The finalists for the TCT Awards 2026 were announced on 25th February 2026.

The winners for each category were announced at the TCT Awards ceremony which took place on 14th April 2026 in Boston, USA alongside the SME AM Awards during RAPID + TCT.

TCT AWARD WINNERS 2026
3
TCT Aerospace & Defence Application Award

The aerospace and defence industries are renowned for leading the way in innovation. From developing new and ground-breaking materials, to advanced electronics and automation, technologies incubated by these industries such as structural composites and GPS quickly became popular in many commercial applications. It is therefore unsurprising that these industries have been key adopters of 3D printing and additive manufacturing, and we are excited to see what pioneering applications have been released this year.

Crushable Lattices for Impact Attenuation

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory</p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Partners&nbsp;</strong></p><p>REM Surface Engineering, nTop</p><p><strong><br></strong></p><p>Titanium lattice energy absorbers were developed to improve attenuation through ultralow 2% density structures and chemical etched LPBF control. The design enables previously unachievable crush behaviour with NASA qualified performance and delivers 50% mass savings over aluminium alternatives. <strong><br></strong></p>

Project TAMPA

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>Ministry of Defence</p><p><strong>Partners</strong></p><p>Thales, NP Aerospace, Babcock and RBSL</p><p><br></p><p>Initiative accelerating AM adoption in the Defence sector, prioritising OEM led metal part design and cross domain manufacturing. Transparent collaboration has driven major performance gains while improving supply resilience, accelerating AM ready component development and resulted in the MOD Advanced Manufacturing Strategy. <br></p>

Structurally Critical Defence Vehicle Subframe

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong>&nbsp;</p><p>DIGITAL MANUFACTURING CENTRE</p><p><strong>Partners</strong></p><p>NP Aerospace, MOD, Caracol, Vertex Engineering</p><p><br></p><p>A large format structurally critical metal AM subframe was produced for the defence sector to match cast and fabricated structural performance without redesign. The tooling free approach cut unit cost by 5–10% and reduced lead times enough to return vehicles to service 3–4 months sooner, strengthening fleet availability and resilience. <br></p>
3
TCT Automotive & Rail Application Award

As one of the first industries to see the benefits of rapid prototyping, the automotive world has embraced additive technologies at all stages of design, development and manufacturing. More recently the rail industry have seen a real growth in the use of additive manufacturing, benefiting from the low volume production and spare part supply. But what are the industries' best applications of AM today?

Cadillac CELESTIQ Production Parts

Description
<p><strong>Entrant&nbsp;</strong></p><p>General Motors</p><p><strong>Partners</strong></p><p>Forecast3D, Azoth LLC, Exo-s</p><p><br></p><p>More than 130 AM components were applied to an ultra luxury vehicle, using multiple processes to meet structural and cosmetic demands. AM eliminated tooling, accelerated development, and enabled optimised designs for complex metal features such as the steering wheel and seatbelt guide loop. <br></p>

Integrated Passive Cooling

Description
<p><strong>Entrant&nbsp;</strong></p><p>Martinrea International</p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Partners</strong></p><p>Equispheres Inc</p><p><br></p><p>An additively manufactured e-motor housing integrated two phase passive cooling through aluminium vapor chamber structures, enabled by a 3Dprinted porous wick. The approach improved thermal performance with a 60% pressure drop reduction and a 39 °C winding temperature decrease, eliminating larger pumps and associated system cost. <br></p>

Racing car Production Bodywork

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong>&nbsp;</p><p>Caracol AM</p><p><strong>Partners</strong></p><p>Motodromo Castelletto di Branduzzo, Garroni Design</p><p><strong><br></strong></p><p>The use of LFAM enabled the production of end-use full carbon fibre reinforced ABS bodywork directly from CAD, eliminating molds and most machining. The process halved development and build time, lowered one off production costs, reduced scrap, and enabled rapid iteration for custom racing car panels. <strong><br></strong></p>
5
TCT Consumer Product and Creative Application Award


From creative industries like film, theatre and architecture to the consumer products we use every day, designers rely on additive manufacturing to turn ideas into tangible reality. As AM adoption accelerates, it is enabling new aesthetics, smarter functionality and innovative production routes that push the boundaries of both artistic expression and product design.

