3D printing’s expanding role in the military
Len Pannett
28/05/2026
Metal additive manufacturing is increasingly finding its way into the defense industry and the armed forces worldwide. It’s crucial for…
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The University of Utrecht: “3D Printing Could Change Who Gets to Become a Manufacturing Power”
Len Pannett
28/05/2026
For decades, manufacturing has mostly been controlled by countries with huge factories, lower labor costs, and industrial systems that took…
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How Additive Manufacturing Is Reducing Downtime in Irrigation Systems
Len Pannett
26/05/2026
In modern agriculture, uptime matters. Irrigation systems need to keep running during key growing periods, and even short interruptions can affect crops…
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AM Drilldown: the Beginning of 3D Printing’s Next Phase in the Energy Sector
Len Pannett
22/05/2026
For much of the last decade, many have pushed an unjustifiably optimistic view of global energy consumption, along the lines…
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Why Additive Manufacturing Has Finally Earned Its Place on the Production Line
Len Pannett
21/05/2026
For years, the conversation around additive manufacturing followed a predictable script. Engineers would acknowledge its usefulness for prototyping – faster…
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You’re going to be wearing 3D-printed sneakers sooner than you think
Len Pannett
21/05/2026
I still remember picking up my first-ever pair of 3D-printed sneakers. This was deep in the Adidas Futurecraft 4D era in 2017. Back then,…
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3D Printing & Drone Dominance: Speed, Performance, and Derisking the Supply Chain
Len Pannett
11/05/2026
A shift is underway in drone manufacturing. Government programs like the U.S. Department of War’s Drone Dominance, a $1.1 billion effort…
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The Uncomfortable Truth about the 3D Printing Waste Problem
Len Pannett
23/04/2026
Walk into any serious print farm or university lab, and you’ll find two things: impressive output, and a bin of…
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Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Installs 3D Printed Part on In-Service Submarine in Key Milestone for US Defense Sector
Len Pannett
31/03/2026
I’ve been tracking the US Navy’s additive manufacturing (AM) buildup as it relates to submarines for a while now, and even amidst…
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3D Printed Airport Building Shows Where Construction AM Really Makes Sense
Len Pannett
20/03/2026
At Milan Bergamo Airport, WASP has helped 3D print a new airport services structure. The small building, named Ol Casél, serves as…
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Additive Manufacturing Is Rewriting the Rules of Reshoring
Len Pannett
20/03/2026
Reshoring sounds straightforward: bring production back home. In practice, it’s far more complex. According to recent research by Hexagon in 2025, about 36%…
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Is It Time to Rethink Your Supply Chain? The Strategic Advantage of 3D Printing
Len Pannett
01/10/2025
The way products are designed, produced, and delivered is changing faster than ever. Traditional supply chains—built on mass production, overseas…
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From ramps to railheads, Marines explore uses for 3D-printed concrete on Okinawa
Len Pannett
19/09/2025
Marines are applying advances in 3D-printed concrete to military uses ranging from ramps to makeshift railheads, according to the operations…
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Army Expands Battlefield Use of 3D Printing to Speed Up Repairs
Len Pannett
19/09/2025
The U.S. Army is shifting its approach to battlefield logistics by expanding the use of 3D printing for rapid equipment…
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TCT UK User Group 2025 Report identifies key obstacles to scaling additive manufacturing
Len Pannett
18/09/2025
The TCT Group has announced the release of its TCT UK User Group 2025 report, following the third TCT UK User…
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