# When Production Overtakes Prototyping: Materialise’s Next Phase of AM

- Show: [Additive Snack](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack)
- Published: 2026-10-13
- Length: 1h 02m
- Episode: 44
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-10-13-when-production-overtakes-prototyping-materialises-next-phase-of-am
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/912658ee

## Summary

Bart van der Schuren, CTO of Materialise, explains how the company transitioned from a 1995 service bureau to a production powerhouse, recently surpassing prototyping with serial manufacturing. He details the three pillars of Materialise—manufacturing, software, and medical applications—and highlights rapid adoption in hearing aids, dental, and drones, contrasted with the slow, recertification-heavy aerospace sector. Van der Schuren argues that AI-driven automation and in-situ quality control are critical for reducing New Product Introduction (NPI) costs and scaling production in regulated industries.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-10-13-when-production-overtakes-prototyping-materialises-next-phase-of-am#t=6) Introduction: Bart van der Schuren and Materialise's Milestone
- [1:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-10-13-when-production-overtakes-prototyping-materialises-next-phase-of-am#t=115) Bart's Origins in AM and University of Leuven Research
- [4:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-10-13-when-production-overtakes-prototyping-materialises-next-phase-of-am#t=285) Materialise's Early Model: From Service Bureau to Software
- [9:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-10-13-when-production-overtakes-prototyping-materialises-next-phase-of-am#t=560) The Three Pillars: Manufacturing, Software, and Medical
- [14:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-10-13-when-production-overtakes-prototyping-materialises-next-phase-of-am#t=882) From Prototypes to Parts: The Serial Production Milestone
- [20:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-10-13-when-production-overtakes-prototyping-materialises-next-phase-of-am#t=1242) Industries Driving Adoption: Hearing Aids, Dental, and Drones
- [23:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-10-13-when-production-overtakes-prototyping-materialises-next-phase-of-am#t=1410) Aerospace Slow Burn: Recertification and Disruptors
- [32:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-10-13-when-production-overtakes-prototyping-materialises-next-phase-of-am#t=1939) AI Driven Rapid Iteration and Mass Customization
- [36:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-10-13-when-production-overtakes-prototyping-materialises-next-phase-of-am#t=2211) Design AI Beyond Hype and In Situ Quality Control
- [45:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-10-13-when-production-overtakes-prototyping-materialises-next-phase-of-am#t=2705) NPI Costs, Scaling, and Materialise's Future Strategy

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Medical & health devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/medical-devices)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Materialise (company)
- KU Leuven (other)
- Siemens (company)
- Phonak (company)
- SpaceX (company)
- Boom Supersonic (company)
- Mimics (product)
- Magics (product)
- Quorum (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [AI's Role in Manufacturing Efficiency and NPI Success with Instrumental CEO Anna-Katrina Shedletsky](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-05-23-ais-role-in-manufacturing-efficiency-and-npi-success-with-instrumental-ceo-anna) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [S5E31 Jad Allam | Manufacturing Yields, Growing Young Engineers, & Engineering Analytics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-08-02-s5e31-jad-allam-manufacturing-yields-growing-young-engineers-engineering-analyti) (Being an Engineer)
- [When Legacy Thinking Gets in the Way of Manufacturing Innovation w/ Annie Lu](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-06-16-when-legacy-thinking-gets-in-the-way-of-manufacturing-innovation-w-annie-lu) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Following Your Passion in 3D Printing with Greg Paulsen](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-01-26-following-your-passion-in-3d-printing-with-greg-paulsen) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [How Design-First Thinking Supercharges Manufacturing Performance with Clarity Design Founder Tom Lupfer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-03-11-how-design-first-thinking-supercharges-manufacturing-performance-with-clarity-de) (EMS@C-LEVEL)

## Citing this page

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