AddiWire

Additive manufacturing news and European prices, with independent expert commentary

Companies

Renishaw

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Research

Plastometrex pushes indentation testing as a coupon-free check for metal AM parts

Plastometrex says half its customers work in additive manufacturing and defence, using its indentation test to measure yield and tensile strength without printing test coupons. The method is now covered by ASTM E3499-25, which should ease the hesitation of conservative manufacturing engineers. Its CTO also reports property variation of 15 to almost 20 percent in metal AM parts, even when best practice is followed.

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Business

AM machine revenues up 31% in Q2 2026, with metal systems leading industrial growth

Market analyst Context reports that global additive manufacturing machine revenues rose 31% year on year in the second quarter of 2026. Industrial systems grew 40% in revenue, driven by metal powder bed fusion for defence, aerospace and consumer electronics, while entry-level machines grew 36%. Professional-class FDM systems declined, and signs of saturation are appearing among Chinese entry-level exports.

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