Domino 3.0: Generated Living Structure

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>Caracol AM <strong></strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Partners</strong></p><p>Kengo Kuma &amp; Associates</p><p><strong><br></strong></p><p>Custom TPE joints for storm felled timber were produced on the Heron AM LFAM system, enabling flexible connectors tailored to irregular geometries without tooling. The approach cut fabrication time, reduced material waste, and delivered resilient, adaptive components for digitally assembled architectural structures.</p>

Recycled TPU Lattice Foam Cushions

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>EcoLattice</p><p><br></p><p>Recycled TPU lattice cushions were 3Dprinted using FDM to replace multigrade PU foams with a single digitally tuned structure. The approach enabled density variation without new tooling, cut material waste, and delivered customised pressure mapped comfort for circular, sustainable furniture applications.<br></p>

Gen1.0 Titanium Watch

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>Apiar</p><p><strong>Partners</strong></p><p>Apex Additive Technologies, Silvey Engineering</p><p><br></p><p>A titanium watch architecture was produced using Grade 23 titanium LPBF to realise previously structurally impossible geometries for the midcase, lugs, caseback and dial. AM cut tooling and machining constraints, delivering lightweight, optimised forms that enabled the watch’s performance, function and three dimensional design. <br></p>

PORTAL – Immersive Furniture

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>Caracol AM</p><p><strong>Partners</strong>&nbsp;</p><p>Decibel Made</p><p><br></p><p>An immersive furniture installation presented at Milan Design Week 2025 used the Heron AM LFAM platform to turn AI assisted sketches into full scale chairs printed in recycled rPETG and biobased polymers. The tooling free process cut production time, reduced waste, and enabled customised sculptural geometries. <br></p>

Tactile Braille Storybook

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>Singapore Institute of Technology</p><p><strong>Partners</strong></p><p>Tusitala, IC2PrepHouse</p><p><br></p><p>A 3Dprinted Tactile Braille storybook introduced interchangeable literacy plates and dual text Braille Neue layouts using multi-material FDM. Optimised for accessible materials and low cost printers, the design reduced production barriers and enabled scalable community manufacturing to support evolving literacy needs for visually impaired children. <br></p>
6
TCT Hardware Award – Non-polymer systems

The Hardware awards celebrate the very best of the enabling technologies themselves, and are split into two distinct areas, the first of which is non-polymer systems. This could include metals, ceramics, composites, biomaterials or any other material that is not solely a polymer.  We are looking for innovations which push the boundaries of current established systems.

ATO SPARQ

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>3D Lab</p><p><strong>Partners</strong></p><p>Arcway , 3D Lab</p><p><strong><br></strong></p><p>An ultrasonic atomizer system uses AI guided control to produce tuned metal powders from diverse feedstocks, including recycled materials. Multi-frequency modules enable PSD tailoring for different AM routes, cutting dependence on large MOQ powder purchases and allowing one operator to run multiple atomizers for scalable, on-demand production. <strong><br></strong></p>

Carmel Multi-Material Inkjet System

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>XJet 3D</p><p><br></p><p>The XJet Carmel Pro platform introduces a revolutionary 4-channel printhead configuration, enabling metal and ceramic multi-material printing. This innovation allows on-demand material switching without system downtime, seamless material gradients, and multi-material fusion within a single build. <br></p>

LAPIS: Hybrid Metal AM

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>Lapis</p><p><strong>Partners</strong></p><p> Nanyang Technological University</p><p><br></p><p>This sheet based LAPIS process creates fully dense metal parts by laser welding stacked sheets and cutting each layer, eliminating powder handling and specialised infrastructure. The powder free workflow improves stability, enables 50 µm internal features, and delivers high quality geometry without trapped material, reducing operational cost and complexity. <br></p>

M4 ONYX

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>EOS</p><p><strong>Partners</strong></p><p>Grenzebach, Volkmann, Siemens</p><p><strong><br></strong></p><p>The EOS M4 ONYX produced build uses a 6×400 W LPBF architecture to deliver stable large format metal parts with up to 50% higher throughput. Automated powder handling, &gt;90% powder recovery, and a 90% reduction in hazardous waste lowers operating costs and enables scalable industrial production. <strong><br></strong></p>

MetalFab 420K

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>Additive Industries<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>Partners</strong></p><p>Stoke Space</p><p><strong><br></strong></p><p>The MetalFab 420K uses four 1 kW full field lasers across a 420 × 420 × 400 mm volume to deliver high throughput metal parts without stitching. Automated calibration, &lt;50 ppm oxygen control, and fully enclosed powder handling improves quality, reduces downtime, and enables scalable, low maintenance production. <strong><br></strong></p>

