Radar Companies 3D Printing · United Kingdom
Radar · 3D Printing in United Kingdom

Best 3D Printing Companies in United Kingdom

The 144 best 3D Printing companies in United Kingdom in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: Metalysis.

144companies tracked
$322.2Mdisclosed funding
0unicorns
38have raised

Tracking the best 3D Printing companies in the United Kingdom by disclosed equity funding, this directory covers 144 ventures that together have raised $322M, with Alloyed out front at $60M and Wayland Additive close behind at $30M. No unicorns yet, but the funding base is real and the investor roster, Europa, Mercia, EIC Fund, and Parkwalk, signals sustained institutional conviction. The global market was valued at roughly $22.9B in 2022 and is forecast to hit $186.4B by 2032 at a 21% CAGR, which means the UK cohort is building into a serious tailwind. Metal additive manufacturing is the theme I keep seeing cited across coverage this quarter, and it maps directly onto where the capital is going.

So what's actually moving the needle right now? Enterprise adoption is accelerating fast, and applications are expanding well beyond prototyping, from aerospace components to, as early UK clinical cases showed, facial reconstruction surgery. If you're mapping this sector, watch how government-backed demand drivers and large-scale industrial adoption keep pulling smaller specialists, think Fractory at $14M, into increasingly specialized niches. The opportunity here is broad, and it's moving fast.

