For many manufacturers, the decision to bring additive manufacturing (AM) in-house requires a level of investment and expertise they’re often not ready to take on. For others, it’s a question of capacity — how to meet demand quickly without compromising quality.
That’s where service providers come in.
These companies offer more than just parts on demand. They provide access to industrial-grade technologies, highly specialized materials and the kind of engineering support that can turn a prototype into a production-ready component. And increasingly, they’re the reason AM is moving from the sidelines into the center of manufacturing strategy.
At RAPID + TCT 2025, the new Service Provider Pavilion puts these companies front and center. We spoke with four exhibitors — Fictiv, GoEngineer, Precision Resource and Synergeering Group — about their role in helping manufacturers adopt, scale and succeed with AM.
Fictiv: From Prototype to Production Partner
Fictiv started in 3D printing. Today, they support the entire product lifecycle with services that include CNC machining, injection molding, die casting, sheet metal fabrication and more. Their customers often work in high-stakes industries like aerospace, clean tech, automotive and medical devices — where speed and precision are non-negotiable.
“Speed is one of our biggest differentiators,” Tess Axsom, Product Marketing Manager at Fictiv told us. “We can deliver rapid CNC machined parts as fast as one day. Our 3D printing services deliver in 24 hours. And we have die casting with T1 samples in 10 to 14 days, which is hard to find anywhere else.”
But speed isn’t everything. Fictiv also helps companies navigate the challenges of scaling from prototype to production. They offer a new product development readiness assessment and BOM cost reduction services — both designed to help customers optimize their designs and move to market faster.
For smaller companies that may not have in-house manufacturing expertise, this kind of support makes a difference. “We work with innovators who are stuck in that ‘valley of death,’” said Axsom. “Too big for small-run prototyping, not big enough for high-volume contract manufacturing. That’s where we come in.”
GoEngineer: Solutions for the Full Lifecycle
GoEngineer has a bit of a different perspective as they view being a service provider as both an operational role and an educational one. “We’re in a unique position,” they told us. “Not only can we execute jobs, but we can train companies to streamline their production and get products to market faster.”
They offer solutions across the product lifecycle, backed by a team of more than 300 engineers. Whether a company is optimizing its design, solving manufacturing challenges or scaling production, GoEngineer provides a level of support that’s tailored and hands-on.
For them, RAPID + TCT is an important place to meet with both longtime partners and new innovators. “It brings everyone together under one roof — independent of industry,” they said. “That fosters relationships, sparks innovation and helps spread the message that AM belongs in mainstream manufacturing.”
At this year’s event, GoEngineer will be showcasing their latest offering — Bright Laser Technologies (BLT). A signal that, even as technology evolves, service providers can evolve alongside it.
Precision Resource: Built for Agility
Precision Resource sees the pace of AM evolution as both a challenge and an opportunity. “This is a disruptive industry, and it’s evolving faster than ever,” they said. “Service providers need to be nimble. You have to pivot quickly and react as the technology changes.”
Their model focuses on delivering end-to-end solutions — everything from AM production to subtractive machining and post-processing. They’ve built AM production cells that focus on specific alloys and processes, giving them greater flexibility and control over quality.
They believe the new Service Provider Pavilion at RAPID + TCT is a smart addition to the show. “It gives attendees direct access to companies that offer value-added solutions for post-AM production,” they said. “It’s a chance to see what’s possible and to collaborate directly with providers who can meet specific design requirements.”
Precision Resource is betting on service providers playing an even bigger role as AM moves toward broader adoption. “Events like RAPID + + TCT bring the manufacturing community together,” they said. “It’s where you get answers to your questions about design, production and finished products — all in one place.”
Synergeering Group: Closing Gaps When it Matters
For Synergeering Group, the role of a service provider comes down to solving urgent problems. They told us about a recent project where a Tier 1 automotive supplier was six months behind on its molds from China. The delay threatened to stop an entire vehicle line — and cost millions in penalties.
“They came to us because they had no other options,” they said. “We had samples to them the next day. Within ten days, they had 90 sets of functional parts.”
That speed isn’t just about machines, but experience. Synergeering has spent years refining proprietary materials and pushing the limits of their equipment to deliver production-quality parts on demand. “A lot of people have desktop printers for prototyping,” they said. “But nobody’s offering the materials we have. We’ve been running proprietary mixes on million-dollar machines for years. That’s the difference.”
Synergeering sees themselves as an essential bridge between prototyping and full-scale production. Even OEMs with in-house AM capabilities still rely on them — for overflow capacity, niche materials and fast turnaround when things don’t go according to plan.
“We’ve been servicing the Michigan automotive industry for 25 years,” they told us. “Having RAPID + TCT in Detroit this year? It’s the perfect opportunity to reconnect with local manufacturers and show what’s possible.”
Why Service Providers Matters
Whether you’re an OEM looking for overflow capacity, a Tier 1 supplier facing unexpected delays or an innovator trying to get to market, service providers offer a flexible, cost-effective way to leverage AM.
They bring expertise, speed and scalability — without the upfront investment of in-house production. And for companies that want to explore AM without committing to expensive equipment and training, service providers are often the first step.
At RAPID + TCT 2025, the Service Provider Pavilion highlights their growing role in the AM ecosystem. It’s a space to explore partnerships, ask technical questions and see firsthand how these companies are making AM more practical — and more scalable — than ever before.