MMJ ProX-Series

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>AMAREA Technology</p><p><strong>Partners</strong></p><p>Fraunhofer IKTS, esmo</p><p><strong><br></strong></p><p>This drop-based multi-material jetting platform processes highly filled feedstocks consisting of thermoplastic binder with homogeneously dispersed metal, ceramic, glass or composite powders. With up to six printheads the system enables functional gradients and intricate internal structures within a single build. <strong><br></strong></p>
6
TCT Hardware Award – Polymer systems

The Hardware awards celebrate the very best of the enabling technologies themselves, and are split into two distinct areas, the second of which is polymer systems. We are looking for 3D printing or additive manufacturing technologies which push the boundaries of polymer processing, bringing innovative improvements or entirely new technologies to the table.

Desktop 5-axis printing

Description
<p><strong>Entrant&nbsp;</strong></p><p>Generative Machine Company</p><p><strong>Partners</strong>&nbsp;</p><p>Aibuild, Autodesk, Duet3D, Hexaxes</p><p><br></p><p>A desktop 5-axis printer enables true multi-axis toolpaths and conformal deposition. The system cuts iteration time by allowing LFAM strategies to be tested without costly robotic cells, whilst enabling conformal deposition onto 3D surfaces, critical for soft materials and direct-write electronics on polymer parts. <br></p>

INDX

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>Bondtech<strong></strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Partner</strong></p><p>PRUSA Research</p><p><strong><br></strong></p><p>The INDX platform delivers wireless, contactless tool changes using induction heated passive toolheads, cutting heat up time and eliminating wiring complexity. Its adaptive dual drive extrusion improves reliability across polymers while isolating material paths enables fast, waste free swaps for efficient, multi-material AM workflows. <strong><br></strong></p>

Neo®800+

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>Stratasys</p><p><br></p><p>This redesigned stereolithography system demonstrates how precision scanning innovations can transform large-format production. Its 4W laser and ScanControl+™ technology deliver 50% faster builds, reduced postprocessing, and lower cost per part while maintaining high accuracy and repeatability. <br></p>

PostPro UP

Description
<p><strong>Entrant </strong></p><p> Additive Manufacturing Technologies</p><p><br></p><p>This automated modular unpacking system uses a self-blasting process that repurposes each build’s own powder as cleaning media, eliminating contamination. The system controls rotation, vibration and air frees parts while recovering material, with printer agnostic modules compatible with MJF, SLS and other platforms. <br></p>

RMS220

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>Raise3D</p><p><br></p><p>The RMS220 SLS printer offers a 75 W laser, 30,000 mm/s galvanometer and the largest build volume in its class, delivering performance beyond higher priced systems. An integrated nitrogen generator reduces operating costs, while fast cleaning features and a removable build chamber cut operator hours and downtime. <br></p>

RSPro800 X

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>UnionTech</p><p><br></p><p>This four laser SLA system showcases how coordinated beam control enables true seamless large format builds. Its cross-synchronised optics deliver up to 60% faster print speeds with ±0.1 mm accuracy, reduced setup time, and a high efficiency, low cost production workflow. <br></p>
6
TCT Healthcare Application Award

Healthcare is one of the most rewarding industries to be involved with, and the use of 3D technologies in this arena couldn’t be more fitting.  The ability to create bespoke, one-off parts from scanned data is perhaps more suited to this industry than any other. With the ever-evolving development of new materials, software and hardware, it is no wonder that this industry grasps the benefits of these technologies – and we can’t wait to see what innovative applications have been launched this year.  

Anvesa Patch

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar</p><p><strong>Partner</strong></p><p>Pandit Deendayal Energy University</p><p><br></p><p>A fully 3D printed sweat sensing patch integrates microfluidic channels and electrode architectures into one skin conformal structure. Additive manufacturing enables compact, low cost, waste efficient devices with rapid customisation, allowing non-invasive biomarker monitoring in a form factor impossible to achieve with conventional manufacturing. <br></p>

AtriCure cryoXT Distal Tip

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>Penn United Technologies</p><p><strong>Partner</strong></p><p>Atricure</p><p><br></p><p>A 3D printed prong shaped distal tip enables multi-surface freezing of large nerves by optimising cryogenic gas flow within a high pressure hollow structure. This geometry, achievable only through AM, delivers consistent nerve capture, efficient heat extraction, and a more reliable cryoablation procedure for postamputation pain management. <br></p>