Ranked: Best 3D Printing companies in United Kingdom

#CompanyDisclosed fundingLast roundEmployeesFounderTech stackPatents & IP focusRecent signals
1Metalysis
Metal Powders for 3D Printing
$90M98 mo ago19WordPressMySQLPHP+16256 patents
Electrochemical and molten‑salt reduction processes for producing metals and metal‑based materials
2Alloyed
Provider of advanced metal component manufacturing, materials, and metallurgy solutions
$60M15 mo ago49David Crudden
Co-Founder
WordPressMySQLPHP+26101 patents
Developing high-performance nickel, stainless, and aluminium alloys and metal additive manufacturing processes.
3Wayland Additive
Manufacturer of metal additive manufacturing systems using electron beam technology
$30M14 mo ago49Will Richardson
CEO
NginxHubSpotOpen Graph26 patents
Patents concentrated in transport & manufacturing processes
1 launch
4Additive Manufacturing Technologies
Manufacturer of post-processing tools for 3D printed objects
57Innovation top 25%Patents top 25%Moat top 29%Growth top 30%
All 9 signals ▾
Innovationtop 25%
Patentstop 25%
Moattop 29%
Growthtop 30%
Fundingtop 39%
Techtop 47%
Globalbottom 42%
Marketbottom 30%
Newsbottom 27%
Innovation: 104 patents (top 10% of patent-holders) · 54 filings since 2022 vs 50 in 2017-21
Patents: 104 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 54 filings since 2022 vs 50 in 2017-21
rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 57/100
$25M55 mo ago17WordPressApple iCloud MailMicrosoft 365+31104 patents
Advanced post‑processing and fire‑retardant treatments for polymer additive‑manufactured parts
5ioTech
Manufacturer of 3D laser printers for the electronic industry
$20M36 mo ago5Herve Javice
Co-Founder & CEO
WordPressMySQLPHP+20
6OxSyBio
Provider of 3D printing of tissue biomaterials for medical research and clinical applications
$16M100 mo ago21John Bayley
Co-Founder
7Fractory
Cloud-based platform for distributed manufacturing
50Tech top 23%Talent top 28%Funding top 35%Global bottom 45%
All 7 signals ▾
Techtop 23%
Talenttop 28%
Fundingtop 35%
Globalbottom 45%
Growthbottom 40%
Marketbottom 37%
Newsbottom 20%
Tech: 64 technologies across 6/8 capability areas · Cloud: Amazon Web Services
Talent: 3 named leaders on record · 3 C-suite/founder profiles curated
rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 50/100
$14M14 mo ago22Rein Torm
Co-Founder & CPO
WordPressMySQLPHP+291 partnership
8Geomiq
Provider of cloud and tech-enabled on-demand manufacturing services
60Tech top 20%Growth top 26%Funding top 44%Talent bottom 49%
All 6 signals ▾
Techtop 20%
Growthtop 26%
Fundingtop 44%
Talentbottom 49%
Marketbottom 39%
Globalbottom 39%
Tech: 64 technologies across 6/8 capability areas · Cloud: Cloudflare, Google Cloud
Growth: Headcount 17 → 29 (+71%) across vintages
rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 60/100
$14M41 mo ago29
29 → 59 (+103%) · sector median +54%
Sam Al-Mukhtar
Co-Founder & CEO
PrismicNode.jsVimeo+271 job opening · 1 launch
9AMFG
Cloud-based manufacturing execution system suite solutions
42Tech top 33%Innovation top 34%Product top 36%Moat top 39%
All 11 signals ▾
Techtop 33%
Innovationtop 34%
Producttop 36%
Moattop 39%
Fundingtop 45%
AItop 45%
Talentbottom 49%
Globalbottom 43%
Growthbottom 35%
Newsbottom 27%
Marketbottom 23%
Tech: 51 technologies across 5/8 capability areas · Cloud: Amazon Web Services, Cloudflare
Innovation: 4 product lines
rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 42/100
$10M43 mo ago3Keyvan Karimi
CEO
Cart FunctionalityWordPressUnbounce+30
10TOffeeAM
Provider of AI and cloud-based 3D model fixing software
$7M43 mo ago12Francesco Montomoli
Founder & CEO
1 launch
11Open Bionics
Manufactures robotic prosthetic hand
$7M89 mo ago32
32 → 58 (+81%) · sector median +54%
Samantha Payne
Co Founder and COO
WordPress Block EditorWordPressMySQL+2633 patents
advanced 3D‑printed low‑cost prosthetic hands with sensory feedback
124D Medicine
Company specializes in research, development, and commercialization of transformative gene therapeutic…
$4M22 mo agoAndrew Dove
Founder
WordPressMySQLPHP+1016 patents
Biodegradable polymer drug‑delivery resins and tunable biocompatible materials for medical applications
13MyMiniFactory
3D model online repository with pre-tested designs
$4M73 mo ago12Nebojsa Nikolic
CEO
RubyPHPRuby on Rails+18
14Skyrora
Manufacturer of 3D-printed launch vehicles for small payloads
$4M62 mo ago44
44 → 83 (+89%) · sector median +54%
