TCT 3Sixty, returns to the NEC Birmingham on 4–5 June 2025, bringing together more than 5,000 professionals for two days of live demonstrations, expert talks, and networking. Hosted by The TCT Group, the free-to-attend show is designed to offer a comprehensive look at how additive manufacturing technologies are being applied across the entire product lifecycle—from concept and design to production and post-processing. “There’s no other place in the UK where you’ll find this level of expertise, innovation, and real-world application of additive manufacturing technology under one roof. Whether you’re exploring AM for the first time or looking to optimize existing investments, TCT 3Sixty will deliver real value,” said Duncan Wood, CEO of The TCT Group. TCT 3Sixty ad. Photo via TCT 3Sixty Event Overview and What to Expect Now firmly established as one of the UK’s key industrial gatherings, the event is expected to attract over 5,000 professionals and more than 150 exhibitors, including names such as EOS, Formlabs, Trumpf, Additec, BMF, Carbon, Tri-Tech 3D, and Laser Lines. In addition to product demonstrations, the programme features keynote talks and panel discussions from organisations including the Ministry of Defence, Leonardo Helicopters, GKN Aerospace, Sartorius, and the Natural History Museum. TCT 3Sixty also provides access to several co-located industry shows—Med-Tech Innovation Expo, Subcon, Automechanika Birmingham, and Smart Manufacturing Week—allowing attendees to explore a wider cross-section of the UK’s advanced manufacturing sector. An event app is available to help visitors plan their schedule, connect with exhibitors, and access AI-powered content recommendations. Matthew Conley, Managing Director at Fullform, shared his experience from a previous edition. “Had an incredible experience at the TCT 3Sixty expo! The new AM tech is nothing short of amazing, achieving some crazy prints in ultra-fast times. Truly exciting to see where additive manufacturing is headed!” Exhibitors at TCT 3Sixty. Photo via TCT 3Sixty. 3D Printing Events and 3DPI on the road 3D printing events are keeping our reporters busy. In May, Belgium’s Flemish Brabant capital hosted the meeting of Materialise 3D Printing in Hospitals Forum 2025, which has become a key gathering for the medical 3D printing community since its launch in 2017. This year, 140 international healthcare professionals convened for two days of talks, workshops, and lively discussion on how Materialise’s software enhances patient care. The Forum’s opening day, hosted at Leuven’s historic Irish College, featured 16 presentations by 18 healthcare clinicians and medical 3D printing experts.  In April, 3DPI headed to Chicago where the global, volunteer-driven organization Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) also hosted its 37th annual AMUG Conference in Chicago, where six individuals were awarded the DINO (Distinguished Innovator Operator) Award. This recognition highlights their contributions, lasting impact, and support of AMUG and the additive manufacturing community. Honorees included Amy Alexander, Unit Head and Mechanical Development & Applied Computational Engineering at Mayo Clinic; Dan Braley, Senior Technical Fellow at Boeing Global Services; Ryan Kircher, Principal Additive Manufacturing Engineer at rms Company; Dallas Martin, Additive Manufacturing Engineer at Toyota; Patrick Gannon, Director of Production-Additive Manufacturing at Ricoh USA, Inc.; and Brennon White, Technology Specialist – Additive Manufacturing Design and Manufacturing at General Motors. Catch up with our reporting from the AMUG Conference here. Add your event to our free online 3D printing events guide. Take the 3DPI Reader Survey — shape the future of AM reporting in under 5 minutes. Who won the 2024 3D Printing Industry Awards? Subscribe to the3D Printing Industry newsletter to keep up with the latest 3D printing news. You can also follow us on LinkedIn, and subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry Youtube channel to access more exclusive content. Featured image shows Exhibitors at TCT 3Sixty. Photo via TCT 3Sixty. Paloma Duran Paloma Duran holds a BA in International Relations and an MA in Journalism. Specializing in writing, podcasting, and content and event creation, she works across politics, energy, mining, and technology. With a passion for global trends, Paloma is particularly interested in the impact of technology like 3D printing on shaping our future.