Eyelid Surgery Training Models

Description
<p><strong>Entrant&nbsp;</strong></p><p>Stratasys</p><p><strong>Partner</strong></p><p>Addion</p><p><br></p><p>A 3D printed anatomical eyelid model replicates the layered behaviour of skin, muscle and fat with unprecedented realism. Built using Stratasys Digital Anatomy™ technology, it replaces cadaver and animal training with a portable, scalable system that enables repeatable practice of delicate eyelid procedures. <br></p>

Keratoprosthesis - Artificial Cornea Surgery

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>Singapore National Eye Centre</p><p><strong>Partner</strong></p><p>Temasek Polytechnic</p><p><br></p><p>A 3D printed artificial cornea replicates natural clarity while addressing key challenges in the OOKP procedure. Its Ti6Al4V anchoring component replaces the tooth normally required, enabling sub minute assembly, reduced surgical complexity, and a more accessible, scalable path to sight restoration. <br></p>

TALOS™ Tantalum Orthopedic Implant Platform

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>Croom Medical</p><p><strong>Partner</strong></p><p>Global Advanced Metals</p><p><br></p><p>TALOS™ is the first platform globally to enable consistent, scalable AM of tantalum for orthopedic implants. It produces dense and porous, bone‑like structures and hybrid tantalum‑on‑titanium parts, offering stronger fixation, custom patient‑specific designs, and far less material waste than traditional methods. </p>

Tracheostoma Seal

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>Department of Veterans Affairs - James A. Haley VA Hospital</p><p><br></p><p>A patient specific stoma seal was created by 3D scanning the anterior neck and printing an anatomically matched interface that fits deep skin folds. This additive manufactured design achieves an airtight peristomal seal, restoring effective tracheoesophageal voicing and improving daily communication and respiratory management. <br></p>
4
TCT Industrial Product Application Award

Industrial products work behind the scenes to keep our industries working. Whether it be factory automation equipment, farming tools or material handling machines, there is little that is not touched by an industrial designer.  3D technologies are being increasingly adopted by this sector to drive unique developments, and we look forward to discovering the industries best applications over the past year.

Ceramic-filled Injection Mold Inserts

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>Axtra3D</p><p><strong>Partners</strong></p><p>Forward AM, Becton Dickinson, LSI</p><p><br></p><p>Rapid printed mold inserts allowed medical device parts to be injection molded within hours instead of days, cutting tooling costs by over 90%. Using Hybrid PhotoSynthesis enabled fast design changes, high quality surfaces, and low volume production using standard engineering polymers. <br></p>

Generative Design LNG Vaporizer

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>EOS</p><p><strong>Partners</strong></p><p>IKM Flux, Jiskoot Solutions, Valland, Intertec, ToffeeX</p><p><br></p><p>A redesigned LNG vaporizer uses AM to merge heat transfer channels, insulation and mixing features into one compact, self-supporting part. Its optimised internal geometry provides stable, repeatable vaporization under cryogenic conditions and replaces complex multipart assemblies with a robust, maintenance friendly design. <br></p>

Hybrid Fixtures

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>General Motors</p><p><br></p><p>A hybrid fixture architecture combines AM printed contact surfaces with a CNC cut Flexible Fabrication frame. In-built elastic averaging connectors allow complex AM interfaces to deliver ±0.20 mm accuracy, cutting fixture lead time from 6–8 weeks to 14–21 days and reducing pilot costs by ~65%. <br></p>

nextGEN Turbine Blade Repairs

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>additiveStream4D</p><p><strong>Partner</strong></p><p>Hyphen Innovations, 3T additive manufacturing</p><p><br></p><p>A digital scan-to-repair workflow restores damaged turbine blades instead of replacing them, producing re-useable parts with improved vibration damping and longer fatigue life. The hybrid process delivers consistent, traceable repairs that cut waste, avoid new blade procurement, and extend service life across entire fleets. <br></p>
5
TCT Materials Award

3D printing and additive manufacturing processes would not succeed but for the development of appropriate materials for the job.  Though often under appreciated, the amount of science and innovation which goes into the development of materials for these processes can be astounding.  We would like to celebrate advancements in materials for additive manufacturing from polymers to metals, ceramics to composites, biomaterials and any other advanced material.