Volodymyr Levykin
Founder and CEO
WordPressProton MailMicrosoft 365+128 patents
Patents concentrated in electrical & electronics
15Photocentric
Manufacturer of multiple 3D printing accessories
$3M43 mo ago193WordPressMySQLPHP+2659 patents
Multi-wavelength vat photopolymerization additive manufacturing for high‑resolution metal, ceramic, and polymer parts
16LSN Diffusion
3D printing metal powders developer
$2M88 mo ago101
17FDMDigitalSolutions
Online on demand manufacturing, 3D printing, scanning and finishing services
$2M124 mo ago7Graeme Bond
CEO (Technical Director) @ FDM Digital Solutions ltd - 3D Printing - Additive Manufacturing
18Matta
Developer of artificial intelligence to optimise and control manufacturing processes
35Talent top 38%Funding top 43%AI top 45%Tech bottom 46%
All 7 signals ▾
Talenttop 38%
Fundingtop 43%
AItop 45%
Techbottom 46%
Globalbottom 39%
Moatbottom 38%
Marketbottom 28%
Talent: 2 named leaders on record · 2 C-suite/founder profiles curated
Funding: Raised $1.7M across 2 rounds · 2 rounds over 2 yrs (1.0/yr)
rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 35/100
$2M6 mo agoSebastian Pattinson
Co-Founder
Webflow EcommerceWebflowGSAP+17
19Meta Additive
Provider of jetting technology-based 3D printers
$2M65 mo ago8Simon Scott
CEO & Managing Director
4 patents
3D printing of metal components and related powder processing methods
20MakieLab
Manufacturer and online retailer of internet-enabled 3D printed toys for kids
$2M131 mo ago19
21OSSTEC
Developer of regenerative orthopedic implants
$1M14 mo ago3Maxwell Munford
Founder & CEO
WixSentryBootstrap+1120 patents
Design and manufacturing of tibial and orthopedic implant components for joint replacement
22Insight Surgery
Provider of customized surgical services and products for workflow management
32Growth top 35%Talent top 38%Moat top 48%Tech bottom 48%
All 7 signals ▾
Growthtop 35%
Talenttop 38%
Moattop 48%
Techbottom 48%
Fundingbottom 41%
Globalbottom 30%
Marketbottom 26%
Growth: Fresh capital in last 24 mo
Talent: 2 named leaders on record · 2 C-suite/founder profiles curated
rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 32/100
$1M13 mo ago11
11 → 19 (+73%) · sector median +54%
Paul Fotheringham
Founder and Chief Technology Officer
WordPressMySQLPHP+152 job openings
23Fishy Filaments
Manufacturer of 3D printing filaments from recycled fishnets
$595K10 mo ago1Ian Falconer
Founder
WordPressMySQLRedis+294 patents
Plastic waste recycling equipment and processes for converting polymers into reusable filaments
24WonderLuk
Internet first brand offering customized fast-fashion 3D jewelry
$549K134 mo ago8Andre Schober
Co-Founder & CEO
25Taraz Metrology
Developer of additive manufacturing based 3D printers
$391K68 mo ago6Richard Leach
Founder
1 award
26Biome Bioplastics
Bio-degradable thermoplastic filaments
$359K69 mo ago14
14 → 18 (+29%) · sector median +54%
WordPressMySQLPHP+1760 patents
Biodegradable polymer fabrics and composites for sustainable material applications
1 partnership
27Rivelin Robotics
Developer of robotic technology for the manufacturing industry
$350K49 mo ago6Robert Bush
Founder & CEO
ReactAmazon Web ServicesNetlify+62 patents
Automated surface finishing for additive‑manufactured and near‑net‑shape components.
28WAAM3D
Provider of software for 3D printing
$275K75 mo ago23
23 → 31 (+35%) · sector median +54%
Filomeno Martina
CEO
WebflowYouTubecore-js+185 patents
Metal additive manufacturing processes with integrated surface cladding techniques.
2 partnerships
29Whispering Gibbon
Developer of 3D printing software for model fixing
$262K109 mo ago14 patents
Optimizing polygon mesh generation and preparation for additive manufacturing (3D printing).
303DCompare
Offers 3D print matching services
$189K83 mo ago5WordPressMySQLPHP+32
31Space Resources Laboratory
Provider of CubeSat subsystems, satellite integration, launch, and ground services
$121K44 mo ago5Subham Subham Gupta
Chief Executive Officer
32Collcap
3D printing cosmetic packaging
$114K140 mo ago2John McDermott
Founder
33PeptiGelDesign
Develops scaffold for tissue engineering
$112K105 mo agoAlberto Saiani
Co-Founder
34WaterScope
3D Printed water testing kit
$110K78 mo ago5Ben Trigg
Co Founder
5 patents
Nucleic acid extraction cartridges for liquid sample analysis
35EngX
Develops a 3D fabricator for additive manufacturing and electromechanical component assembly
$100K105 mo ago2Jack Pearson
Co-Founder & CEO

