What Happened
At Formnext 2025, HP unveiled significant strides in additive manufacturing, showcasing an expanded portfolio, innovative new materials, and strengthened global collaborations. These advancements were highlighted in their official announcement (HP Drives Additive Manufacturing Adoption Through Portfolio Expansion, New Material Innovations and Global Collaborations at Formnext 2025).
Why It Matters
HP’s advancements are pivotal for the digital inventory and on-demand manufacturing sectors, which rely heavily on flexible, scalable 3D printing solutions. By expanding their additive manufacturing portfolio and introducing new materials, HP is addressing key challenges such as production speed, part quality, and material versatility. This progress supports the shift from traditional inventory storage to digital inventory models, where parts are produced as needed, reducing waste and inventory costs.
Technical Context
HP’s additive manufacturing technologies leverage advanced Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) capabilities, enabling high-resolution, durable parts with faster turnaround times compared to conventional methods. The new materials introduced at Formnext 2025 reportedly enhance mechanical properties, thermal resistance, and surface finishes, broadening the application scope from prototyping to functional end-use parts. Furthermore, HP’s global collaborations aim to integrate digital inventory management systems with their 3D printing platforms, streamlining the on-demand production workflow.
Near-term Prediction Model
The additive manufacturing innovations presented by HP are positioned in the commercial maturity stage, with expectations of broader industry adoption within the next 12 to 18 months. The impact on digital inventory strategies is projected to be significant, driven by improved material options and expanded production capabilities. However, challenges remain in scaling operations and integrating these technologies seamlessly into existing supply chains.
What to Watch
- Further announcements on HP’s material portfolio and their performance benchmarks.
- Case studies demonstrating integration of HP’s 3D printing tech with digital inventory platforms.
- Partnership developments that enable end-to-end digital inventory and on-demand workflows.
- Adoption rates across key industries such as automotive, aerospace, and healthcare.
- Advancements in post-processing technologies that complement HP’s additive manufacturing solutions.