3D Printing Optimism on Display at RAPID Event

RAPID+TCT 2026 shifted venues to Boston this year, bringing leading hardware, software, and materials vendors from the 3D printing space together. The show floor was busy, and while the usual suspects like Stratasys, HP, and 3D Systems had large booths, many of the other large-footprint exhibitors were materials or filament providers. There was also an increase in Chinese 3D printer companies on the show floor.

One of those Chinese firms, UnionTech, was one of just a handful of companies to announce new products at RAPID – the MUEES430 PRO metal AM system. BigRep showed off its large format ONE.5X, which was announced a few months ago. Prusa Research showed off its Pro SLX and AFS print systems for industrial applications. ELEGOO debuted its ultra-large format resin 3D printer, the Jupiter 2, which offers 16K resolution. The company also had its new multicolor system, CANVAS for Centauri Carbon, on hand.

HP announced its new HP Multi Jet Fusion 1200 printer on the show floor. These sub-$60,000 printers are designed for office or laboratory use. Combined with the Magics Print for HP build-prep software, the printers let users quickly print prototypes or parts using the same technology found on the shop floor, but in a more compact form factor. The printer, in fact, is about the same size as the types of large office printer/scanner/copiers that HP provides for its 2D printing customers. It’s a fully guided system with automated powder management.

HP showed off new Multi Jet Fusion printers for office environments. 

In advance of the show, Stratasys announced its new Additive App Suite, developed by software partner trinckle, that will launch this summer with 10 apps. These are automated design apps for industrial uses, including apps to quickly create shadow boards, drill guides, clamping jaws and other tools. The apps are embedded directly into GrabCAD Print and GrabCAD Print Pro, and let non-experts quickly design tools for 3D printing. The company also exhibited the new J850 Core printer.

3D Systems introduced its new SLA 825 Dual, a dual-laser production system that allows 20% larger build volumes and 30% faster print speeds. The company also launched AddiTrak, a software platform that provides real-time fleet monitoring, process control, data collection and custom analytics. The company also highlighted a number of real-world use cases in its booth, including Eureka Pumps, a Norwegian company that has partnered with 3D Systems to create large-format metal spare parts on demand. 

“The industrialization of additive manufacturing continues to accelerate as more companies realize its ability to deliver both performance gains through design innovation and operational flexibility through digital production,” said Patrick Dunne, SVP, Technical Fellow, 3D Systems.

3D Systems SLA 825 Dual. Image courtesy of 3D Systems.

Stratasys CEO Yoav Zeif kicked off the first day of the event. Zeif has headlined several additive manufacturing events over the past year, banging the drum that the industry is headed in a positive direction with a more realistic trajectory – that 3D printing can replace some (but not all) manufacturing processes; that the technology should be integrated into hybrid manufacturing scenarios targeted at specific, cost-effective applications; and that all of this will take time.

“Nothing is easy in this industry,” Zeif said. “We are bringing a new technology, and we want to change the world with this technology. We are believers because we have the patience, we have the resilience, we have the optimism, but above everything else, we have the perspective.”

Stratasys CEO Yoav Zeif at RAPID+TCT 2026.

In a briefing with Digital Engineering, Stratasys Chief Business Unit Officer Rich Garrity expanded on these themes, noting that the industry is primed for acceleration in the coming years. “It’s been a tough time from a capital expenditure perspective, and our Stratasys Direct services revenue exceeds hardware sales right now,” Garrity said. “But adoption is progressing. It’s going to take more awareness and confidence to increase AM adoption.”

Event organizer SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers) held its SME AM Awards at the Omni Boston Hotel during the event. Formlabs CEO an dco-founder Max Lobovsky received the SME AM Industry Achievement Award. Matterwave received the AM Start-Up Technology Award. You can read more about the awards here.