Top 12 3D Printing companies in United Kingdom

#1
Series B · Kidlington, England · founded 2017 · 49 employees
$59.6Mraised

Provider of advanced metal component manufacturing, materials, and metallurgy solutions. The company delivers performance enhancements for metal components using technologies in materials, processes, and design. It offers alloy development and production for traditional and additive manufacturing. The company provides process optimisation and control, ensuring precision and efficiency. It also offers end-to-end part production, from material development to final part creation.

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 13k LinkedIn followers — 3.8% of this cohort's audience
Hiring: 2 hiring posts in 12 mo (public) · hiring: AM Technician, Assembly & Test Technicians
Activity: 2 awards announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
  • Mar 2025Series B$47.9M
  • Nov 2021Series B$30M
  • Sep 2021Grant (prize money)$359.2K
  • Aug 2021Grant (prize money)$98.3K
Founders & team
David CruddenCo-FounderYilun GongCo-FounderFauzan AdzimanCo-Founder & Director
Investors
Europa, Development Bank of Japan, SPARX Group, Aviva Investors, Future Industry Ventures, JX Nippon Mining & Metals
Tech stack
AosApache Http ServerCdnjsCivicthemeCloudflareCloudflare Bot Management
#2
Series A · Huddersfield, England · founded 2019 · 49 employees
$29.6Mraised

Manufacturer of metal additive manufacturing systems using electron beam technology. The company's systems offer an alternative to laser-based and traditional electron beam systems. The technology provides control over material properties, allowing manufacturers to produce parts based on their requirements. The company aims to make electron beam additive manufacturing more accessible for various applications.

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 5k LinkedIn followers
Activity: 1 product launches announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
  • Apr 2025Series A$374.4K
  • May 2024Series A$7.5M
  • Nov 2023Series A$5.7M
  • Feb 2023Series A$5.7M
Founders & team
Will RichardsonCEO
Investors
Parkwalk, Longwall Venture Partners, Angel CoFund, ACF Investors, Metrea Discovery Partners, Ukri
Tech stack
HubspotNginxOpen Graph
#3
Series A · Manchester, England · founded 2017 · 22 employees
$14.3Mraised

Cloud-based platform for distributed manufacturing. It enables users to upload CAD files for metal fabrication quotes. It also offers solutions such as laser, plasma, flame, waterjet cutting, welding, etc. It provides a platform for learning concepts of engineering design. It provides CNC milling for generating prototypes, cutting, bending, and welding services for various industrial applications. It uses AI algorithms that enables engineers to upload CAD files, and the system matches them with a manufacturing partner based on factors like pricing, location, materials, and production method.

Fliar Intelligence Index™ 50how this company ranks against its industry peers
Tech
top 23%
Talent
top 28%
Funding
top 35%
Global
bottom 45%
Growth
bottom 40%
Market
bottom 37%
Tech: 64 technologies across 6/8 capability areas · Cloud: Amazon Web Services · Devops: Varnish
Talent: 3 named leaders on record · 3 C-suite/founder profiles curated
Funding: Raised $14.3M across 4 rounds · 4 rounds over 9 yrs (0.4/yr) · Last round Series A (Apr 2025)
Audience (LinkedIn): 5k LinkedIn followers
Hiring (LinkedIn): 3 hiring posts in 12 mo (public) · momentum -2 · hiring: Senior Analytics Engineer, People Operations Manager
Activity (LinkedIn): 1 partnerships · 1 expansions (incl. kabkin GmbH & Co. KG) announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
  • Apr 2025Series A
  • Sep 2024Series A
  • Nov 2023Series A$5.1M
  • Jul 2022Venture Debt$4.1M
Founders & team
Rein TormCo-Founder & CPOJoosep MerelahtCo-Founder & Chief Business Development OfficerMartin VaresCo-Founder & COO
Investors
Kreos Capital, Kvanted, Superhero Capital, OTB Ventures, Trind VC, United Angels VC
Tech stack
Amazon Web ServicesAnimate.CssApache Http ServerBabelCookiebotCore-Js
#4
Seed · Cambridge, England · founded 2019
$1.7Mraised

Developer of artificial intelligence to optimise and control manufacturing processes. The AI models detect defects, optimise processes, and evaluate equipment health. The AI empowers manufacturers with automation and unlocks new capabilities for machine makers. The AI copilots track operations, find and locate anomalies, and generate reports.

