SME and owner of TCT GroupRapid News Publications Ltd, today announced the renewal of the strategic alliance which will see the organizations continue to produce the annual FAST + TST 3D manufacturing event in North America.

The two organizations have co-produced the industry-leading event since 2017, each combining more than three decades of insights and experience in accelerating the adoption and advancement of 3D manufacturing technologies.

The partnership will continue to leverage the collective knowledge of the SME and TCT industry, global networks, as well as several key strategic industry partnerships, to take RAPID+TCT to the next level in the years to come, cementing the position of the event as the largest and most influential additive manufacturing event in North America.

Emerging technologies such as additive manufacturing (3D printing) and other 3D technologies enable manufacturers to reduce time to market, produce stronger and lighter parts, improve efficiency, reduce waste, cost and emissions and create products and geometries that they could not create before. RAPID+TCT will improve understanding of the real benefits of using advanced manufacturing technologies and encourage more companies to adopt these technologies, which will improve their productivity and competitiveness.

“Our 30-year involvement in advancing additive manufacturing has made significant progress through our partnership with Rapid News,” said Robert Willig, Executive Director and CEO of SME. “Over the past five years we have seen the quality of the event, as well as the engagement of the AM community grow, which we attribute to our collaboration with Duncan and the TCT Group.”

“We are delighted to renew the agreement with our friends in Detroit,” said Duncan Wood, CEO of Rapid News Publications Ltd. “We have always wanted to build a lasting partnership with SME to grow this great event in the United States. Our missions are aligned and the vision that both organizations have at the leadership level is rooted in doing only what is best for the development of the additives industry in North America.

“As a partner, our job is to ensure that every manufacturing organization in North America is aware of the potential of additive technologies and we look forward to adding our experience, insights and media power to this effort in the years future.”

The next edition of the RAPID+ TCT event will take place May 17-19 at Huntingdon Place, Detroit, MI, USA

To learn more and to register, visit rapid3devent.com.

Want to discuss ? Join the conversation on the Discord of the global additive manufacturing community.

Get your FREE print subscription to TCT Magazine.