---
title: "Materialise CEO outlines 2026 outlook as 3D printing moves into mainstream"
url: https://www.voxelmatters.com/learn-about-the-materialise-2026-outlook-from-ceo-brigitte-de-vet/
date: 2025-12-16
modified: 2025-12-15
lang: en
author: "Davide Sher"
description: "Additive manufacturing is entering a new stage of industrial maturity, according to Brigitte de Vet, chief executive officer of Belgium-based 3D printing company Materialise. In a 2026 outlook, de Vet..."
categories:
  - "Decision Makers"
  - "Executive Interviews"
  - "Trends 2026"
tags:
  - "top news"
image: https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/og-brigitte-de-vet-veithen-e1771500213242-640x595.jpg
word_count: 431
---

# Materialise CEO outlines 2026 outlook as 3D printing moves into mainstream

Additive manufacturing is entering a new stage of industrial maturity, according to Brigitte de Vet, chief executive officer of [Belgium-based 3D printing company Materialise](https://www.voxelmatters.directory/company/materialise/). In a 2026 outlook, de Vet said the technology’s impact is now defined less by possibility and more by measurable results across production, repair, and sustainability initiatives.

![Learn about the Materialise 2026 outlook from Brigitte de Vet and the measurable results of additive manufacturing today.](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/20170921_materialise_193.jpg)De Vet identified two primary forces driving this shift: global economic uncertainty, which is revealing AM’s value for supply chain resilience, and the growing mainstream adoption of accessible, high-quality 3D printers across industries and educational institutions.

## Supply chain resilience and defense adoption

De Vet said recent geopolitical instability and supply chain disruptions have underscored the advantages of additive manufacturing for flexibility and localized production. She cited Pratt & Whitney’s use of an additive repair process in its maintenance, repair, and overhaul operations for geared turbofan engines as an example of AM’s transition from short-term fixes to structural solutions.

Environmental pressure to reduce energy consumption and emissions is also accelerating adoption, she noted, as AM enables component consolidation and lighter, more efficient designs. The defense sector, meanwhile, is expanding its use of 3D printing both to accelerate development cycles and to extend the service life of legacy equipment through on-demand spare parts. These defense applications, de Vet said, are building trust in the technology’s reliability and are likely to influence aerospace manufacturers.

## Mainstream integration and AI-driven workflows

The second major accelerator, de Vet explained, is the growing availability of compact and affordable filament extrusion printers, which allow manufacturers to move from prototyping to end-part production. The same accessibility is broadening exposure among students and engineers, helping to embed AM knowledge early in professional development.

Artificial intelligence and generative design tools are further lowering barriers to entry, she said, by automating design optimization and simplifying complex workflows. This combination is enabling companies to balance in-house production with outsourcing to specialized partners.

In the medical field, hospitals are building in-house 3D labs for patient-specific devices but continue to rely on technology partners such as Materialise for scaling production under regulatory and quality requirements. Similar hybrid models are emerging in industrial sectors. Deutsche Bahn, for example, has produced more than 150,000 spare parts using both internal 3D printing capacity and external service providers, demonstrating reliability and cost efficiency in a highly regulated environment.

To conclude her 2026 outlook, the Materialise CEO described this balance between insourcing and outsourcing as a defining feature of AM’s next phase, allowing manufacturers to combine agility with deep domain expertise. She said the sector is now positioned for faster scaling, broader impact, and a permanent role within mainstream manufacturing.