For manufacturers looking to scale additive manufacturing beyond prototyping, Ultimaker is positioning the Factor 4 Plus as a production-ready option. The new industrial 3D printing platform combines higher print speeds with material flexibility and automated validation, aiming to support continuous, traceable production workflows in demanding manufacturing and aerospace applications.

A machine-learning strategy has generated a new class of ultra-high strength and ductility steel for 3D printing that costs less, resists rust, and requires only a fraction of the usual processing time.

Advanced manufacturers in the UK and Ireland are set to gain wider access to X Jet’s Nano Particle Jetting technology. Through its new collaboration with Eqops, X Jet is strengthening local sales and support for high-precision metal and ceramic 3D printing, from installation and process optimisation to compliance and long-term production performance.

Fakuma 2026 marks its 30th edition in Friedrichshafen with a broad showcase for plastics processing, from injection moulding and extrusion to recycling, materials and 3D printing. Alongside the exhibition, the anniversary event will focus on innovation, resilience and young talent, including the Fakuma Innovation Award, Career Friday and the first presentation of the Paul Eberhard Schall Medal.

With new polymer, filament and metal additive manufacturing developments, HP is broadening its 3D printing portfolio. At Rapid + TCT 2026, the company presented a compact Multi Jet Fusion system, productivity upgrades for the Jet Fusion 5600 series, expanded filament availability and new Metal Jet materials and powder handling options.

In October 2026, Fakuma will once again attract international visitors to the trade fair centre at Lake Constance. The exhibition will cover the entire chain of plasicts processing, from raw material handling to injection moulding and 3D printing.

AM Solutions – 3D post processing technology is expanding its portfolio with the S1 Basic, a compact system for the automated cleaning and surface finishing of 3D-printed polymer components.

Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon have created a water-based, room-temperature 3D printing ink made mostly from upcycled lignin that needs no heat curing. Printed parts can be recycled simply by adding water, enabling repeated reuse and a potential step toward circular additive manufacturing.

Hiroshima University researchers are working on 3D printing tungsten carbide–cobalt (WC–Co), a super-hard material used in cutting and construction tools. Their hot-wire laser approach uses less of the expensive raw material and still delivers very high hardness, pointing to a more efficient way to make wear-resistant parts.

Industrial 3D metrology will take centre stage in London from 8 to 10 September 2026, when the 3D Metrology Conference returns for its 11th edition. The event will bring together experts from industry and academia to discuss AI-supported algorithms, robotics, automation, additive manufacturing and data-driven metrology infrastructures.