Fliar Intelligence Index™ 35how this company ranks against its industry peers
Talent
top 38%
Funding
top 43%
AI
top 45%
Tech
bottom 46%
Global
bottom 39%
Moat
bottom 38%
Talent: 2 named leaders on record · 2 C-suite/founder profiles curated
Funding: Raised $1.7M across 2 rounds · 2 rounds over 2 yrs (1.0/yr) · Last round Seed (Dec 2025)
AI: Product described with: artificial intelligence
Audience (LinkedIn): 5k LinkedIn followers
Funding rounds
  • Dec 2025Grant (prize money)
  • Dec 2025Seed$14M
  • Mar 2024Seed$1.7M
Founders & team
Sebastian PattinsonCo-FounderDouglas BrionCo-Founder & CEO
Investors
Lakestar, Giant Ventures, Redseed, InMotion Ventures, 1st Kind, Unruly Capital
#5
Seed · Penzance, Cornwall · founded 2017 · 1 employees
$594.8Kraised

Manufacturer of 3D printing filaments from recycled fishnets. It recycles marine plastics especially fishing nets into 3D printing filament. It also develops a carbon-fiber-enhanced version of nylon filaments using the local boat and board-building wastes. The second filament material under development is made from large polyethylene trawl nets. The last filament, which is still at a conceptual stage is a dissolvable 3D printing material.

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 1k LinkedIn followers
Funding rounds
  • Aug 2025Seed$292.6K
  • Oct 2024Seed$243.8K
  • Jun 2024Conventional Debt$137K
  • Nov 2023Seed$116.4K
Founders & team
Ian FalconerFounder
Investors
SWIG Finance, Crowdcube
#6
Series A · Liverpool, England · founded 2015 · 11 employees
$1.5Mraised

Provider of customized surgical services and products for workflow management. The company has developed a cloud-based digital technology called 'WebInsight Surgery' that can transmit sterilizable surgical instructions and anatomical models, receive patient images, and digitally plan and visualize surgeries. They also provide a selection of digital services and products that assist with patient outcomes and point-of-care solutions.

Fliar Intelligence Index™ 32how this company ranks against its industry peers
Growth
top 35%
Talent
top 38%
Moat
top 48%
Tech
bottom 48%
Funding
bottom 41%
Global
bottom 30%
Growth: Fresh capital in last 24 mo
Talent: 2 named leaders on record · 2 C-suite/founder profiles curated
Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 5/10 · 10 curated direct competitors tracked
Audience (LinkedIn): 4k LinkedIn followers
Hiring (LinkedIn): 2 hiring posts in 12 mo (public) · momentum +2 · hiring: Biomedical Engineer, 3D Print Technician
Funding rounds
  • May 2025Series A$2.5M
  • Mar 2020Series A$1.5M
  • Jan 2018Series A$678.1K
  • 2016Seed
Founders & team
Paul FotheringhamFounder and Chief Technology OfficerHenry PinchbeckCEO
Investors
Fenwall Investments, Nodenza Venture Partners
Tech stack
Amazon Web ServicesAutomatic.CssBricksComplianzGoogle AnalyticsHttp/3
#7
Series A · London, England · founded 2021 · 3 employees
$1.5Mraised

Developer of regenerative orthopedic implants. The company specializes in bone healing technology and offers partial knee implants that stimulate long-term bone growth.

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 2k LinkedIn followers
Funding rounds
  • Apr 2025Series A$3.2M
  • Apr 2023Seed$1.5M
Founders & team
Maxwell MunfordFounder & CEO
Investors
SFC Capital, Oxford Innovation Finance, Science Angel Syndicate, Parkwalk, Embryo Ventures, Imperial Enterprise Lab
Tech stack
BootstrapGoogle CloudGoogle Cloud CdnGoogle WorkspaceGsapHsts
#8
Series A · Birmingham, England · founded 2018
$4.4Mraised

4D Medicine is a company focused on developing and commercializing transformative gene therapeutic products for serious unmet medical conditions. They have two subsidiaries that are dedicated to research, development, and commercialization of new levels of non-invasive, quantitative lung function imaging and analysis technology.