Inside Boston Children’s Hospital, 3D printing and digital planning are “transforming” pediatric care. The 156-year-old institution uses Materialise’s Mimics software to turn two-dimensional patient scans into detailed 3D models, streamlining preoperative planning and enhancing surgical outcomes.    Dr. David Hoganson, a pediatric cardiac surgeon at the Massachusetts-based health center, called 3D technology a “total game-changer” for clinicians. Speaking at the Materialise 3D Printing in Hospitals Forum 2025, he outlined his role in leading the hospital’s Cardiovascular 3D Modelling and Simulation Program. Mimics has become part of routine care at Boston Children’s Benderson Family Heart Center. Since 2018, the Program’s engineers and clinicians have created over 1,600 patient-specific 3D models. Last year alone, the team made 483 models, which accounted for about 50% of its Operating Room surgical cases.     During Materialise’s healthcare forum, I spoke with Dr. Hoganson about his unique path from biomedical engineering to clinical practice. The Temple University graduate outlined how 3D modeling is no longer a futuristic add-on but an essential tool transforming the precision and planning of modern surgery. He revealed the tangible benefits of Mimics modelling versus traditional medical imaging, emphasizing how intraoperative 3D planning can reduce heart surgery complications by up to 87%. Looking to the future of healthcare, Dr. Hoganson discussed the need for more seamless clinical integration, validation, and financial reimbursement to increase adoption.    Dr. David Hoganson speaking at the Materialise 3D Printing in Hospitals Forum 2025. Photo via Materialise. From the factory floor to the operating theater When Dr. Hoganson began his career, it wasn’t in an operating room but on the factory floor. He started as a biomedical engineer, developing cardiovascular medical devices for two years, before transitioning to medicine.  This pedigree has been instrumental in shaping Boston Children’s 3D Modeling and Simulation Program, which was co-founded by University of New Hampshire Mechanical Engineering graduate Dr. Peter Hammer. The team has grown to include 17 engineers and one clinical nurse. “It has been an engineering-focused effort from the beginning,” explained Dr. Hoganson. He emphasized that the team prioritizes using “advanced engineering analysis” to plan and conduct ultra-precise operations.  Dr. Hoganson believes this engineering focus challenges the structured nature of clinical medicine. “The mindset of medicine is much more focused on doing things the way we were taught,” he explains. In contrast, engineering embraces constant iteration, creating space for innovation and rethinking established practices. He argued that engineers are not “held back by the way medicine has always been done,” which makes them an invaluable asset in clinical settings. When engineers deeply understand clinical challenges and apply their analytical skills, they often uncover solutions that physicians may not have considered, he added. These range from optimized surgical workflows to entirely new approaches to preoperative planning. For Dr. Hoganson, the “secret sauce” lies in collaboration and ensuring “zero distance between the engineers and the problem.” Dr. David Hoganson speaking at the Materialise 3D Printing in Hospitals Forum 2025. Photo via Materialise. 3D printing and digital planning enhance surgical outcomes  In pediatric cardiac surgery, speed matters. According to Dr. Hoganson, this is why digital 3D modeling takes priority in pre-operative planning and intraoperative guidance. Materialise’s Mimics software streamlines this process. Users can import CT and MRI data, which is automatically transformed into detailed, interactive 3D models. Surgeons can then run simulations and apply computational fluid dynamics to forecast the most effective treatment strategies. Boston Children’s 3D simulation lead described these capabilities as offering “tremendous benefits” beyond what traditional imaging alone can provide. Traditional scans are viewed in stacks of two-dimensional slices. Whereas, Mimics 3D models offer virtual segmentation, interior views, and precise spatial mapping. Dr. Hoganson called this a “difference maker” and “totally transformational” for surgeons.  Dr. Hoganson’s team uses this technology to perform a range of complex cardiovascular repairs, such as reconstructing aortic and mitral valves, closing ventricular septal defects (VSDs), and augmenting blood vessels, including pulmonary arteries and aortas. Materialise Mimics’ value is not limited to preoperative preparation. It also guides surgical procedures. During operations, clinicians can interact with the models using repurposed gaming controllers, allowing them to explore and isolate anatomical features in the operating theater.  