SME and TCT recognised leaders and innovators throughout the worldwide additive manufacturing (AM) {industry} through the colocated SME AM Awards and TCT Awards throughout “Celebrating AM Achievement.”
Held on the Omni Boston Lodge on the Seaport as a part of RAPID + TCT 2026, the occasion marked a first-time collaboration, bringing collectively two of the {industry}’s most prestigious AM awards applications to honour the folks, applied sciences and purposes shaping the way forward for manufacturing.
A Night time to Bear in mind
Winners had been recognised for his or her technical achievements and success in a variety of areas, together with supplies, {hardware}, software program, purposes, startups, innovators and particular person management, reflecting the depth and variety of at present’s AM ecosystem.
“These awards recognise extra than simply technical achievements – they honour perseverance, collaboration and imaginative and prescient,” mentioned Jeannine Kunz, Govt Director and CEO of SME. “The winners are unimaginable examples of the kind of pioneers and visionaries that our {industry} must drive the know-how ahead in partnership with the larger AM group.”
Duncan Wooden, CEO of TCT Group, added: “The night was a robust demonstration of what occurs when a worldwide {industry} pauses to have fun excellence. The TCT Awards have at all times been about shining a light-weight on progress and influence, and sharing that stage with the SME AM Awards elevated the expertise even additional. The caliber of winners this yr speaks volumes about how far additive manufacturing has come and the place it’s heading subsequent.”
Celebrating Lasting Affect
The night additionally featured presentation of every organisation’s high particular person honors. Two {industry} leaders had been recognised for his or her long-standing contributions and influence:
TCT Corridor of Fame Inductee – Joe Allison
The TCT Corridor of Fame 2026 recognises a person whose career-long contributions have basically formed the AM panorama – from early innovation and advocacy to industry-wide affect that continues to resonate at present. Joe Allison co‑based Stable Ideas in 1991, the place his improvement of {industry} first instruments dramatically expanded the usability and scalability of 3D printing. Below his management, Stable Ideas grew into the world’s largest provider of 3D printed components, accelerating {industry} adoption and setting new benchmarks for manufacturing grade additive manufacturing. At present, Joe continues to affect the sector as a founding member of 3D Ventures and CEO of Mild Large Studios.
Joe Allison (left) and Max Lobovsky (proper).
SME AM Trade Achievement Award Winner – Max Lobovsky
The SME AM Trade Achievement Award honours a person whose work has pushed important development and accelerated the adoption of additive manufacturing in significant, measurable methods. Max Lobovsky is the co-founder and CEO of Formlabs, which pioneered the brand new class {of professional} desktop 3D printing when it launched the world’s first inexpensive, highly effective desktop stereolithography 3D printer. Previous to beginning Formlabs, Max led the efforts at Fab@Dwelling, one of many {industry}’s earliest open-source 3D-printing initiatives, which has been instrumental in organising labs in faculties worldwide. He’s additionally a Forbes 30 Below 30 recipient and World Financial Discussion board Pioneer.
Honouring the Trade’s Greatest
Collectively, the winners showcase breakthroughs which are redefining manufacturing, enabling new purposes, and delivering measurable worth throughout {industry} sectors.
TCT Award winners embrace initiatives from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Martinrea Worldwide, Normal Motors, Stratasys, and Authentise. The full checklist of TCT Awards 2026 winners may be discovered right here.
SME Award winners embrace MatterWave, College of Delaware and Temple College, and Oak Ridge Nationwide Laboratory and companions. A PDF checklist of SME Additive Manufacturing Awards winners is offered right here.
Wanting Forward
“Celebrating AM Achievement” demonstrated the worth of collaboration throughout the additive manufacturing group. By co-locating the SME AM Awards and TCT Awards, SME and TCT created a unified platform that strengthens international connections and highlights {industry} progress.
As RAPID + TCT 2026 continues this week, the momentum from the night serves as a robust reminder that additive manufacturing is right here and is a major instrument for vital manufacturing purposes at present.
For extra info on the awards programmes and RAPID + TCT, go to www.rapid3devent.com.