For more than 90 years, SME has been a champion of North American manufacturing. As the nonprofit that represents the entire industrial ecosystem, elevating manufacturers, academia, and their communities, SME is committed to accelerating widespread adoption of manufacturing technologies and building the industry’s talent and capabilities. Its purpose is to advance manufacturing to ensure a resilient future for the industry.
That focus on the future is why SME has also been a champion of additive manufacturing’s potential since its earliest days. The first paper on additive manufacturing (AM) was presented at an SME research conference, introducing industrial 3D printing to the engineers and academics who have grown it into a key technology for modern manufacturing.
Since then, SME has invested heavily in nurturing AM throughout its evolution from laboratory prototypes to the once unthinkable number of applications it has today. One of the ways SME has supported the robust additive community is its creation and continued expansion of the RAPID + TCT annual conference and exhibition for 35 years. RAPID + TCT, produced in partnership with Rapid News Group, is North America’s premier event for AM and industrial 3D printing. It remains a must-attend platform for manufacturers from around the world to showcase the latest innovations and applications of the technology and for industry experts to share their knowledge across a variety of sectors.
“SME is committed to removing barriers to AM adoption,” said Angie Szerlong, SME group director, AM Series. “From the very start, when the idea was presented at our North American Manufacturing Research Conference, all the way up to today where a community of thousands connect at RAPID + TCT, SME’s belief in the potential of AM to transform the manufacturing ecosystem has never wavered.”
The RAPID + TCT conference, which is the largest ever in 2025, features more than 140 sessions over eight different tracks and offers attendees access to information on new developments as well as guidance on evaluating, adopting and optimizing AM technology for applications from consumer goods to mobility to health care.
“The conference is unmatched in terms of the knowledge and the insight manufacturing professionals are provided with to stay current with what’s happening with AM,” said Szerlong. “We rely on our RAPID + TCT Event Advisors, volunteers from across the industry, to ensure presentations and speakers deliver the most relevant, educational content. We are forever grateful for our community of dedicated volunteers.”
Many of the event advisors are part of SME’s AM Technical Community, a group of passionate industry experts dedicated to unlocking the full potential of AM, who dive deep into the technologies and processes that transform product development to bring innovative ideas to market quicker and more cost-effectively. SME also facilitates a Healthcare Additive Manufacturing Technical Advisory Team who identify challenges, develop resources and facilitate changes in support of anyone using AM for medical and/or biomedical applications. Both groups present lively panel discussions at the SME Theater on the RAPID + TCT show floor.
For those just starting out to the additive world, SME’s AM Emerging Professionals Committee hosts an annual career forum and hands-on networking session at RAPID + TCT, designed for emerging professionals eager to build meaningful industry connections, share knowledge, and unlock new opportunities.
Open to all on the Main Stage at RAPID + TCT, the Executive Perspectives Keynote Series features curated discussions among panels of industry experts and thought leaders in the AM space who explore industrial 3D printing’s present and future impacts across a variety of sectors.
“Part of serving this community is making sure that we provide a forum for industry leaders to offer their thoughts and what they’re thinking about when it comes to the future of AM,” said Szerlong. “The Executive Perspectives series offers exactly that: the perspectives of executives who are driving the technology forward.”
Opportunities to learn are around every corner at RAPID + TCT, including a course covering the foundations of AM followed by the Certified Additive Manufacturing Fundamentals (CAMF) exam. With a passing score of 70% or higher, individuals will be officially certified and may use the CAMF designation. Many students will get their first glimpse at modern manufacturing at the event, through the SME Education Foundation’s Bright Minds Student Summit. From guided show-floor tours and technology demonstrations, to keynote presentations and an interactive challenge, the experience fosters conversation between students and exhibitors, and validates student knowledge.
SME recognizes achievements in the field of additive manufacturing with its annual AM Awards, which are presented at RAPID + TCT each year. All awards celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of individuals, teams, and companies that have had a significant impact on commercializing AM. They represent more than two decades of SME recognition of notable, innovative leadership in the additive space.
“These awards recognize great minds in AM who are solving problems through implementing or deploying their achievements in production,” said Szerlong. “We also have our annual AM Pitchfest, where we give entrepreneurs, startups and academic spinoffs the opportunity to pitch their emerging technology, products and applications to an expert panel with the chance to win exhibit space and bring their idea to market at next year’s event.”
For 35 years, SME and RAPID have defined the crucial role of additive manufacturing and empowered the establishment of an industry that continues to conceive, test, improve and manufacture new products at a faster, more cost-efficient pace. For users and suppliers alike, the event is a destination for those who provide technology and those who need to understand, explore and adopt 3D printing, AM, 3D scanning, CAD/CAE metrology and inspection technologies.
