Pillars of Additive Manufacturing: Materialise Founder among Inaugural Five Inducted to New 3D Print Hall of Fame

Selected by public vote and an expert panel at TCT, a specialist global publishing, events and AM advocacy group focused on Additive Manufacturing, the five inductees represent 'pioneers and innovators who have made significant contributions to the 3D technologies space'.

Commenting on the recognition, Fried said: 'First of all, I want to congratulate my fellow inductees: Adrian, Chuck, Hans, and Scott. They have made fantastic contributions to the development and creative deployment of additive manufacturing. Thanks to Materialise's backbone positioning, we have been able to work with each of them through partnerships, co-creations and many fruitful collaborations. The most important thing I've learnt in my 27 years in this industry is that, if we want to use 3D printing to truly change the world for the better, we can never go it alone. Which is why the five people honored last night should be seen not as outstanding individuals, but as representatives of a great community that has achieved great things together.'

Fried founded Materialise in 1990, with a mission to use the then nascent 3D printing technology to drive product development that results in a better and healthier world.
Right from the outset, Fried saw three main challenges - making better software, creating a quality 3D-printing service, and realizing the potential for medical applications.

Throughout the following decades, Materialise has been working to overcome all these challenges, always there to move the industry forward, always there to push the boundaries of what is possible.
Strong partnerships and collaborations, as well as an uncompromising ambition to create 3D printing applications that are meaningful have remained at the core of Materialise's business ever since.

In addition to Fried's induction to the Hall of Fame, Materialise has also won the coveted Industrial Product Application 2017 award for its co-creation work with Philips Lighting on the reinvention of tools for its light bulb production lines. The first two results of the collaboration, a bracket and a vacuum suction gripper, are saving Philips €89,000 per year, as well as reducing lead times for the tools from weeks to days.