2020 3D Printing Forecast: 20 Industry Leaders Outline the Future

The 3D printing landscape is poised for transformative growth in 2020.

We spoke to 20 industry leaders to uncover how additive manufacturing will evolve this year.

1. John Barnes, Founder – The Barnes Group Advisors

“After Formnext, the industry is shifting from experimentation to profitability. We’re moving toward mature discussions on DfAM, qualification, and certification—terms that will now directly affect the bottom line.”

2. Petar Stefanov, Founder & CTO – Spectroplast

“2020 will showcase high‑value scan‑to‑print solutions that combine soft, compliant materials with generative‑design software, improving lives worldwide.”

3. Alessio Lorusso, Founder & CEO – Roboze

“Composite and super‑plastic parts can match the performance of traditional metal machining while offering just‑in‑time, on‑demand production.”

4. Brian Alexander, AM Global Product & Application Manager – Solvay

“Key 2020 trends from a materials perspective:

• Increased collaboration across the value chain, even with competitors, driving material choice beyond closed ecosystems.
• Partnerships will be critical for entering regulated markets like healthcare and aerospace, where qualification costs are high.
• Commodity material suppliers (PLA, ABS) face consolidation or a shift toward specialty powders and filaments.

These developments will shape the future of AM production.”

5. Yves Hagedorn, Managing Director – Aconity3D

“2020 will see applications aligned with the specific strengths of each AM technology—whether that’s full density for structural parts or superior surface finish for aesthetic components.”

6. Nanci Hardwick, CEO – MELD Manufacturing

“Large‑scale components measured in meters, and new material classes, will become the norm, expanding the scope of what’s achievable with 3D printing.”

7. Jonathan Warbrick, Business Development Manager – Graphite Additive Manufacturing

“We anticipate faster, larger production parts and significant advances in binder‑jetting metals and high‑performance ceramics.”

8. AB Obi‑Okoye, Communications Manager – Carbon

“Digital manufacturing will continue to reduce healthcare costs and drive patient‑centric innovations, especially in dentistry and beyond.”

9. Gregory Paulsen, Director of Application Engineering – Xometry

“Software—particularly digital‑twins and advanced simulation—will bridge the gap between prototype and production, mitigating risk and accelerating time‑to‑market.”

10. Joseph Crabtree, CEO – Additive Manufacturing Technologies Ltd.

“2020 will be a milestone year for scalable post‑processing. Automated workflows that eliminate manual labor will unlock higher production volumes.”

11. Avi Reichental, Founder, CEO & Chairman – XponentialWorks

“Digital fabrication at scale will redefine traditional manufacturing, driven by functional digital materials.”

12. Robert Heath, Additive Manufacturing Application Engineer – Eckhart

“Design for Additive Manufacturing is becoming mainstream; engineers are rethinking parts rather than forcing legacy designs onto AM.”

13. Rush LaSelle, Sr. Director, Digital Manufacturing – Jabil

“Integration of upstream and downstream processes, coupled with automated post‑processing and advanced simulation, will accelerate the adoption of AM in production.”

14. Dave Conover, Chief Technologist – ANSYS

“Metal powder‑bed fusion is moving from R&D to production, while binder‑jetting is emerging as a mass‑production solution in automotive and construction.”

15. Zachary Murphree, VP of Technology Partnerships – VELO3D

“Contract manufacturers will shift from niche 3D printing to full‑service production, emphasizing quality monitoring, material innovation, and application‑specific systems.”

16. Josh Martin, Co‑Founder & CEO – Fortify

“2020 will see tighter integration among hardware OEMs, materials giants, and software platforms, enabling scalable, reliable additive solutions.”

17. Jeff Mize, CEO – PostProcess Technologies

“Scalability, expanded material offerings, and sustainability will define additive manufacturing. Fully automated, software‑driven post‑processing is essential.”

18. Joachim Zettler, CEO – APWORKS

“The focus is moving from R&D to serial production, with machines becoming more efficient and profitable, enabling stronger business cases.”

19. Wiener Mondesir, Co‑Founder & CTO – Arevo

“Production parts, quality, and scalability are the current industry buzzwords; these will become the pillars of additive manufacturing.”

20. Keyvan Karimi, CEO – AMFG

“Industrialization continues. Companies will invest in scalable workflows, quality assurance, and MES connectivity, positioning additive manufacturing for higher volumes.”

More Expert Roundups:

• 10 Predictions on the Future of 3D Printing [Expert Roundup]
• 10 of the Biggest Challenges in Scaling Additive Manufacturing for Production [Expert Roundup]