It’s survival of the fittest 3D printed eyewear at MIDO 2025

The MIDO 2025 eyewear industry show welcomed thousands of visitors who streamed into the seven pavilions of Fiera Milano Rho. Buyers, distributors, opticians and eyewear professionals from around the world are here to seal business deals, open new channels and build relationships that will prove to be critical to business in the coming months. VoxelMatters visited to learn about the state of 3D printing adoption in the eyewear industry. Compared to previous editions, fewer companies openly focused on additive manufacturing; however, the present ones showed growth based on solid and innovative business models. Key AM operators at MIDO 2025 included AM technology providers, 3D printing service providers and creative designers.

For the eyewear industry, 3D printing represents a significant opportunity for prototyping and product development and a valuable solution for custom tooling in traditional workflows. Adoption as a production technology is limited by the overall unit numbers that the eyewear industry requires, the relatively simple geometries that characterize most eyewear products, and the need for high-quality finishes. Thus, the revenues generated by additive manufacturing in the eyewear segment still represent a negligible percentage of the global eyewear business. According to VoxelMatters’ latest study on the market for Additive Manufacturing of Consumer Products, 3D printing in the Eyewear Industry (including hardware, materials, external production services and parts such as prototypes, tools, components and final products produced internally by end-users) generated a total of $268 million in 2024.

However, the exceptionally high potential for additive manufacturing adoption in eyewear manufacturing, specifically for designer editions and increasingly large batches of final parts, will propel revenues to top $829 million globally by 2029. Key benefits of implementing 3D printing in the eyewear production process include rapid product development, mass customization and real sustainability through on-demand manufacturing. Despite many promises by major manufacturers, the eyewear industry remains among the most wasteful in consumer product manufacturing due to the large amounts of acetate products in outdated collections that cannot be reused or recycled.

Frames are the number one application for 3D printing in eyewear and are likely to soon grow to half a million frames produced by additive manufacturing yearly. While the volumes required by traditional eyewear market leaders such as Luxottica are too large to contemplate 3D printing for production, smaller companies and design studios find 3D printing ideal for implementing on-demand manufacturing and new design ideas for a few thousand units per year production batches.

In addition, according to a study from Siemens, 3D printing frames result in a 58 percent lower carbon footprint. At the same time, the possibility of producing on demand means that out-of-date designs (often made in non-recyclable acetate) don’t have to be wasted. While most eyewear frames are manufactured using biosourced nylon 11 from Arkema (made from castor oil), innovators such as Belgian company Hoet have also introduced titanium 3D printed frames.

Regarding the potential for AM companies, the eyewear industry thus remains a significant first adopter of 3D printing technologies for production. Because eyewear products are smaller than footwear and other consumer products, the volumes of materials involved are not as substantial; however, hundreds of thousands of frames are already being manufactured additively every year.

This transition is already underway, and the companies presenting as exhibitors at MIDO 2025 gave us a glimpse of what we can expect.

DWS and Sisma, targeting SLA and titanium eyewear production

DWS exhibited at MIDO for the first time after nearly two decades. The Italian company, specializing in advanced vat photopolymerization technologies and materials, has been at the forefront of AM development in jewelry and dentistry and now increasingly sees consumer products as a viable area for expansion. DWS’s SLA technology is already widely adopted as a solution for prototyping and tooling by the many consumer product and sports equipment companies based in the Italian Northeast.

Now, these companies see it as a possible solution for direct end-use parts production. One of these companies is Marcolin, a major eyewear manufacturer for brands such as adidas (Original and Sport), BMW, Guess, Max Mara, Tom Ford and several others. Marcolin presented the new adidas Sport line this year: “Innovative manufacturing techniques combined with high-quality, lightweight materials characterize the adidas Sport eyewear models.” While the company does not mention it specifically (only referring to “innovative manufacturing techniques”), and DWS did not confirm it, VoxelMatters suspects that some final components of the adidas Sport eyewear frames were 3D printed using DWS technologies and durable materials.

And that’s only the start. At their booth, DWS showed us foam-like materials that could produce frames that weigh only a few grams, acetate-like SLA materials for smooth surfaces and multi-color capabilities, and castable materials for original metal frame designs. All of these can be seen above and in the photogallery below.

Last year, Sisma, another Italian 3D printer manufacturer specializing in jewelry and dentistry, showed us a prototype for titanium frames printed via the MySint laser metal fusion system (metal L-PBF). The company took it one step further this year with Altera Stealth, a high-performance sports eyewear collection with frames incorporating aerospace-inspired leading-edge design.

Designed by Davide Librellotto, the Altera Stealth Eyewear is available in 3D printing in titanium or polymer materials. Its innovative Kinetic System is conceived for sports frames that need to fit prescription lenses. Thanks to the ALTERA KINETIC SYSTEM, the original Altera Stealth frame can fit any prescription lenses. The Kinetic System can adapt a 6-base frame into a 4-base frame, making it possible to center prescription lenses while providing the comfort of the 6-base frame enveloping design.

Under the Materialise umbrella

Via the partnership with Arkema on PA11, which leverages massive internal production capabilities, Materialise is the leader in 3D printed eyewear and the leading company that smaller eyewear design studios can use for production. Compared to previous MIDO editions, fewer small design studios that use 3D printing were exhibiting. Still, the present ones showed extensive selections of eyewear frame models and profitable business models. These ranged from the simple and stylish models from German company weareannu to the innovative designs by Rolf and parasyte, to custom capabilities available through the Materialise Eyewear Fitting Suite.

