RAPID + TCT drew over 9,000 AM practitioners to the LA Convention Center, feat. Executive Perspectives Keynote Series, 400+ Exhibitors, 150+ Technical Conference Presentations, AM Industry Awards & Pitchfest, Hollywood Showcase & more

(LOS ANGELES, July 8, 2024) — SME and Rapid News Group returned to the West Coast to host North America’s largest additive manufacturing (AM) and industrial 3D-printing event, RAPID + TCT 2024, which took place June 25-27 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The three-day event featured: a daily Keynote Series, including the inaugural Executive Perspectives, which gave attendees real-time industry insights from some of the largest companies and most recognized names in the AM community; 400+ exhibitors from across the globe; the launch of RAPID + TCT’s Discovery Zone, amplifying innovation in AM; over 150 conference presentations across 14 tracks including aerospace, healthcare, defense, energy, and more; AM Industry Awards; AM Pitchfest where exciting AM innovations are presented to a jury; and the event’s first-ever Hollywood Showcase, displaying AM-produced film assets.

“The atmosphere at RAPID + TCT 2024 was exhilarating, with attendees from across the community engaging in vibrant discussions, forging new connections and celebrating the transformative potential of AM," remarked SME executive director and CEO Robert “Bob” Willig. "From seasoned industry veterans to newcomers looking to establish themselves in the field, this year’s experiences provided invaluable opportunities to all it welcomed. We are committed to pushing this technology's boundaries and empowering manufacturers, engineers and innovators worldwide to discover new solutions and applications.”

Due to new programs and event features, this year’s experiences exceeded attendee, speaker, and exhibitor expectations, making RAPID + TCT 2024 the biggest to date — bringing a vibrant community of 9,000 professionals to Los Angeles.

Executive Perspectives

Throughout the three-day event, the inaugural Executive Perspectives Keynote Series featured 14 industry luminaries and thought leaders from across the global AM ecosystem. Attendees gained insights and inspiration on the future of AM and what could be holding back its widespread adoption into mainstream manufacturing.

Exhibitors

On the exhibit floor, AM companies had products and machines — from small, intricate parts to life-size statues and real-world race cars — on display, including 3D Systems, ADDiTEC, Desktop Metal, EOS, Formlabs, HP, Quantica, Slice Engineering, Stratasys, Thermwood and many more. Exhibitors showcased new technologies, materials, processes and software solutions, giving attendees a hands-on look at all AM offers across manufacturing sectors.

Among the product announcements made at the event were the unveiling of a new U.S.-made system from DMG MORI, updated software solutions from nTop and Dyndrite, plus a variety of new material formulations for use in AM from several suppliers.

Discovery Zone

The first-ever Discovery Zone exhibit floor area served as a launchpad for newcomers and start-ups with groundbreaking ideas, providing a platform to showcase cutting-edge technologies, novel applications and visionary concepts in AM for over 125 first-time exhibitors

Technical Conference

Beyond the exhibit floor and main stage activities, attendees enjoyed industry partner presentations in the SME Zone Theater, Tech Hub presentations and chose from 168 technical conference presentations to suit their individual learning objectives in a particular AM application or process. 

AM Industry Awards & Pitchfest

The AM Industry Awards recognize notable leaders who have applied AM technology to production and made a significant impact in its commercialization. 2024 award winners include:

• Lead author Andreas Vlahinos, PhD, of Advanced Engineering Solutions, received the Aubin Case Study Award for their case study on patient-specific femoral implant with osseointegration.
• Paul Gradl received the AM Industry Achievement Award for a longtime career advancing AM in the global aerospace industry, specifically in meeting the needs of NASA missions.
• Raffles Institution in Singapore at the high school level, and the University of Waterloo in Canada at the undergraduate and graduate levels, in the Digital Manufacturing Challenge.
• Fabrisonic at the 50K level, and Vivid Creative Aquatics at the 10K level — the newest members of the AM Production Club.
• Onulis, which received the AM Start-Up Technology Award for its WRAP Prime product — the industry’s first traceable and fully automatic production DLP post-curing unit for ISO 9000 Certified users.

RAPID + TCT 2024 marked the second AM Pitchfest, an opportunity for entrepreneurs, start-ups and academic spin-offs to present their latest AM innovations to a jury of community leaders. 3D Solar was named the winner for its presentation on how hybrid 3D printing enables next-generation solar, semiconductor and generative AI in the automotive supply chain.

Hollywood Showcase

New this year, RAPID + TCT featured the Hollywood Showcase, putting a spotlight on the AM’s intersection with the entertainment and film capital of the world in partnership with Gentle Giant Studios and Direct Dimensions. Attendees got a behind-the-scenes look at how industrial 3D-printing technologies are leveraged in your favorite blockbuster hits. AM-produced film assets were displayed from major franchises like Star Wars, Frozen, Avatar and Monsters Inc.

In continuation of the North American tour, RAPID + TCT 2025 will take place in Detroit, co-locating with both SAE’s WCX and SME’s AeroDef Manufacturing event to reach a broader audience from the automotive and defense sectors. Stay up to date on RAPID + TCT by visiting rapid3devent.com and follow @RAPID_Event on Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter.

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About RAPID + TCT

For more than 35 years, SME and RAPID + TCT have defined the crucial role of additive manufacturing and empowered the establishment of an industry that continues to conceive, test, improve and manufacture new products at a faster, more cost-efficient pace. In 2017, the two industry leaders in 3D-technology events, SME and The TCT Group, partnered to produce the annual RAPID + TCT event. For users and suppliers alike, the event is the premier destination for those who provide technology and those who need to understand, explore and adopt 3D printing, additive manufacturing, 3D scanning, CAD/CAE metrology and inspection technologies.

About Rapid News Publications Ltd & The TCT Group

Rapid News Publications Ltd, the owner of the TCT Group, has been a leading authority in additive manufacturing, 3D printing, design, and engineering technology for more than 30 years. A rich mix of live events and an all-encompassing media portfolio enables TCT to deliver business-critical intelligence, connecting the additive community across Europe, North America, and Asia. The TCT Group is owned by Rapid News Publications Ltd ( rapidnews.com), a member of the AEO (Association of Event Organizers) and BPA Worldwide.  

About SME

Established in 1932 as a nonprofit organization, SME represents the entire North American manufacturing industry, including manufacturers, academia, professionals, students, and the communities in which they operate. We believe manufacturing holds the key to economic growth and prosperity, and champions the industry’s potential as a diverse, thriving, and valued ecosystem. SME accelerates new technology adoption and builds North America’s talent and capabilities to advance manufacturing and drive competitiveness, resiliency, and national security. SME designs new ways to understand and solve problems, and our solutions advance the next wave of growth in manufacturing. Learn more at SME.org.