Large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM) is no longer a question mark. It is established and in use today. At CEAD we are actively taking it further, into full-scale production, a shift that has been a central focus for us. For one full day at our headquarters in Delft, we explored where it goes next together with the people building the LFAM value chain: our partners, our customers, and operators from across the ecosystem.
Rather than a series of one-way presentations, the day was designed as a working conversation. By bringing experts from every part of the ecosystem into one room, we could look honestly at what it really takes to scale production, where the technology is heading, and how to solve the manufacturing challenges our customers face day to day.
The day was built around four pillars that reflect how CEAD brings its ecosystem together to accelerate LFAM adoption.
Access: connecting the ecosystem
Progress in LFAM does not come from any single company. It comes from the connections between them. We brought together industry leaders, partners, customers, and operators so they could share relevant, honest insights with one another. Connecting people is part of how CEAD works: the relationships across the value chain are already there, so you do not have to go searching for them, with the right materials, software, and application expertise within reach from the start. More than that, the day reflected how we deliver the hybrid LFAM-driven technology itself, as an integrated solution that brings machine, software, materials, and application knowledge together rather than leaving the customer to piece it together alone. Putting the whole value chain in one place, from materials to software to production, is where everything starts, and that integrated approach is one of the real advantages of working with CEAD and its partners.
Engage: conversations that matter
With the ecosystem gathered, attendees could steer the day toward the topics most relevant to them. Across five partner-led sessions, and in direct conversations with CEAD experts and fellow industry leaders, the discussion moved through the questions shaping LFAM right now: composite materials for moulds and tooling, the latest software developments including the role of AI in slicing and print preparation, and modular hardware such as LEAM, whose module retrofits onto the Flexbot to extend what it can do.
Running underneath it all was a bigger theme: how the industry moves from flexible manufacturing toward application-ready solutions. It is a direction our partners already have early insight into, and one we will share more about as it takes shape.
As one attendee reflected, “seeing how hard people work to push the envelope was really inspiring.”
Support: expertise that carries into production
Adopting LFAM successfully takes more than a machine. It takes knowledge, the right technologies, and real application experience. The combined expertise of CEAD and its partners is there to support customers through exactly that, and the day’s discussions on scaling and on the practical challenges of production were a direct expression of it. The goal is not just a successful print, but production that holds up, backed for the long term.
Explore: a first look behind the scenes
Attendees also got an exclusive look at what is coming next. That included an early, never-before-seen Flexbot configuration, and while we are keeping the details under wraps for now, the reaction in the room told us it was worth the wait. Guests also saw new developments from our partners and took guided tours of two facilities: CEAD’s headquarters, and the neighbouring Dutch Boat Factory.
One guest captured the spirit of the day: “I appreciate the effort that CEAD put into connecting people. Today’s event was pivotal to understand each other, speak the same language, and build a dialogue toward future partnerships.”
The highlight: sailing a 3D-printed boat through Delft
We had promised a surprise to close the day, and this was it. We took our guests out on the water aboard a fully 3D-printed boat, built by the Dutch Boat Factory on CEAD’s Faber Navalis. Special thanks to Julius van Santen for making the first prototype of the new Printcat rental concept available, and for sailing us through the canals of Delft. It was a fitting end: LFAM, quite literally, carrying us home.
The future of manufacturing is connected
A day like this reinforces what we believe at CEAD: collaboration is at the heart of everything we do, and the future of manufacturing is connected, collaborative, automated, and sustainable. Our thanks go to every partner who led and contributed to the sessions, Airtech Advanced Materials Group, Adaxis, AiBuild, Polymaker, and LEAM, and to everyone who joined us.
Looking for a technology partner in LFAM? Get in touch and let’s talk about what large-format additive manufacturing could mean for your production.