Launched two years ago at MIDO 2023, the Materialise Eyewear Fitting Suite brings a new level of personalization to optical retail, creating a seamless collaboration between opticians and customers. With advanced 3D technology, the suite helps identify the perfect frame size and style through best-fit recommendations while capturing facial measurements with medical-grade accuracy. This ensures a truly tailored experience for every customer. The process is simple and intuitive. A quick scanning leads to an easy-to-use interface that supports self-service and guided interactions. Once the ideal frame is selected, orders can be placed directly with just one click. Powered by proprietary fitting technology, the suite uses patented algorithms, virtual centration, and precise scanning to ensure each customer finds a frame that fits comfortably and looks great. The highly realistic virtual try-on experience, supported by accurate 3D rendering, lets customers see precisely how their eyewear will look before purchasing.

Retailers can also customize the app to match their branding, seamlessly integrating it into their store environment, from color schemes to logo placement. Additionally, the suite provides valuable insights, helping businesses track app usage, conversion rates, and frame size distribution to optimize their inventory.

Last year, I tested the Materialise Eyewear Fitting Suite at MIDO and received three custom frames from Materialise shortly thereafter. I got my lenses done and have been wearing those glasses since. They are the most comfortable, light and durable I have ever used. At the same time as I got the lenses done for my 3D printed glasses, I also purchased a pair of expensive ultra-light titanium frames, but I use those only on rare occasions. Whenever it comes down to choosing, I always opt for the 3D printed ones.

As mentioned earlier, Materialise is also the go-to service provider for most designers using 3D printing for frames. The most consolidated to date is probably weareannu, which uses 3D printing to create better frames that prioritize both function and style and sustainably serially manufacture them. Known for its lightweight, screwless frames, the brand focuses on innovation, durability, and comfort. Each pair is crafted precisely using high-quality materials like titanium and 3D printed nylon 11, ensuring a seamless fit and modern aesthetic. Among the ones seen at MIDO 2025, Rolf, a German company, uses a similar approach while parasyte uses 3D printing to experiment with some far-out designs.

Also on display at the Arkema booth, the BioFrame for Cyclists from ATTAAC is another interesting product 3D printed using Arkema Rilsan Polyamide 11 powders. This time, CIPRES GmbH provided the selective laser sintering 3D printing capabilities. This pioneering German 3D printing service provider was among the first to believe in end-use consumer products over a decade ago.

Like Materialise, Cipres offers companies specific support for 3D printing eyewear frames. Using SLS, the company can print over 100 unique frames within 24 hours, reducing development time and enabling demand-driven production. Frames are printed in white polyamide powder and refined through a meticulous process that includes tumbling for smooth edges, e-coloring for a vibrant finish, and chemical smoothing (via PostPro3D) or infiltration to enhance durability and protection against environmental factors. Cirpres also provides complete assembly services, ensuring seamless integration of frame components for a high-quality final product.

The BioFrame from ATTAAC weighs only 30 grams and is one of the lightest full-frame models in the market. It is made entirely with 100% biobased PA11, providing high performance, flexibility, durability, and a low carbon footprint. Even lenses use 39% agricultural waste, and accessories are made with 70% recycled PET. ATTAAC is also planting a tree for every pair sold.

Hoet and TPI, innovators with an eye on the US market

Finally, some companies exhibiting at MIDO 2025 genuinely stand out in the 3D printed eyewear market as the most innovative and forward-thinking ones. Belgian eyewear studio Hoet was the first company to truly serially manufacture eyewear using 3D printing over a decade ago, initially with polymers and later using titanium.

With 3D printing, Hoet has created high-end, lightweight frames combining elegance and cutting-edge technology. Collections include the Hoet Couture line, featuring titanium 3D printed designs with intricate detailing, and the Hoet Cabrio series, characterized by bold, futuristic aesthetics and crafted from polyamide. Now, Hoet is looking to leverage the unique advantage of additive manufacturing as a delocalized production process to establish production capabilities directly on the US market.

Dutch company TPI (Tech Print Industries) takes a radically different approach. It is structured as a global team of eye care professionals, designers, software engineers, and marketers dedicated to revolutionizing the eyewear industry through full-color 3D printing technology. By leveraging proprietary CAD software and a network of 3D printing hubs, TPI transforms 2D eyewear designs into printable 3D renderings at speeds four times faster than standard methods.

This approach allows limitless design possibilities, rapid production, and sustainable manufacturing without excess inventory. TPI collaborates with brands, manufacturers, retailers, and designers to bring innovative eyewear concepts to life, offering support at every stage of the design process. The latest high-profile collaborations have included designers such as Riccardo Cervio (Rel eyewear), Josep Muñoz Villar (Liq eyewear), Carmelo Di Termini (Raydiant eyewear), Alain Schutter and Ruben van Bodegom (EveryWear eyewear) and the latest collaboration for a kid’s eyewear line with French brand MINIMA.

For several years now, the company has been fine-tuning a production process that leverages HP’s (now out of production) 580 systems based on full-color MultiJet Fusion 3D printing technology. The company has acquired multiple machines and is now establishing a production hub in the US.

All these companies demonstrate many of the key benefits of AM for eyewear production. From DWS and Sisma introducing unique material capabilities with their technologies to Materialise’s mass customization and sustainable, on-demand serial production capabilities, all the way to delocalized manufacturing for custom designs. While mass manufacturers in the eyewear industry are still hesitating to adopt AM for mass production, there are many indications that we are just starting to scratch the surface of possibilities.