In April 2025, I attended my first major additive manufacturing expo: RAPID + TCT in Detroit. What I saw there confirmed something I’ve long suspected—and it should concern anyone serious about America’s industrial future. Of the nearly 500 exhibitors at this premier event, a small fraction represented raw material suppliers. And among those, a significant portion hailed from China. They weren’t just present—they were dominating the space, handing out free samples of low-cost filament and resin, and fun printed takeaways, aggressively marketing their way into the North American supply chain.
As the Chief Information Officer of Project DIAMOnD, the largest distributed 3D printing network in the U.S., I see firsthand how transformative additive manufacturing is to small and mid-sized manufacturers. When I served as a Michigan State Representative during the COVID-19 pandemic, I saw how global supply chain dependencies crippled our ability to source basic components — especially in the automotive sector, where I had worked at Chrysler (FCA), helping integrate global product configuration systems across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
That combination of experience brought me to this point. And it’s why I’m sounding the alarm.
The U.S. additive manufacturing sector is setting itself up for the same trap that devastated so many other industries: overdependence on foreign inputs. We are dangerously reliant on materials, especially filaments, resins, and powders, that are predominantly sourced overseas. The low-cost strategies and aggressive pricing used by foreign suppliers, especially those from China, are driving American manufacturers into a perilous position. If geopolitical tensions rise or trade disruptions occur, our digital manufacturing future could stall for lack of feedstock. Unlike legacy manufacturing, 3D printing relies on highly specific materials tailored for specific machines and uses. You can’t just swap in another supplier overnight.
The path forward requires bold correction:
- Diversify sourcing: Industry leaders and government must invest in U.S.-based raw material R&D and production capacity. Polymer, resin, and metal powder development should be treated as strategic assets.
- Support domestic innovators: Small manufacturers and startups producing feedstocks should get procurement preference in public projects and defense contracts.
- Reshore digital production: Initiatives like Project DIAMOnD show the way. By giving small businesses access to industrial 3D printers, we are on the road to decentralizing capacity and insulating our economy from global shocks.
Additive manufacturing is too important to become just another outsourced industry. It’s the backbone of everything from aerospace to healthcare to automotive prototyping. If we don’t build the foundation—hardware, software, materials, and people—within a diverse and resilient ecosystem, we risk bottlenecks that no innovation can overcome.
This isn’t a matter of isolationism. I know from experience—both as an immigrant and an engineer who’s worked across hemispheres—that global collaboration powers innovation. But collaboration must be balanced with strategic independence. Let’s learn from the mistakes of the past.
We have the talent, the technology, and the tenacity. What we need now is the will. Let’s secure the 3D printing supply chain for a more resilient and self-reliant industrial future.
