The Impact of Additive Manufacturing in Product Development

June 2, 2025
Audrey Yong

Why Additive Manufacturing Is Reshaping Product Development

In today's fast-paced innovation landscape, traditional manufacturing methods are being transformed by the power of Additive Manufacturing. Also known as industrial 3D printing, this technology is changing the way products are designed, developed, and brought to market. Discover how Additive Manufacturing is accelerating innovation — and why now is the right time to integrate it into your workflow.

A Shift from Traditional to Digital Manufacturing

Historically, product development relied on linear processes and conventional techniques such as injection moulding and CNC machining. While effective, these approaches come with limitations: high setup costs, long lead times, and rigid design constraints.

Additive Manufacturing breaks through these barriers. By building parts layer by layer from digital models, it enables unmatched design freedom, faster iterations, and the ability to produce complex geometries that were once too costly or technically unfeasible.

Key Benefits of Additive Manufacturing

Rapid Prototyping & Iteration
Additive Manufacturing dramatically reduces the time and cost associated with traditional prototyping. Designers can test and refine concepts quickly — without tooling delays.
👉 3D Systems’ ProX™ and Figure 4® platforms deliver high-fidelity prototypes with fine detail, helping teams accelerate development cycles and bring products to market faster.

Design Freedom & Complexity
Forget traditional tooling constraints. Additive Manufacturing enables you to create intricate internal structures, lightweight parts, and optimised geometries that maximise performance — all without compromising strength or detail.

Cost-Effective Small-Batch Production
For low-volume runs, AM reduces the need for costly moulds and setups.
👉 3D Systems’ Figure 4® technology is designed for efficient, high-quality small-batch production, making it ideal for short-run manufacturing of custom parts, prototypes, and specialised components.

Sustainable Manufacturing
Additive Manufacturing generates minimal waste by depositing only the material needed for each part. Many AM materials are also recyclable, contributing to a more sustainable and resource-efficient production process.

Why Choose Core Additive and 3D Systems

At Core Additive, we’re more than a supplier — we’re your additive manufacturing partner. As an authorised 3D Systems reseller, we bring the world’s most advanced industrial 3D printing technology directly to Australian businesses.

3D Systems is a global pioneer in the field, known for its precision, performance, and material versatility across a broad portfolio of technologies, including:

  • SLA (stereolithography) for ultra-fine detail and surface finish
  • SLS (selective laser sintering) for durable, functional parts
  • DMP (direct metal printing) for complex, production-grade metal components
  • Figure 4® for scalable, high-speed, and cost-effective polymer production

Whether you’re building intricate prototypes, production tooling, or functional end-use parts, 3D Systems delivers the speed, accuracy, and reliability your workflow demands.

Let’s Build the Future Together

Additive Manufacturing isn’t just a tool — it’s a strategic advantage. Partner with Core Additive and 3D Systems to unlock new levels of agility, innovation, and efficiency in your product development pipeline.

📩 Get in touch to explore the right solution for your business and take the first step toward the future of manufacturing.