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In this episode of AM Insider, we sit down with Christian Seidel, professor of additive manufacturing and consultant at Wohlers Associates (powered by ASTM International), to explore where the additive manufacturing industry is headed in 2026 and beyond.

Christian shares insider insights on AM market growth trends, why the industry continues to grow at ~10% annually, and how AI is transforming metal 3D printing, process optimization, beam shaping, and quality assurance. We also discuss the critical role of standards in scaling additive manufacturing, including why ISO and ASTM standards matter for production, defense, aerospace, and regulated industries.

Key topics include:

• The real state of the additive manufacturing market in 2026
• Why Powder Bed Fusion still dominates metal AM—and where DED is gaining ground
• How AI is being applied inside AM processes, not just data analysis
• Defense vs. non‑defense AM growth and market hype
• What skills the next generation of AM professionals must develop
• Why process chains, production readiness, and standards will define the next phase of AM adoption