One key breakthrough has been identifying and mapping the heart’s electrical system, which governs its rhythm. By integrating 3D modelling into intraoperative planning, surgeons have significantly reduced the risk of heart block, where electrical signals are delayed as they pass through the organ. With the help of Mimics software, incidence rates have fallen from 40% to as low as 5% in some cases.      Given the advantages of digital modelling, surgeons might be tempted to sideline physical 3D printing altogether. However, Dr. Hoganson insists additive manufacturing remains vital to refining surgical workflows. His team conducts a “tremendous amount of 3D printing,” creating patient-specific anatomical models, mostly with a resin-based Formlabs system. These models allow clinicians to test and validate plans in the lab before donning their scrubs. Boston Children’s has sharpened its surgical edge by using materials that closely replicate the mechanical properties of target tissues. This allows the team to 3D print anatomical models tailored to each child’s size, age, and physical makeup. For instance, Dr. Hoganson’s team can fabricate neonatal-sized aortas and pulmonary arteries that replicate the texture and elasticity of an infant’s vessels. Developed over several years, this approach enables accurate simulation of complex procedures, such as patch enlargement of pulmonary arteries. The team conducts rigorous preclinical testing by combining anatomical precision with lifelike tissue mechanics.  Dr. Hoganson explained that in-depth testing is crucial for refining techniques, reducing surgical risk, and minimizing complications in pediatric patients. This, in turn, slashes healthcare costs as fewer children spend extended time in the ICU following procedures. 3D planning and simulation empower surgeons to “do things right the first time, so we can reduce those reinterventions and complications,” Dr. Hoganson added.         Dr. David Hoganson demonstrating cardiovascular 3D models at the Materialise 3D Printing in Hospitals Forum 2025. Photo by 3D Printing Industry. Overcoming challenges to adoption in hospitals    What key challenges are limiting clinical adoption of 3D technology? For Dr. Hoganson, cost remains a critical barrier. “Having the efforts reimbursed will be a very important piece of this,” he explained. “That enables teams to grow and have the manpower to do it,” when 3D planning is clinically necessary. In the US, medical reimbursement involves a long path to approval. But progress is being made. His team has started billing successfully for some aspects of the work, marking an “encouraging start” toward broader systemic change. Adoption also hinges on easier integration into existing workflows. Dr. Hoganson noted that if 3D technology adds efforts and time to procedures, it won’t be chosen over existing methods. Therefore, “the more streamlined you can make the whole process for the physician, the more likely they are to adopt it.”  In response to these demands, Boston Children’s 3D Modelling and Simulation Program has designed a system that feels familiar to surgeons. “It’s not just about providing the technical aspects of the 3D model,” added Dr. Hoganson. “It’s about integrating the whole process into the clinical workflow in a way that works for the clinician.”  His team works at the center of these efforts, ensuring “there’s almost no barrier of entry to find and use the model they need.” Dr. Hoganson claims to have simplified the process to the stage where it looks and feels like regular medical care, removing the mystique and misconceptions around 3D technology. “There’s nothing special about it anymore,” he added. “That’s been a huge step towards this technology being a part of routine medical care.”   Boston Children’s integration strategy is working. The team expects to use 3D models in around 60% of heart surgeries this year. However, making 3D technology a standard of care has not been easy. Dr. Horganson said, “It has taken a very diligent effort to remove those barriers.”  In the broader tech space, 3D printing has sometimes suffered from overpromising and underdelivering, a pattern Dr. David Hoganson is keen to avoid. “We’ve tried to be extremely transparent with what is and is not being delivered,” he added. That clarity is crucial for building trust. A 3D model alone, for instance, serves a vital but defined role: enhanced visualization and preoperative measurements. Hoganson emphasized that 3D printing is not a miracle cure, but another tool in a surgeon’s toolbox.  