The Coolest Things We Saw at RAPID + TCT
RAPID + TCT 2025 is in full swing! Eagerly anticipated every year, RAPID + TCT sets itself apart among additive manufacturing events globally, as it always promises to be much more than a trade show. To give you a better idea of what we mean, we decided to take a look at some of the coolest things that we have seen at in the 2025 edition of RAPID + TCT. Check them out below in no particular order.
America Makes Booth Area at RAPID + TCT
If you work in the additive manufacturing sector in the United States, you have undoubtedly heard of America Makes. The organization is the nation’s leading public-private partnership for AM technology and education and boasts members from industry, academia, government, economic development organizations and the workforce. And they have their own pavilion at RAPID + TCT which, in addition to the America Makes booth, #3741, also has member companies exhibiting around the area, in Booths 3741-1 to 3741-12. This includes key players like Continuous Composites, Sintavia and Titomic. If you have not already swung by, be sure to check it out!
The America Makes area at RAPID + TCT 2025
The Discovery Zone – Celebrating Innovation in Additive Manufacturing
Back by popular demand, The Discovery Zone at RAPID + TCT is a unique opportunity to meet with first-time exhibitors at the event. Innovation more than anything is the background of additive manufacturing, and that is why it is so important to celebrate those who are new to the industry, whether startups or larger corporations starting to adopt 3D printing in various capacities. In The Discovery Zone, attendees of RAPID + TCT can see a wide range of these players in additive manufacturing such as Alpha Powders, AMAREA Technology, Fronius USA, Almond AIFUJIFILM, Phasio, Ponticon and Vixiv, among others, with AI in particular a popular subject among the exhibitors. Stop by to see the different offerings including cutting-edge technologies, novel applications and visionary concepts in industrial 3D printing and additive manufacturing.
SME Mission Critical: Workforce 2030
Developing a skill workforce is an obstacle for many of those in additive manufacturing, whether manufacturers or those working in verticals. That is where SME Mission Critical: Workforce 2030 comes in. Described as “a transformative experience designed to empower manufacturers in tackling today’s workforce challenges,” SME Mission Critical: Workforce 2030 is one of the coolest things we saw at the show and it provides an opportunity for attendees at RAPID + TCT 2025 to assess, explore and connect with solutions that have been set up to unlock human potential. How? At booth #3547, it is possible to find everything from a personalized readiness assessment including self-guided explorations with solutions from different technology & talent partners, to an insights desk and think tank consultations. The perfect way to address a company’s unique workforce challenges.
Exhibitors from AeroDef Manufacturing
For the first time ever, RAPID + TCT and AeroDef Manufacturing are taking place at the same time. And though attendees need separate passes for the respective conferences, the exhibitors for AeroDef are present on the same show floor as those from RAPID + TCT! Given the importance of both aerospace and defense to the additive manufacturing industry, a whole new audience of exhibitors from these very sectors can be nothing but a boon for those attending RAPID + TCT. With everyone from owners and managers of small-to-medium-sized companies to C-level senior executives of global companies and high-ranking military personnel expected to attend, the AeroDef exhibitor area is a fantastic opportunity for companies working all along the 3D printing value chain.
Some of the AeroDef exhibitors on the show floor at RAPID + TCT 2025
RAPID + TCT AM Services Providers Pavilion
We told you about it earlier this year, but another exciting zone at RAPID + TCT is the AM Service Providers Pavilion. Available for the first time in the 2025 edition, this pavilion is dedicated entirely to AM service providers. This is important because, although not often discussed, AM service bureaus are often the first step to 3D printing adoption, especially for companies working in industries where AM technologies are less widespread. In this area, attendees at RAPID + TCT 2025 have a one-stop-shop to learn about how they can integrate additive manufacturing into their workflow in a sure, safe manner. Perfect for those who are starting to consider the use of additive manufacturing or just to better understand what exactly it can do.
What was the coolest thing you saw at RAPID + TCT 2025? 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.
*All Photo Credits: 3Dnatives
