The Personalities Who Shaped the Additive Manufacturing Market in 2024

As we approach the end of the year, it’s time to highlight the personalities who have shaped the 3D printing industry over the course of 2024. Whether leaders of major companies, innovators or researchers, these figures have helped transform the additive manufacturing market, influencing it both locally and globally. In a constantly evolving and challenging market, these personalities drive innovation with resilience and enthusiasm, moving the additive manufacturing industry forward. This year, we have once again selected eight personalities who we believe have played a pivotal role in the development of 3D printing in 2024. They are listed in alphabetical order (by surname) – the perfect way to end the year!
Roger Antunez, CEO of Supernova
Roger Antunez is CEO of Supernova, a Spanish company set up earlier this year following BCN3D’s division of the business to independently manage the development and adoption of VLM technology. Roger Antunez has extensive experience in additive manufacturing, having worked for 6 years at BCN3D as Managing Director and is currently still a member of the company’s Board of Directors. As for Supernova, we’ve heard a lot about them this year. They presented Pulse, their production platform, as well as a whole portfolio of materials compatible with their patented technology. The company also announced the creation of a “Defense and Space” business unit for materials designed specifically for this industry. Finally, the company headed by Mr. Antunez took part in Formnext for the first time as an exhibitor, and was even nominated for the event’s “Startup Award”.
Stefanie Brickwede, Managing Director of MGA and Head of Additive Manufacturing at Deutsche Bahn
Stefanie Brickwede has been Managing Director of Mobility Goes Additive since 2016 and Head of Additive Manufacturing at Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s national rail company, since 2015. With years of management experience in the additive manufacturing and mobility sector, Stefanie has led the Mobility Goes Additive (MGA) network to continuous growth. It is considered one of the most important networks in the additive manufacturing and transportation landscape, particularly for the German market. Today, it has over 150 members in Europe and around the world, bringing together industry experts and encouraging technology adoption in the industry. Under the leadership of Stefanie Brickwede, the network has seen the birth in recent years of the Medical Goes Additive section and the Women in Additive Manufacturing conference.

Stefanie Brickwede
Amy Elliot, 3D Printing Scientist at ORNL
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is an American multi-program science and technology laboratory. Among the various profiles working in the field of additive manufacturing at the lab, we wanted to highlight Amy Elliott, a scientist specializing in 3D printing. Amy has an extensive background in engineering and worked for three years at NASA as a cooperative engineer. In addition to her role as a scientist, she also leads the Robotics and Intelligent Systems group at ORNL. Throughout 2024, we saw various projects from the lab that made use of 3D printing. For example, it has attracted attention for the creation of 3D nesting structures for endangered bats, but also for the development of 3D printed slides for hydroelectric dams and even for the development of a system to improve quality control in additive manufacturing. All thanks to the team of researchers and scientists behind the project, including Amy. Amy specifically has also made her mark on additive manufacturing through educational content on television.

Amy Elliott next to a 3D printer
Arik Kaufman, CEO of Steakholder Foods
Arik Kaufman is the CEO and co-founder of Steakholder Foods, an Israeli company that uses 3D printing to produce plant-based substitutes for meat, fish and seafood. The company has grown rapidly over the past two years with the launch of innovative and unique products that mimic the texture of meat and fish, such as steaks, squid, shrimp and more. This year, for the first time, Steakholder Foods’ products received the green light from the US market, and the company recently partnered with UMAMI Bioworks to increase production of 3D-printed fish fillets, with the aim of marketing them internationally. Arik Kaufman commented, “Our advanced 3D printing technologies are not only a testament to innovation, but also a commitment to sustainability and health. These products represent our mission: to offer consumers food choices that are not only delicious, but also responsible for the planet.”
Rajeev Kulkarni, CSO of Axtra3D and Chairman of Caracol’s Board of Directors
Next on our list of 2024 personalities is a veteran in the world of 3D printing. With 30 years’ experience in the industry, Rajeev Kulkarni is undoubtedly a leading figure in the world of additive manufacturing. His career, which began in 1995 at 3D Systems, has seen him collaborate with Chuck Hull and contribute to the 3D printing revolution and the development of new solutions. Mr. Kulkarni remained with 3D Systems until last year, when he stepped down as the company’s Vice President of Strategy and Development. In the meantime, he has built up a successful track record in angel investing and entrepreneurship. In 2024, he became Chief Strategy Officer of Axtra3D, one of the most innovative companies in 3D resin printing. For the past few months, he has also been Chairman of the Board of Caracol, a fast-growing Italian company on the international scene, and in North America in particular, renowned for its LFAM solutions.

Photo Credits: Axtra3D
Josefine Lissner, CEO and Founder of LEAP 71
Josefine Lissner is an aerospace engineer and pioneer in the field of computer engineering. As head of strategic engineering at Hyperganic, she developed the world’s largest 3D-printed Aerospike rocket engine and the first rocket engine to be entirely algorithmically designed. She also led a team developing advanced calculation and manufacturing methods. Since 2023, she has been founder and CEO of LEAP 71, a company dedicated to stimulating technological progress through computer engineering. This year, using proprietary Noyron software, LEAP 71 developed the engine model for the TKL-5 rocket, without human intervention, which was then produced using additive manufacturing. A milestone in the aerospace industry.

Photo Credits: Josefine Lissner / LEAP 71
Stephanie Willerth, CEO of Axolotl Biosciences
With the medical sector being one of the main users of 3D printing, it’s no surprise that many companies in this field have been in the spotlight this year. Among them is Canadian company Axolotl Biosciences, headed by Stephanie Willerth. Before founding the startup, Stephanie was Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Acting Director of the Biomedical Research Centre at the University of Victoria, Canada. In 2020, she launched the company to develop biological inks for 3D bioprinting of human tissue, which have been shown to maintain high levels of cell viability after manufacture. Axolotl Biosciences won this year’s Formnext 2024 Startup Award, which was presented to Ms. Willerth at the awards ceremony.

Stephanie Willerth received the award for most innovative 3D startup at Formnext 2024 (photo credits: Mesago)
Dr. Lei Xue, CEO of BLT Technologies
Bright Laser Technologies, or BLT, is another company that’s been in the news a lot this year. That’s why we’ve decided to include its CEO, Dr. Lei Xue, in our list of leading personalities of 2024. The company has distinguished itself particularly in the aerospace field, for example with the introduction of its new BLT-Ti65 metal for L-PBF and DED processes. This low-density, high-strength alloy meets the demanding requirements of this industry. In addition, the company participated in various rocket projects designed in part by additive manufacturing, such as LandSpace’s ZhuQue-3 rocket, launched in January, or Orienspace’s Gravity-1 rocket, which took off in April. Finally, the company launched its new BLT-S450 3D printer this year, which it also presented at Formnext 2024.

Dr. Lei Xue
What do you think of the 2024 additive manufacturing personalities? Let us know in a comment below or on our LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here, the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.