For Boston Children’s, the future of 3D printing in healthcare lies beyond static models. Dr. Horganson believes additive manufacturing will be a basis for “taking the next step and impacting how surgery is conducted, and how precisely and perfectly it’s done the first time.” Over the next eighteen months, Dr. Hoganson’s team will double down on demonstrating how preoperative 3D modeling translates into better surgical procedures. This will include measuring outcomes from surgeries using 3D technology and assessing whether predictions have matched surgical results. He believes validating outcomes will be an “important step forward” in moving 3D modeling from supportive technology to an indispensable clinical standard. The number of patient-specific digital 3D models created annually at Boston Children’s Hospital’s Benderson Family Heart Center since 2018. Photo by 3D Printing Industry. Take the 3DPI Reader Survey – shape the future of AM reporting in under 5 minutes. Read all the 3D printing news from RAPID + TCT 2025 Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to keep up with the latest 3D printing news.You can also follow us on LinkedIn, and subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry Youtube channel to access more exclusive content.Featured image shows Dr. David Hoganson speaking at the Materialise 3D Printing in Hospitals Forum 2025. Photo via Materialise.

May 19, 2025Ravie LakshmananMalware / Supply Chain Attack The official site for RVTools has been hacked to serve a compromised installer for the popular VMware environment reporting utility. "Robware.net and RVTools.com are currently offline. We are working expeditiously to restore service and appreciate your patience," the company said in a statement posted on its website. "Robware.net and RVTools.com are the only authorized and supported websites for RVTools software. Do not search for or download purported RVTools software from any other websites or sources." The development comes after security researcher Aidan Leon revealed that an infected version of the installer downloaded from the website was being used to sideload a malicious DLL that turned out to be a known malware loader called Bumblebee. It's currently not known how long the trojanized version of RVTools had been available for download and how many had installed it before the site was taken offline. In the interim, users are recommended to verify the installer's hash and review any execution of version.dll from user directories. The disclosure comes as it has come to light that the official software supplied with Procolored printers included a Delphi-based backdoor called XRed and a clipper malware dubbed SnipVex that's capable of substituting wallet addresses in the clipboard with that of a hard-coded address. Details of the malicious activity were first discovered by Cameron Coward, who is behind the YouTube channel Serial Hobbyism. XRed, believed to be active since at least 2019, comes with features to collect system information, log keystrokes, propagate via connected USB drives, and execute commands sent from an attacker-controlled server to capture screenshots, enumerate file systems and directories, download files, and delete files from the system. "[SnipVex] searches the clipboard for content that resembles a BTC address and replaces it with the attacker's address, such that cryptocurrency transactions will be diverted to the attacker," G DATA researcher Karsten Hahn, who further investigated the incident, said. But in an interesting twist, the malware infects .EXE files with the clipper functionality and makes use of an infection marker sequence – 0x0A 0x0B 0x0C – at the end to avoid re-infecting the files a second time. The wallet address in question has received 9.30857859 BTC (about $974,000) to date. Procolored has since acknowledged that the software packages were uploaded to the Mega file hosting service in October 2024 via USB drives and that the malware may have been introduced during this process. Software downloads are currently only available for F13 Pro, VF13 Pro, and V11 Pro products. "The malware's command-and-control server has been offline since February 2024," Hahn noted. "So it is not possible that XRed established a successful remote connection after that date. The accompanying clipbanker virus SnipVex is still a serious threat. Although transactions to the BTC address stopped on March 3, 2024, the file infection itself damages systems." Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter  and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post. SHARE    

