Insights
Market intelligence, industry analysis and strategic guidance for manufacturing sourcing teams.
LPBF vs DED: Choosing Between Powder-Bed and Directed-Energy Metal Additive
LPBF (laser powder bed fusion — including DMLS and SLM) wins on geometric complexity, surface finish, and tight tolerances for parts that fit in a build envelope of typically 250–400 mm per side. DED (directed energy…
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Industry
Low-Volume Manufacturing Is a Matching Problem, Not a Capacity Problem
Low-Volume Manufacturing Is a Matching Problem, Not a Capacity Problem
Most conversations about low-volume manufacturing start with capacity — who can make this, how fast, and at what unit …
Industry
Repeatability Is the Only Real IP
Repeatability Is the Only Real IP
In the realm of manufacturing, the notion of competitive advantage has long been tethered to the idea of proprietary des…
Market Intelligence
When Speed Becomes a Liability
When Speed Becomes a Liability
In the race to streamline manufacturing processes, speed is often heralded as the ultimate advantage. However, when spee…
Market Intelligence
The Real Cost of Failed Builds
The Real Cost of Failed Builds
In the realm of manufacturing, particularly in additive manufacturing (AM), the true cost of a failed build extends far …
Industry
Design Optimised for Printing Isn’t Optimised for Business
Design Optimised for Printing Isn’t Optimised for Business
A part that prints successfully isn’t necessarily viable in production. In additive manufacturing, design for printabi…
Market Intelligence
Concentration Risk in Additive Supply
Concentration Risk in Additive Supply
Additive supply chains often appear flexible, but demand concentration around a few providers creates hidden dependency …
Pricing Pressure Is a Symptom, Not the Disease
Pricing pressure in additive manufacturing isn’t the root problem. When transparency outpaces coordination, differenti…
The Illusion of Demand Visibility
RFQs only show a fraction of additive manufacturing demand. True opportunities occur upstream in engineering, validation…
Qualification Fatigue Is a Structural Problem
Repeated audits, supplier verification, and certification cycles create qualification fatigue in additive manufacturing …
The Post-Processing Blind Spot
Post-processing often determines the real speed and cost of additive manufacturing. Finishing, inspection, and workflow …
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