What Happened
Formlabs, a leading 3D printing technology company, reported a record-breaking Q4 in 2025, with significant growth driven primarily by its Fuse series of selective laser sintering (SLS) printers. This milestone was covered by 3D Printing Industry. The Fuse printers are notable for their robust performance in industrial-scale production, which aligns closely with the rising trend of print farm automation and swarm-based additive manufacturing.
Why It Matters
The surge in demand for Fuse SLS printers highlights a broader shift in the 3D printing sector toward automated, scalable production environments. Print farm automation—where multiple printers operate collaboratively under centralized control—is becoming essential for manufacturers seeking to increase throughput, reduce manual intervention, and optimize resource usage. Formlabs’ success signals that such systems are moving beyond pilot projects into commercial viability, accelerating the adoption of swarm and collaborative printing technologies.
Technical Context
Swarm and collaborative printing refer to the coordinated operation of multiple 3D printers working in concert to complete complex or high-volume manufacturing tasks. This approach leverages networked control systems, real-time monitoring, and advanced scheduling algorithms to distribute print jobs efficiently across a farm of machines. The Fuse SLS printers contribute to this ecosystem by offering reliable, high-quality powder bed fusion capabilities suitable for batch production.
Print farm automation encompasses hardware integration, software orchestration, and data analytics to streamline workflows. Key enablers include IoT connectivity for remote printer management, AI-driven print queue optimization, and automated post-processing. While Formlabs has not disclosed specific details about their automation software stack, the growth trajectory suggests increasing investment in these areas.
Near-term Prediction Model
Based on current market signals and Formlabs’ Q4 performance, print farm automation in swarm and collaborative 3D printing is entering a commercial growth phase. Adoption will likely accelerate over the next 12-18 months as manufacturers seek scalable additive solutions to complement traditional production lines. However, challenges remain around standardization, interoperability, and workforce training.
What to Watch
- Announcements of integrated software platforms enabling seamless print farm orchestration.
- Expansion of Formlabs’ Fuse printer deployments in industrial settings.
- Emerging partnerships between hardware manufacturers and automation software providers.
- Development of industry standards for swarm printing communication protocols.
- Innovations in AI and machine learning applied to print queue management and quality control.