The cobbled streets and centuries-old university halls of Leuven recently served as a picturesque backdrop for the Materialise 3D Printing in Hospitals Forum 2025. Belgium’s Flemish Brabant capital hosted the annual meeting, which has become a key gathering for the medical 3D printing community since its launch in 2017. This year, 140 international healthcare professionals convened for two days of talks, workshops, and lively discussion on how Materialise’s software enhances patient care. The Forum’s opening day, hosted at Leuven’s historic Irish College, featured 16 presentations by 18 healthcare clinicians and medical 3D printing experts.  While often described as the future of medicine, personalized healthcare has already become routine in many clinical settings. Speakers emphasized that 3D printing is no longer merely a “cool” innovation, but an essential tool that improves patient outcomes. “Personalized treatment is not just a vision for the future,” said Koen Peters, Executive Vice President Medical at Materialise. “It’s a reality we’re building together every day.” During the forum, practitioners and clinical engineers demonstrated the critical role of Materialise’s software in medical workflows. Presentations highlighted value across a wide range of procedures, from brain tumour removal and organ transplantation to the separation of conjoined twins and maxillofacial implant surgeries. Several use cases demonstrated how 3D technology can reduce surgery times by up to four times, enhance patient recovery, and cut hospital costs by almost £6,000 per case.      140 visitors attended the Materialise 3D Printing in Hospitals Forum 2025. Photo via Materialise. Digital simulation and 3D printing slash operating times  Headquartered a few miles outside Leuven’s medieval center, Materialise is a global leader in medical 3D printing and digital planning. Its Mimics software suite automatically converts CT and MRI scans into detailed 3D models. Clinicians use these tools to prepare for procedures, analyse anatomy, and create patient-specific models that enhance surgical planning. So far, Materialise software has supported more than 500,000 patients and analysed over 6 million medical scans. One case that generated notable interest among the Forum’s attendees was that of Lisa Ferrie and Jiten Parmar from Leeds General Infirmary. The pair worked alongside Asim Sheikh, a Consultant Skullbase and Neurovascular Neurosurgeon, to conduct the UK’s first “coach door osteotomy” on Ruvimbo Kaviya, a 40-year-old nurse from Leeds.  This novel keyhole surgery successfully removed a brain tumor from Kaviya’s cavernous sinus, a hard-to-reach area behind the eyes. Most surgeries of this kind require large incisions and the removal of substantial skull sections, resulting in extended recovery time and the risk of postoperative complications. Such an approach would have presented serious risks for removing Kaviya’s tumor, which “was in a complex area surrounded by a lot of nerves,” explained Parmar, a Consultant in Maxillofacial Surgery.    Instead, the Leeds-based team uses a minimally invasive technique that requires only a 1.5 cm incision near the side of Ravimbo’s eyelid. A small section of skull bone was then shifted sideways and backward, much like a coach door sliding open, to create an access point for tumor removal. Following the procedure, Ravimbo recovered in a matter of days and was left with only a 6 mm scar at the incision point.  Materialise software played a vital role in facilitating this novel procedure. Ferrie is a Biomedical Engineer and 3D Planning Service Lead at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. She used mimics to convert medical scans into digital 3D models of Ravimbo’s skull. This allowed her team to conduct “virtual surgical planning” and practice the procedure in three dimensions, “to see if it’s going to work as we expect.”  Ferrie also fabricated life-sized, polyjet 3D printed anatomical models of Ravimbo’s skull for more hands-on surgical preparation. Sheikh and Parmar used these models in the hospital’s cadaver lab to rehearse the procedure until they were confident of a successful outcome. This 3D printing-enabled approach has since been repeated for additional cases, unlocking a new standard of care for patients with previously inoperable brain tumors.  The impact of 3D planning is striking. Average operating times fell from 8-12 hours to just 2-3 hours, and average patient discharge times dropped from 7-10 days to 2-3 days. These efficiencies translated into cost savings of £1,780 to £5,758 per case, while additional surgical capacity generated an average of £11,226 in income per operating list. Jiten Parmar (right) and Lisa Ferrie (left) presenting at the Materialise 3D Printing in Hospitals Forum 2025. Photo via Materialise. Dr. Davide Curione also discussed the value of virtual planning and 3D printing for surgical procedures. Based at Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital in Rome, the radiologist’s team conducts 3D modeling, visualization, simulation, and 3D printing.  