Why Post‑Processing Is the Secret to Scalable 3D Printing – Insights from AMT CEO Joseph Crabtree

Post‑processing is often called 3D printing’s “dirty little secret.” Though essential, it remains the most labor‑intensive hurdle for firms looking to scale additive manufacturing (AM). Recent advances in automation promise to change that.

In this Expert Interview, we sit down with Joseph Crabtree, CEO of Additive Manufacturing Technologies (AMT), a UK‑based pioneer of fully automated post‑processing solutions. We explore why post‑processing matters, how AMT’s technology works, and what the future holds for the industry.

About AMT Technologies

Founded in 2017 in Sheffield, AMT combines R&D, sales and application development under one roof. We own a manufacturing plant in Hungary where we design, engineer and produce all of our equipment, giving us a rare in‑house advantage. Recently, we opened a 20,000‑sq‑ft facility in Austin, Texas, and hired our first APAC employee—signalling rapid global expansion.

AMT’s mission is to make industrial AM a reality. While prototypes and low‑volume production have been common, we aim to lift AM from niche to mainstream by removing the bottleneck of post‑processing, turning 3D‑printed parts into ready‑for‑use components.

Despite the buzz around larger, faster printers, the industry still struggles with parts that are unsuitable for end‑use straight from the machine. Whether the application is surgical, aerospace interior, automotive under‑hood or space‑grade, post‑processing is now the critical step that can account for up to 60 % of a part’s cost—making it a decisive factor in production viability.

Current Post‑Processing Challenges

The biggest obstacle is simply awareness. Many new buyers assume a printer delivers finished parts, unaware that post‑processing is required. Printer manufacturers rarely discuss this, leaving customers to navigate a complex, manual workflow. Education is therefore paramount.

Another issue is the lack of truly automated solutions. While several post‑processing devices exist, they often rely on legacy mechanical methods and lack digital integration. AMT’s approach is fully automated, technology‑agnostic, and supports over 95 polymers—including ULTEM, nylon, TPU and TPE.

Depowdering remains the single hardest challenge. No market solution has yet automated unpacking, powder removal and part sorting without human intervention. AMT is collaborating with partners to develop machine‑learning‑driven depowdering systems that will drastically reduce time and cost.

PostPro3D – AMT’s Core Technology

PostPro3D is the result of eight years of research and an Innovate UK grant. It uses proprietary chemical vapour to smooth, seal and enhance the mechanical properties of polymer parts. The process removes surface porosity, prevents water and gas ingress, and improves elongation at break and fatigue resistance—crucial for medical, aerospace and automotive applications.

The flagship machine features a 100‑liter chamber, enabling high‑volume processing, while the PostPro3D Mini offers the same technology in a third‑size package for research labs and small service bureaus.

All parts and processes have undergone cycle toxicity testing and are currently pursuing FDA medical approval. Complementary colour‑and‑smooth technology allows simultaneous colouring, expanding design possibilities. AMT’s depowdering systems, inspection algorithms (developed with the University of Nottingham), and digital manufacturing system (DMS) form a fully integrated, end‑to‑end solution.

Polymers and the Future of Metal

Although Joseph holds a metallurgy background, AMT focuses on polymers due to their relative simplicity. The company has validated 95 polymers and holds IP on metal post‑processing, including quasi‑metal components and Desktop Metal‑based extrusion‑in‑polymer solutions.

Impact of Recent Investment

Backed by DSM Venturing, Foresight Group and Williams Advanced Engineering, AMT is accelerating global growth and maintaining its technology‑agnostic stance. DSM provides materials chemistry expertise, while Foresight offers data analytics, engineering, and a vast distribution network—fueling rapid expansion into the US, APAC and Europe.

Broader Industry Challenges

AMT sees the primary barrier as the hype‑driven perception of AM. Many companies still view it as a novelty rather than a production‑ready technology. The industry must shift from batch to continuous, end‑to‑end manufacturing to achieve repeatability and reproducibility at scale.

At Formnext, AMT showcased an 86‑m², 4‑metre‑high lattice structure assembled from 6,500 printed parts—an achievement made possible only by our automated post‑processing. The lightweight construction (120 kg) and precise tolerance threaded joints would have been unattainable without PostPro3D.

Trends and Outlook

Post‑processing is finally gaining recognition as a critical discipline. Industrial users are beginning to adopt AM for real‑world applications, and AMT’s end‑to‑end DMS—launching late next year—will streamline depowdering, smoothing, colouring and inspection.

Over the next 12 months, AMT anticipates rapid expansion and revenue growth, positioning itself as the go‑to partner for industrial‑grade 3D printing.

Learn more at https://amtechnologies.co.uk/