A sneak peek at an additive manufacturing industry event unlike any other.
As any experienced engineer knows, industry events are often little more than a connected series of sales pitches interspersed with some light networking. Ideally, they’ll include breakout sessions where you can actually sit down and learn something useful, but we’ve probably all had the experience of starting a workshop and quickly realizing that the person running it is more interested in getting your contact info than educating you.
The annual Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) Conference is the opposite of that. In contrast to many industry events, where the salespeople seem to outnumber engineers by 2:1 or more, the AMUG Conference is an event by additive manufacturing users for additive manufacturing users. It’s right there in the name!
This year’s AMUG Conference is coming up at the end of this month, running from March 30th to April 3rd in Chicago, IL. It will be the first year I have the opportunity to attend, and everyone I’ve spoken to about it thus far has told me that it’s an industry event unlike any other. To get a better sense of what to expect, I sat down with Ed Graham, AMUG’s director of education and conference.
engineering.com: How does this year’s conference compare with the ones from previous years?
Ed Graham: Well, the agenda is pretty much in line with what we’ve had in the past, but one thing that’s different is that we’re having a Diamond Sponsor Leadership Panel. We’ll have high-level executives—think C-suite representatives—from our sponsor companies on stage to field questions about the industry. We’ll ask where we are, what’s exciting, and other key topics, giving attendees an opportunity to hear insights directly from these leaders. This is the first time we’re doing a session like this on Monday morning, and it’s an exciting addition.
Regarding attendance, last year was a flat year for additive manufacturing, which raises some important questions we plan to discuss with diamond sponsors and industry experts. Our attendance will likely reflect some of those industry challenges. That said, a lower attendance isn’t necessarily a negative. In previous years, when attendance was lower, members found they had more valuable networking opportunities. With a smaller audience, deeper conversations can happen, leading to meaningful connections. I think a lot of our attendees will be pleasantly surprised.
What are you personally most excited about for this year’s conference?
For me, I love reconnecting with industry friends—catching up with everyone. These could be competitors, new technology developers, or long-time colleagues. Just being able to interact and network with like-minded people in additive manufacturing is always a highlight. At other shows, additive manufacturing isn’t always the primary focus, so it’s refreshing to be at an event where everyone speaks the same technical language. Our industry is full of acronyms, and it’s nice to engage with people who understand them without explanation.
So is it the socializing, the networking, or are there specific people you’re looking forward to learning from?
It’s definitely the networking. I always come away with little insights—what I call nuggets—that expand into something much bigger than I anticipated. Every year, that’s my biggest highlight. I also really enjoy the workshops. I like hands-on experiences, getting into the details, and working directly with new technologies. In the past, workshops were mostly held on Thursdays, but this year, we’ve spread them throughout the week. That way, attendees who leave early won’t miss out on those valuable sessions.
Was there a specific nugget from last year’s conference that stuck with you?
Yeah, one session that stood out was called “3D Printing After Dark.” Without getting into all the details, it focused on dyeing parts and vapor processing. There are a few companies working on these techniques, and I learned a lot about which dyes to use, what systems work best, and the optimal sequencing of post-processing steps. Should you post-process first or dye first? It was a valuable takeaway that I brought back to our team, and it improved our operations. That was my highlight from last year.
Interesting. That’s not a topic I’ve heard much about at other shows.
Yeah, because we’re a technical conference, we really get into the weeds. We do our best to vet every session to ensure they aren’t sales pitches. Presenters must submit detailed descriptions of their topics, which we carefully review to make sure they provide real technical value rather than just being marketing presentations. We prioritize having actual users present because we’re a user group first.
What can you tell me about the expected industry presence at the conference?
We have specific tracks dedicated to different industries. There are industry-focused tracks, materials-focused tracks, and technology-focused tracks, so attendees can find content tailored to their interests. We always see strong representation from aerospace, transportation, defense, and military sectors, which is why we dedicate an entire track to those industries. The medical sector also has a full track with specialized sessions and discussions.
We also have a casting track. While it’s not industry-specific, many industries utilize it. This track focuses on investment casting, sand casting, and how additive manufacturing accelerates metal casting processes, with sessions on printing ceramics for molds, printing sacrificial patterns for investment casting, and printing cope and drag boxes for sand casting.
What do you think will be the most valuable takeaway for attendees from this year’s conference?
Every attendee’s experience depends on how much they engage. There are so many technical sessions, workshops, and industry experts to network with. You can get as much or as little out of it as you want. If you sleep in all morning, you won’t gain much. But if you attend sessions and actively participate, you’ll walk away with valuable insights that can improve your workflow and operations.
One thing I’ve heard from multiple people is that this conference is an incredible networking opportunity, almost like a big party. Can you comment on the networking aspect this year?
Our big networking event is the special event dinner, which is typically a surprise. This year, we’re keeping it on-site instead of an off-site venue like a museum. One major reason is the long bus-loading process, which some attendees find exhausting. This year’s event will have a Western theme, and we encourage attendees to dress up—Bring a cowboy hat and boots! We’ll have entertainment, food, and surprises. Every night, there’s something happening, from networking receptions to casual social gatherings.
Do you have any advice for first-time attendees like me?
Get out of your room and engage with the conference! Talk to people, attend sessions, and make connections. We have a networking lunch called “Fishbowl Lunch” where you draw a ticket and sit at a randomly assigned table to encourage networking. Some companies send multiple people and want to sit together, but we encourage them to mix with others to maximize networking opportunities. The conference is designed to facilitate meaningful connections, and attendees always come away with a unique and valuable experience.
Visit the AMUG website to learn more and sign up today!