One case involved thoraco-omphalopagus twins joined at the chest and abdomen. Curione’s team 3D printed a multi-color anatomical model of the twins’ anatomy, which he called “the first of its kind for complexity in Italy.” Fabricated in transparent resin, the model offered a detailed view of the twins’ internal anatomy, including the rib cage, lungs, and cardiovascular system. Attention then turned to the liver. The team built a digital reconstruction to simulate the optimal resection planes for the general separation and the hepatic splitting procedure. This was followed by a second multi-colour 3D printed model highlighting the organ’s vascularisation. These resources improved surgical planning, cutting operating time by 30%, and enabled a successful separation, with no major complications reported two years post-operation. Dr. Davide Curione’s workflow for creating a 3D printed model of thoraco-omphalopagus twins using Mimics. Image via Frontiers in Physiology. VR-enabled surgery enhances organ transplants   Materialise’s Mimics software can also be used in extended reality (XR), allowing clinicians to interact more intuitively with 3D anatomical models and medical images. By using off-the-shelf virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) headsets, healthcare professionals can more closely examine complex structures in an immersive environment. Dr. David Sibřina is a Principal Researcher and Developer for the VRLab team at Prague’s Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKEM). He leads efforts to accelerate the clinical adoption of VR and AR in organ transplantation, surgical planning, and surgical guidance.  The former Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree explained that since 2016, IKEM’s 3D printing lab has focused on producing anatomical models to support liver and kidney donor programmes. His lab also fabricates 3D printed anatomical models of ventricles and aneurysms for clinical use.  However, Sibřina’s team recently became overwhelmed by high demand for physical models, with surgeons requesting additional 3D model processing options. This led Sibřina to create the IKEM VRLab, offering XR capabilities to help surgeons plan and conduct complex transplantation surgeries and resection procedures.      When turning to XR, Sibřina’s lab opted against adopting a ready-made software solution, instead developing its own from scratch. “The problem with some of the commercial solutions is capability and integration,” he explained. “The devices are incredibly difficult and expensive to integrate within medical systems, particularly in public hospitals.” He also pointed to user interface shortcomings and the lack of alignment with established medical protocols.  According to Sibřina, IKEM VRLab’s offering is a versatile and scalable VR system that is simple to use and customizable to different surgical disciplines. He described it as “Zoom for 3D planning,” enabling live virtual collaboration between medical professionals. It leverages joint CT and MRI acquisition models, developed with IKEM’s medical physicists and radiologists. Data from patient scans is converted into interactive digital reconstructions that can be leveraged for analysis and surgical planning.  IKEM VRLab also offers a virtual “Fitting Room,” which allows surgeons to assess whether a donor’s organ size matches the recipient’s body. A digital model is created for every deceased donor and live recipient’s body, enabling surgeons to perform the size allocation assessments.  Sibřina explained that this capability significantly reduces the number of recipients who would otherwise fail to be matched with a suitable donor. For example, 262 deceased liver donors have been processed for Fitting Room size allocations by IKEM VRLab. In 27 instances, the VR Fitting Room prevented potential recipients from being skipped in the waiting list based on standard biometrics, CT axis measurements, and BMI ratios.                          Overall, 941 patient-specific visualizations have been performed using Sibřina’s technology. 285 (28%) were for liver recipients, 311 (31%) for liver donors, and 299 (23%) for liver resection. Living liver donors account for 59 (6%) cases, and split/reduced donors for 21 (2%).           A forum attendee using Materialise’s Mimics software in augmented reality (AR). Photo via Materialise. Personalized healthcare: 3D printing implants and surgical guides  Beyond surgical planning and 3D visualisation, Materialise Mimics software supports the design and production of patient-specific implants and surgical guides. The company conducts healthcare contract manufacturing at its Leuven HQ and medical 3D printing facility in Plymouth, Michigan.  