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 2k LinkedIn followers
Activity: 1 partnerships (incl. Global Nerve Foundation) announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
  • Jul 2024Series A$4.4M
  • Jul 2021Seed$2.2M
Founders & team
Andrew DoveFounderPhil SmithCEO
Investors
DSW Ventures, SFC Capital, Boundary Capital Partners, Oshen, Midlands Engine Investment Fund, Mercia
Tech stack
ElementorHttp/3LitespeedLitespeed CacheMicrosoft 365Mysql
#9
Seed · London, England · founded 2016 · 5 employees
$19.6Mraised

Manufacturer of 3D laser printers for the electronic industry. It uses single and multiple high-viscosity materials including polymers, metals, ceramics and bio-materials. Its 3D printers are used in biomedical, dental, electronics and industrial deposition applications.

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 2k LinkedIn followers
Funding rounds
  • Jun 2023Seed$10.3M
  • Apr 2022Seed$1.4M
  • Jun 2021Seed$1.6M
  • Apr 2020Seed$661.5K
Founders & team
Herve JaviceCo-Founder & CEOMichael ZenouCo-Founder & CTO
Investors
Henkel Tech Ventures, ASMPT, Pegasus Tech Ventures, BIF Partners, Bif gmbh, BIF
Tech stack
CloudflareCloudflare Bot ManagementCore-JsElementorGoogle Tag ManagerHello Elementor
#10
Acquired · Rotherham, England · founded 2003 · 19 employees
$90.3Mraised

Metalysis, a spin-off from Cambridge University, develops ground-breaking technologies in metals space. Their technology offer both economic and environmental benefits over traditional metal production methods by introducing metal oxides into a molten salt bath where it is electrolysed to form metal powders. Currently produces tantalum and titanium and working with commercial partners to test the suitability of powders for a range of applications including 3D printing.

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 3k LinkedIn followers
Funding rounds
  • Mar 2018Series E$17M
  • Feb 2016Series E$28.6M
  • Jun 2009Series D$6.9M
  • Jul 2007Series C$27M
Investors
3i Group, Cambridge Capital Group, Chord Capital, ETF Partners, Cody Gate Ventures, Seven Spires
Tech stack
Anime.JsContact Form 7GodaddyGoogle AnalyticsGoogle Font ApiJquery
#11
Series A · London, England · founded 2016 · 29 employees
$13.5Mraised

Provider of cloud and tech-enabled on-demand manufacturing services. It offers web-based software that allows users to upload product designs, add notes, quote for service, view real-time order status, and order details management. The services offerings include CNC machining, injection modeling, 3D printing, and sheet metal.

Fliar Intelligence Index™ 60how this company ranks against its industry peers
Tech
top 20%
Growth
top 26%
Funding
top 44%
Talent
bottom 49%
Market
bottom 39%
Global
bottom 39%
Tech: 64 technologies across 6/8 capability areas · Cloud: Cloudflare, Google Cloud · Devops: Varnish
Growth: Headcount 17 → 29 (+71%) across vintages
Funding: Raised $13.5M across 4 rounds · 4 rounds over 8 yrs (0.5/yr) · Last round Series A (Jan 2023)
Audience (LinkedIn): 11k LinkedIn followers — 3.5% of this cohort's audience
Hiring (LinkedIn): 4 hiring posts in 12 mo (public) · momentum +0 · hiring: Account Manager, Account Executive
Activity (LinkedIn): 1 product launches announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
  • Jan 2023Series A$928.9K
  • Jul 2022Series A$8.5M
  • Apr 2021Seed$3.4M
  • Oct 2018Seed$653.7K
Founders & team
Sam Al-MukhtarCo-Founder & CEO
Investors
Samaipata, Sova VC, Fuel Ventures, Tekton Ventures, Eka Ventures, Seneca
Tech stack
AceAhoyAnimate.CssCloudflareCloudflare Bot ManagementCore-Js
#12
Series B · Sheffield, England · founded 2017 · 17 employees
$25Mraised

Additive is a manufacturer of post-processing tools for 3D printed objects. The company offers products such as PostPro®Mini, PostPro®3D, PostPro®3D PRO, PostPro®DP, and PostPro®DP PRO. It has partnered with Mitsubishi Electric, Innovate UK, Foresight, and DSM.

