From Fashion to Metal AM: Scaling Additive Manufacturing into Production

Additive Snack · 25 Mar 2026 · 58m · Episode 29

What this episode covers

Erin Mastroni, founder and president of I3D Manufacturing, explains how she transitioned from fashion trend forecasting to building one of the largest metal additive manufacturing contract manufacturers in the US. She details the company's evolution from a two-machine startup in Oregon to a 54-employee operation with two campuses, highlighting the pivotal role of early customer Blue Origin and the strategic acquisition by BTX Precision. Mastroni discusses the industry's shift from prototyping to production, the impact of private equity, and the emerging role of AI in optimizing powder usage and design.

Mentioned

Companies
I3D Manufacturing, Blue Origin, EOS, BTX Precision, L Squared Partners, NASA, Autodesk
Materials
Inconel, Titanium, Haynes

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