Cold Spray CP Ti Validated to Handbook Strength

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>Metal Powder Works</p><p><strong>Partner</strong></p><p>HAMR Industries</p><p><br></p><p>Independently validated CPTi powder achieves mechanical properties matching established aerospace handbook values when used in cold spray, confirming its performance and commercial readiness. This positions the powder as a scalable, cost efficient alternative to conventional atomized titanium in high value markets. <br></p>

Cu29 All-Metal Conductive Filament

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>Kupros</p><p><strong>Partners</strong></p><p>NSWC Crane</p><p><br></p><p>A new all metal FDM filament allows electronics to be printed directly into parts, replacing separate PCBs and wiring. Its conductivity is tens of thousands of percent higher than any other FDM filament and enables embedded circuits, antennas and power paths, cutting lead times from weeks to hours. <br></p>

EOS NickelAlloy 247

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong>&nbsp;</p><p>EOS</p><p><br></p><p>Alloy 247, long considered unprintable, is now a viable AM superalloy thanks to controlled LPBF beam shaping, advanced melt-pool control and optimised parameters. This breakthrough preserves the alloy’s high temperature strength and creep resistance, unlocking its use in extreme aerospace, energy and defence environments. <br></p>

Eurofer97 Low-Activation Steel for Fusion Energy

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>Globus Metal Powders</p><p><strong>Partners</strong></p><p>University of Southampton, University of Warwick</p><p><br></p><p>The first viable AM route for Eurofer97 was achieved by creating an ultraclean, low impurity powder and a process that produces fully dense, crack-free parts, plus a tailored heat treatment to unlock exceptional toughness. This innovation enables complex, high performance fusion components previously impossible to manufacture. <br></p>

P3™ Silicone 25A

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>Stratasys</p><p><strong>Partner</strong></p><p>Shin-Etsu</p><p><br></p><p>P3™ Silicone 25A enables true silicone parts to be 3D printed with the durability, elongation, tear strength and thermal stability of molded silicone. It delivers consistent, tooling-free production of seals, gaskets and flexible components with validated long term performance and shorter lead times. <br></p>
5
TCT Software Award

Software is the glue that binds together the various processes involved in turning an idea into a tangible product. From the ideation and design phase, through development, testing and validation, all the way to manufacture, end-use and end of life management, software is running the show. This award celebrates the most impactful innovations in any software which impacts product development using 3D printing and additive manufacturing.

CO-AM Brix

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>Materialise</p><p><strong>Partners</strong></p><p>Phits Insoles, Nikon SLM Solutions, EOS</p><p><br></p><p>CO-AM Brix is a universal low-code platform that lets AM teams design, automate, and optimize workflows across any machine or application. It speeds NPI, cuts manual effort, and improves quality by giving users instant feedback on cost, productivity, and build decisions. <br></p>

EOS Fingerprint

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>EOS</p><p><br></p><p>EOS Fingerprint applies automated Statistical Process Control (SPC) to AM by creating digital “fingerprints” of stable production jobs and comparing each new build against them. This early warning system improves consistency, boosts machine utilisation by up to 30%, and cuts QA and inspection effort by as much as 50%. <br></p>

Helm: Fleet Management Software

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>re:3D<br></p><p><strong>Partners</strong></p><p>RPS</p><p><br></p><p>Helm is an opensource web app that automatically discovers Klipper based printers on a network, enabling live monitoring and synchronized control of entire fleets from one page. It eliminates manual setup, supports unlimited devices, and provides a fast, scalable workflow for growing 3Dprinting operations. <br></p>

Phasio-AMIS Integrated Workflow

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>AMIS</p><p><strong>Partners</strong></p><p>Phasio</p><p><br></p><p>This integrated workflow links build preparation and production management in one plug-and-play system, cutting manual steps and scheduling time by up to 80%. It delivers optimized nesting, real time job coordination, and full traceability, enabling scalable, errorfree additive manufacturing across multiple technologies. <br></p>

RREQAM: Rapid Reverse Engineering & Qualification for AM

Description
<p><strong>Entrant</strong></p><p>Authentise</p><p><strong>Partner</strong></p><p>GKN Aerospace, Boeing</p><p><br></p><p>RREQAM unifies reverse engineering and qualification into one digital thread, converting legacy drawings into structured data and linking them directly to manufacturing and test workflows. It reduces manual handoffs, speeds validation, and delivers full traceability for recovering legacy parts or qualifying new AM processes. <br></p>