Fliar Intelligence Index™ 57how this company ranks against its industry peers
Innovation
top 25%
Patents
top 25%
Moat
top 29%
Growth
top 30%
Funding
top 39%
Tech
top 47%
Innovation: 104 patents (top 10% of patent-holders) · 54 filings since 2022 vs 50 in 2017-21 · Deep-tech classification: Tech Hardware
Patents: 104 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 54 filings since 2022 vs 50 in 2017-21 · Latest publication 2026
Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 7/10 · IP moat: 104 patents · 7 curated direct competitors tracked
Audience (LinkedIn): 20k LinkedIn followers — 6.0% of this cohort's audience
Funding rounds
  • Oct 2021Series B$15M
  • Apr 2021Grant (prize money)$120.3K
  • Mar 2021Series A$3.5M
  • Oct 2019Series A$5.2M
Investors
Gov, Mercia, Foresight Williams, DSM, Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, Saint-Gobain
Tech stack
Apache Http ServerApple Icloud MailAzureCloudflareCloudflare Bot ManagementCookieyes

Funding & investor landscape

$322.2Mtotal disclosed funding
37companies funded
97disclosed rounds
0rounds last 90 days
Most active investors
Europa8 rounds
Mercia4 rounds
EIC Fund3 rounds
Gov3 rounds
Parkwalk3 rounds
SFC Capital3 rounds
Ukri3 rounds
Enterprise Ventures2 rounds
FABulous2 rounds
Foresight Williams2 rounds

Notable founders

David Crudden
Co-Founder · Alloyed
Yilun Gong
Co-Founder · Alloyed
Will Richardson
CEO · Wayland Additive
Rein Torm
Co-Founder & CPO · Fractory
Joosep Merelaht
Co-Founder & Chief Business Development Officer · Fractory
Sebastian Pattinson
Co-Founder · Matta
Douglas Brion
Co-Founder & CEO · Matta
Ian Falconer
Founder · Fishy Filaments
Paul Fotheringham
Founder and Chief Technology Officer · Insight Surgery
Henry Pinchbeck
CEO · Insight Surgery
Maxwell Munford
Founder & CEO · OSSTEC
Andrew Dove
Founder · 4D Medicine
Prism market signals · United Kingdom · country-scoped Prism corpus, 1,663,016 docs

Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage

Share of 3D Printing coverage by sub-theme.

Regulatory-risk over time rising

Funding & growth over time

funding rising · growth rising

RESEARCH SIGNALS · United Kingdom

How research on Additive Manufacturing / 3D Printing is moving in the United Kingdom

A read on the academic research around Additive Manufacturing / 3D Printing — which themes are gaining ground, the institutions and researchers driving them, and how the tone is shifting. Based on 2,368 United Kingdom-affiliated papers.

