Personalization is one of 3D printing’s biggest promises, yet in medical applications it’s still slowed down by long lead times and heavy post-processing. PERFI Technologies is flipping that script. Instead of building parts layer by layer, the startup uses volumetric additive manufacturing to produce fully formed, custom medical components in seconds. Starting with audiology and dental care, PERFI is targeting applications where speed, precision, and personalization actually matter. We sat down with the PERFI team to unpack how the technology works, why audiology and dental came first, and what volumetric AM could unlock next.
3DN: For those who may not be familiar with PERFI, can you briefly introduce the company and explain your mission in the additive manufacturing space?
PERFI Technologies is pioneering the next generation of industrial 3D printing with Volumetric Additive Manufacturing, or VAM. Unlike traditional layer-by-layer printing, VAM solidifies entire parts at once inside a rotating, photosensitive resin volume, enabling components to be produced in seconds rather than hours. This approach eliminates the need for supports and layered structures, reduces labor-intensive post-processing, and allows unused material to be recovered, resulting in fast, waste-free, and high-resolution production.
Our initial focus is on audiology and dental applications, where speed, precision, and personalization are critical. By enabling on-demand, point-of-care production, we aim to democratize personalization, improve patient outcomes, and set a new standard for sustainable, high-throughput manufacturing across medical device sectors.
3DN: Can you each introduce yourselves and share what led you into the world of additive manufacturing and the development of volumetric AM?
Anna Danielak, Co-founder and CPO: I have a PhD in microscale vat-photopolymerization additive manufacturing and specialize in optimizing the entire resin-based 3D printing workflow, from design to deployment. My background and experience in polymer production and manufacturing led me to focus on translating advanced research into practical, high-performance systems.
Weichao Sun, Co-founder and CTO: I have a PhD in material and computational chemistry and joined PERFI in 2022. My work focuses on materials development, apparatus design, and post-processing optimization. I was drawn to VAM because of its potential to overcome the fundamental speed and precision limitations of traditional 3D printing.
Kasper Ingeman Beck, Co-founder and CEO: With a PhD in economics, management, and public policy, I lead PERFI’s commercial strategy and partnerships. I was motivated by the opportunity to bring a deep-tech innovation to market in a way that transforms access to personalized medical devices.
Yi Yang, Founder and Chairman: I invented the core intellectual property behind PERFI during my time as a professor. My work in ultrafast volumetric printing emerged from research in geochemistry, where traditional manufacturing methods were too slow and restrictive. Early on, I recognized that volumetric printing could radically change how complex, personalized parts are produced.
3DN: PERFI has reimagined 3D printing by moving away from the classic layer-by-layer approach. What sparked the idea for volumetric additive manufacturing, and when did you know it had real market potential?
The idea originated about six years ago when our founder, Yi Yang, encountered limitations in research that required producing complex parts much more quickly than conventional methods allowed. The key breakthrough came with the realization that light could be projected into a rotating, resin to solidify entire parts at once, dramatically reducing both production time and labor.
We recognized the technology’s market potential after analyzing applications for personalized medical devices, particularly hearing aid earmolds. These products demand rapid turnaround, precise fit, and biocompatible materials, making them a natural fit for VAM. By working with early clinical partners, we were able to validate both the technical feasibility and the clear real-world need.
3DN: Turning a breakthrough idea into a real product is always a journey. What were the biggest milestones that made you think, “Okay, this is ready for the industry,” and what was one challenge, whether technical, regulatory, or cultural, that most shaped that process?
Key milestones include achieving Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5, demonstrating biocompatibility for medical-grade materials, and integrating the core technology into a standalone unit capable of producing industry-standard hearing aid earmolds. Another milestone has been preparing MDR documentation and CE marking to enable entry into the European market.
One of the biggest challenges has been navigating the regulatory landscape, which is both complex and resource-intensive. On the manufacturing side, sourcing reliable suppliers for hardware components and the machine enclosure has also been critical. Throughout this process, surrounding ourselves with organizations like DTU Skylab, Manufacturing Academy of Denmark, Danish AM Hub, and Tech Nordic Advocates has been invaluable in addressing these challenges.
3DN: You have started in audiology and dental care, two fields that rely heavily on precision and personalization. What makes these sectors the right starting point for VAM?
Personalization in audiology and dental care directly improves comfort, device performance, and overall quality of life. However, today these solutions are often slow, costly, and centralized, limiting access for many patients. Volumetric additive manufacturing enables on-demand, point-of-care production, reducing wait times from weeks to under an hour. By democratizing personalization, we can make high-quality, custom medical devices accessible to everyone.
3DN: Every breakthrough comes with challenges. What is one real-world obstacle, whether technical, regulatory, or cultural, that has shaped PERFI’s evolution?
Hardware development and regulatory compliance have been two major challenges. While our team can design key components in-house, finding reliable manufacturers capable of producing them at scale has been crucial. Navigating CE marking and MDR compliance has been complex, but our partnerships with regulatory experts and professional networks have been instrumental in guiding us through the process.
3DN: Your technology is often described as 20 to 50 times faster than traditional AM with no supports and high surface quality. What are the current limits of VAM, and what improvements are you working toward next?
One main challenge has been upscaling production to larger parts without increasing costs. We have overcome this through a patented algorithm that enables cost-efficient upscaling. Moving forward, we are focused on enhancing resolution, controlling material properties within a single part, and expanding throughput to serve broader range of industrial applications
3DN: In a rapidly growing AM landscape, what is one thing you wish more people understood about volumetric 3D printing and how it differs from other technologies?
VAM represents the final missing piece of the puzzle in the manufacturing landscape by enabling true personalization at the point of delivery for everyone. Unlike traditional 3D printing, which is often slow and labor-intensive, VAM delivers complete, ready-to-use parts in seconds, unlocking scalable, on-demand, and sustainable production that was previously impossible.
3DN: To conclude, if you had to describe PERFI’s approach in one word, what would it be?
Revolutionizing!
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All Photo Credits: PERFI