Hospitals can design patient-specific medical devices in-house or collaborate with Materialise’s clinical engineers to develop custom components. Materialise then 3D prints these devices and ships them for clinical use. The Belgian company, headed by CEO Brigitte de Vet-Veithen, produces around 280,000 custom medical instruments each year, with 160,000 destined for the US market. These include personalised titanium cranio-maxillofacial (CMF) implants for facial reconstruction and colour-coded surgical guides. Poole Hospital’s 3D specialists, Sian Campbell and Poppy Taylor-Crawford, shared how their team has adopted Materialise software to support complex CMF surgeries. Since acquiring the platform in 2022, they have developed digital workflows for planning and 3D printing patient-specific implants and surgical guides in 14 cases, particularly for facial reconstruction.  Campbell and Taylor-Crawford begin their workflow by importing patient CT and MRI data into Materialise’s Mimics Enlight CMF software. Automated tools handle initial segmentation, tumour resection planning, and the creation of cutting planes. For more complex cases involving fibula or scapula grafts, the team adapts these workflows to ensure precise alignment and fit of the bone graft within the defect. Next, the surgical plan and anatomical data are transferred to Materialise 3-matic, where the team designs patient-specific resection guides, reconstruction plates, and implants. These designs are refined through close collaboration with surgeons, incorporating feedback to optimise geometry and fit. Virtual fit checks verify guide accuracy, while further analysis ensures compatibility with surgical instruments and operating constraints. Once validated, the guides and implants are 3D printed for surgery. According to Campbell and Taylor-Crawford, these custom devices enable more accurate resections and implant placements. This improves surgical alignment and reduces theatre time by minimising intraoperative adjustments. An example of the cranio-maxillofacial implants and surgical guides 3D printed by Materialise. Photo by 3D Printing Industry Custom 3D printed implants are also fabricated at the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute in Bologna, Italy. Originally established as a motion analysis lab, the institute has expanded its expertise into surgical planning, biomechanical analysis, and now, personalized 3D printed implant design. Dr. Alberto Leardini, Director of the Movement Analysis Laboratory, described his team’s patient-specific implant workflow. They combine CT and MRI scans to identify bone defects and tumour locations. Clinical engineers then use this data to build digital models and plan resections. They also design cutting guides and custom implants tailored to each patient’s anatomy. These designs are refined in collaboration with surgeons before being outsourced to manufacturing partners for production. Importantly, this workflow internalizes design and planning phases. By hosting engineering and clinical teams together on-site, they aim to streamline decision-making and reduce lead times. Once the digital design is finalised, only the additive manufacturing step is outsourced, ensuring “zero distance” collaboration between teams.  Dr. Leardini emphasised that this approach improves clinical outcomes and promises economic benefits. While custom implants require more imaging and upfront planning, they reduce time in the operating theatre, shorten hospital stays, and minimise patient transfers.  After a full day of presentations inside the Irish College’s eighteenth-century chapel, the consensus was clear. 3D technology is not a niche capability reserved for high-end procedures, but a valuable tool enhancing everyday care for thousands of patients globally. From faster surgeries to cost savings and personalized treatments, hospitals are increasingly embedding 3D technology into routine care. Materialise’s software sits at the heart of this shift, enabling clinicians to deliver safer, smarter, and more efficient healthcare.  Take the 3DPI Reader Survey – shape the future of AM reporting in under 5 minutes. Read all the 3D printing news from RAPID + TCT 2025 Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to keep up with the latest 3D printing news.You can also follow us on LinkedIn, and subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry Youtube channel to access more exclusive content.Featured image shows 3D printed anatomical models at Materialise HQ in Leuven. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.