Steve Prahalis, Chief Operating Officer, SME
Detroit doesn’t just build things — it builds industries.
From the birth of the modern assembly line to today’s advanced manufacturing breakthroughs, Detroit has defined how the world produces and innovates. That legacy makes it the ideal location for RAPID + TCT 2025, where the best in additive manufacturing, 3D printing, and digital production will gather to push the industry forward.
This event isn’t landing here by coincidence. It’s happening in Detroit because this city is already driving the future of manufacturing.
The Manufacturing Engine of the U.S.
Southeast Michigan has always been a powerhouse of production. While automotive remains a dominant force, Detroit has evolved into a hub for aerospace, defense, robotics, medical devices, and advanced materials. Across these industries, additive manufacturing is enabling stronger, lighter, and more efficient products at unprecedented speeds.
At General Motors’ Additive Industrialization Center in Warren, engineers are integrating 3D printing into vehicle development, creating parts that improve performance while reducing costs and waste. Defense contractors are leveraging metal additive technologies for mission-critical applications — from hypersonic flight to advanced warfighter systems.
Beyond production, Detroit is home to key research and development institutions that push industrial innovation forward. LIFT, an advanced manufacturing institute in downtown Detroit, is pioneering new materials and workforce training programs to prepare the next generation of engineers and technicians.
RAPID + TCT 2025 will bring these industry leaders together in one place, making Detroit the epicenter of additive manufacturing’s next big leap.
A Little Help From Our Friends
This year, RAPID + TCT will run alongside three other major industry events — SME’s AeroDef Manufacturing, SAE’s WCX, and America Makes TRX. This strategic move makes Detroit the ultimate destination for advanced manufacturing, bringing together experts from automotive, aerospace, defense, and additive manufacturing under one roof.
AeroDef: The Future of Aerospace & Defense
AeroDef Manufacturing is the premier aerospace and defense manufacturing event, where industry leaders explore how additive manufacturing is revolutionizing aircraft and military applications. Attendees will see firsthand how AM is enhancing production efficiency, reducing weight, and strengthening mission-critical components.
WCX: Driving Innovation in Automotive & Mobility
SAE’s WEX is North America’s largest technical mobility event, where the latest in automotive and mobility technology is unveiled. With RAPID + TCT 2025 taking place alongside WCX, attendees will get exclusive access to how AM is transforming vehicle production, electrification, and next-gen transportation.
TRX: Shaping the Future of Additive Manufacturing
As a leading public-private partnership for AM technology and education, America Makes’ TRX provides a platform for research-driven discussions on AM applications across industries. Co-loading with RAPID + TCT 2025 means deeper insights, stronger collaboration, and more opportunities to shape the future of additive manufacturing.
With these events running in tandem, attendees will experience and unprecedented convergence of manufacturing expertise, making RAPID + TCT 2025 the most impactful edition yet.
Industry Leaders Seizing the Moment
Major players in additive manufacturing are making big moves leading into RAPID + TCT 2025.
EOS, with its U.S. headquarters in Metro Detroit, has spent decades building its presence in the Midwest — expanding each year and just recently developing its “Additive Minds Academy” training center that gives engineers hands-on training for both metal and polymer additive technology. “As an AM pioneer started in 1989, we continue to bring innovative machinery and new technology to the market,” said Patrick Boyd, Director of Marketing at EOS North America. “For us, RAPID + TCT is one of the most important AM shows we attend. Our entire team always looks forward to it each year. We often launch new machines, materials, educational services and so much more.”
This year at RAPID + TCT, EOS will unveil its new EOS P3 NEXT polymer machine to the North American market and showcase a massive AMCM M8K DMLS metal 800 x 800 x 1200 mm part.
But they won’t be alone.
From global powerhouses to innovative startups, companies will use RAPID + TCT to debut new materials, smarter software, and faster production technologies that are reshaping industrial supply chains.
The event offers a front-row seat to the latest breakthroughs in medical implants, lightweight aerospace structures, and customized automotive components — all made possible by additive manufacturing.
Beyond the Show Floor: A Deeper Industry Connection
For many in the industry, RAPID + TCT is more than an exhibition — it’s the biggest investment of the year. It’s where partnerships form, deals get done, and companies set their strategic direction.
Being in Detroit, the networking doesn’t stop when the doors of Huntington Place close. Manufacturers, suppliers, and industry leaders with facilities in the region can host on-site training, customer workshops, and user group meetings before, during, and after the show.
The Right Place, the Right Time
Detroit is ready. The city’s resurgence, its industrial muscle, and its high-tech future all align perfectly with RAPID + TCT’s mission — to showcase the next generation of manufacturing technology and move the industry forward.
Innovation happens where people take bold action. This year, the world’s top additive minds will come together in the city that’s been driving industrial progress for more than a century.
Detroit is fueling the future of additive manufacturing, and RAPID + TCT 2025 will set the pace. Register Today!