoids the need for post-processing and plastic binders, unlike other non-oxide ceramic AM solutions. This greatly reduces the turnaround time for non-oxide ceramic parts and uses less energy compared to other methods. The low lead time for ceramic parts aids electric vehicle manufacturers in the industry’s move towards zero-emission transportation.
Alpha Powders advances Waste Plastic Valorization
Polish startup Alpha Powders provides a spheroidization technology for the development and improvement of 3D printing materials. The startup’s benchtop polymer powder spheroidizator, SphereNANO, converts waste polymer material into feedstock for powder bed fusion (PBF). Its process does not use any solvents and the device is quickly scalable. The solution thus provides powders of higher quality, bringing down the cost for the final user and contributing to the widespread adoption of PBF.
Moso3D enables Multi-Material 3D Printing
Spanish startup Moso3D develops custom tools to facilitate multi-material 3D printing. Moso MT is the startup’s multi-tool, a multi-material 3D printer that prints a variety of materials, including PLA, ABS, PETG, and nylon. The startup’s extruder tools are capable of auto-alignment and auto-offset allowing automatic tool changes. This makes it suitable for printing multi-material objects for medical models, prosthetics, and custom industrial devices.
AMiquam ensures Real-Time Print Monitoring
Swiss startup AMiquam creates a non-destructive testing (NDT) solution to monitor the quality of AM processes and parts. Its autonomous electromagnetic systems deliver compliance information about the stability of the AM process. This provides real-time information on part quality, including porosity and defects. AMiquam’s NDT instrument collects information layer by layer without affecting the productivity of the printing process. Moreover, the solution is machine-agnostic and requires minimal infrastructure and no wire interfaces for integration.
2oneLab enables Fast Metal 3D Printing
German startup 2oneLab develops a metal 3D printer for small and medium-sized parts. 2CREATE is the startup’s metal 3D printer that supports a range of materials like aluminum and titanium alloys. It streamlines fast scalable workflows while ensuring the surface quality of the components. This way, 2oneLab’s printing machine delivers cost-effective and efficient 3D printing for the medical, industrial, and research and development industries.
Discover All Emerging Industry 4.0 Startups
The Industry 4.0 startups showcased in this report are only a small sample of all startups we identified through our data-driven startup scouting approach. Download our free Industry 4.0 Innovation Report for a broad overview of the industry or get in touch for quick & exhaustive research on the latest technologies & emerging solutions that will impact your company in 2024!
