- ValCUN and AM-Flow are the two real success stories of 3DoP
- The 3DoP project has also produced results in terms of specific applications
- Of the total of € 33,5 million of investments announced, more then € 10 million ended up with 3DoP partners
More than €33.5 million in direct investments in additive manufacturing (and still counting); more than 60 European SMEs that have started working with the AM innovations developed by the partners. And an European AM ecosystem in which the partners of the 3DoP project have already set up 14 follow-up projects. In a nutshell, these are the results of the pan-European 3DoP project.
Samuel Tonneslan, project lead, presented these figures during the closing event of the largest European innovation project to date in the field of additive manufacturing. For him, the contact that has been made with more than 60 European SMEs through the open call is perhaps the most important result. “Because we have made these companies aware of the role that additive manufacturing can play for them. This awareness also broadened a strong European AM ecosystem.”
Working together in Europe
3DoP (3D printing Optimised Production) has been a special European project in several respects. If only because of its size: 33 partners from 8 countries. But also from the set-up: a bottom-up approach, driven by the demand of SMEs. And through the unique Work Package 6: SMEs, Innovation and Market Access, that helps attract investors for the innovations developed in the project. “The start was difficult. With 33 companies, 3DoP is a significant large project, but we need to work together in Europe to compete with the US and Asia. This project is a good example of that competition,” says Gert Claes, Senior Engineer Additive Manufacturing at Sirris, together with the Brainport Development coordinator.
Success stories
ValCUN and AM-Flow are the two real success stories of 3DoP. The Dutch company AM-Flow participated in two work packages to achieve automation solutions in the 3D printing industry. The company secured €2 million in sales during the project period. Stefan Rink, CEO: “That would not have been possible without the 3DoP project.” Thanks to the participation in the 3DoP project, ValCUN has been able to further develop the Minerva aluminum 3D printer from proof of concept to a machine that is now commercially available. At Formnext 2025, the new, improved printhead was presented that can be integrated into CNC machines, cobots and robots. The third success story is that of Opiliones: the Dutch 3D printer manufacturer has shown that the cost-effective 3D metal printer is a solution for tool-free production of single pieces and small series (up to 100 pieces) of metal parts.
Applications made ready for the market
The 3DoP project has also produced results in terms of specific applications; either the feasibility has been demonstrated, or products have been put on the market. The Dutch company Addcat has received the first order for an air purification system with a 3D printed catalyst as the heart of technological innovation. The Dutch startup has increased the TRL level from TRL 4 to TRL 9 during the project duration. Guaranteed, Valland and Trentino Sviluppo have shown that WAAM (Wire-Arc AM) is a sustainable technology for remanufacturing valuable tools. This saves raw materials, reduces costs and shortens lead time. The 3DOP project has provided solutions that enable the Italian company Phibo to improve the AM-production of metal dental prostheses, both in terms of quality and productivity. “We even think we can use the measurement data to predict when we will have to replace the tools in the milling machine,” says Marisa Engel of Phibo.
Attracting investors
A unique part of the project was Work Package 6, which was about connecting the 3DoP partners with potential investors. Samuel Tonneslan: “We wanted to break the gap between technology development and the market; increase investments in AM to bring the technology to the market.” At the closing meeting, the project leader announced that of the €33.5 million in investments that were announced, more than €10 million ended up with 3DoP’s partner companies. He expects this amount to increase. “With this project, we wanted to tackle the funding problem directly by providing the partners with the knowledge of how to seek funding and by linking companies to potential investors. With the right partners we succeeded.” 3DoP partner AM-Flow managed to attract new investors after the start of the project.
Broadening the European AM community
The scope of the 3DoP project goes beyond the 33 partners who have been intensively involved. The external platform, where part of the knowledge in the community is shared, has more than 200 external members. This platform will also remain online in 2026. More than the current 60 SMEs involved through the open call will also increase, expects Samuel Tonneslan. “There are still companies that want to board.” Because ultimately, cooperation is key to the further growth of additive manufacturing, notes Gert Claes: “We have hidden gems in Belgium. Cooperation makes the ecosystem in Belgium stronger as well as in the EU.” The fact that the partners have now formulated more than 14 new projects, with varying compositions, is a sign that the European AM community is aware of the need to work together across borders.