research sentiment over time
201420202026
enthusiastic · positive · guarded tone
Tone is overwhelmingly optimistic and intensifying — the enthusiastic (strongly-positive) share moved 57% → 67% across 2014–2026.
top research entities
  • Loughborough University158
  • University College London152
  • Imperial College London146
  • University of Manchester105
  • University of Nottingham104
leading researchers
Mahdi Bodaghi · Ali Zolfagharian · Kamran Mumtaz · Luquan Ren · Ian Ashcroft · Mahmoud Moradi · Christopher Tuck · Iain Todd
Breakthroughs622 · 26%
▲ 24%→26% share
▲1.1× share momentum10 median citations64% since 2021mostly methods-led
Nanotechnology fabrication research is surging — UK papers rose from 16 to 63, signalling rapid frontier expansion.
rising sub-themes (early→recent)
  • Fabrication12→69
  • 3d printed10→61
  • Composite material9→60
  • Nanotechnology16→63
  • Extrusion3→40
Newly emergingComposite number 0→17 · Finite element method 0→16 · Slicing 0→14
Landmark A Simple, Low-Cost Conductive Composite Material for 3D Printing of Electronic Sensors · 774 cites
Advancements1,253 · 53%
▲ 52%→54% share
▲1.0× share momentum7 median citations66% since 2021mostly empirical
Fused deposition modelling advancement research intensified sharply — composite material papers grew from 21 to 175 across UK institutions.
rising sub-themes (early→recent)
  • Composite material21→175
  • 3d printed25→143
  • Fused deposition modeling9→91
  • Extrusion2→73
  • Fabrication26→95
Newly emergingSustainability 0→20 · Flexural strength 0→19 · Soft robotics 0→17
Landmark 3D printing of Aluminium alloys: Additive Manufacturing of Aluminium alloys using selective laser melting · 1,477 cites
Concerns236 · 10%
▼ 13%→10% share
▼0.8× share momentum13 median citations63% since 2021mostly reviews
Sustainability concerns are newly emerging in UK additive manufacturing research, alongside fresh scrutiny of dentistry applications.
rising sub-themes (early→recent)
  • 3d printed1→32
  • Mechanical engineering2→19
  • Composite material5→16
  • Fabrication3→14
  • Extrusion2→13
Newly emergingFused deposition modeling 0→11 · Sustainability 0→6 · Dentistry 0→6
Landmark 3D bioactive composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering · 1,304 cites
RESEARCH HOTSPOTS · United Kingdom

Where additive manufacturing is researched across United Kingdom

Location clusters by institution affiliation — each city's volume, stance tone, and a quick read on its hot topic, what's advancing, the opening opportunity, and the main concern.

London417 · +0.53
Hot · 3D printingAdvancing · 3d printedOpportunity · ScaffoldConcern · Medical physics
Manchester130 · +0.53
Hot · TextileAdvancing · PolycaprolactoneOpportunity · SlicingConcern · 3D printing
Edinburgh110 · +0.54
Hot · ElectrospinningAdvancing · Microelectromechanical systemsOpportunity · Ultimate tensile strengthConcern · 3d printed
Glasgow107 · +0.54
Hot · PiezoelectricityAdvancing · MicrofluidicsOpportunity · MachiningConcern · 3D printing
Birmingham81 · +0.49
Hot · Selective laser meltingAdvancing · ImplantOpportunity · AlloyConcern · 3D printing
Cambridge74 · +0.57
Hot · InkwellAdvancing · EpoxyOpportunity · 3d printedConcern · Alloy
Oxford69 · +0.63
Hot · MetamaterialAdvancing · Design for manufacturabilityOpportunity · AlloyConcern · 3D printing
Bristol59 · +0.50
Hot · Engineering drawingAdvancing · Finite element methodOpportunity · Biomedical engineeringConcern · 3D printing
PATENT SIGNAL · United Kingdom

Who's filing additive manufacturing patents in the United Kingdom

United Kingdom additive manufacturing patent filing is accelerating — 4,527 filings from 1,082 assignees (2016–2025), led by Rolls Royce, Renishaw, BAE Systems; annual filings 265→428.

4,527 filings1,082 assigneespeak 570/yr2016–2025
filing momentum (YoY 2016–2025)
top patent filers
  • Rolls Royce540
  • Renishaw460
  • BAE Systems329
  • Stratasys Powder Production178
  • IO TECH Group143
  • LPW Technology136
  • Airbus Operations123
  • Additive Manufacturing TECH104

Common questions

How many 3D Printing companies are there in United Kingdom?
Radar tracks 144 indexable 3D Printing companies headquartered in United Kingdom that meet our profile-completeness bar.
What is the total funding raised by 3D Printing companies in United Kingdom?
The 3D Printing companies in United Kingdom on this list have raised a combined $322.2M in disclosed equity funding across 37 funded companies.
Which is the highest-funded 3D Printing company in United Kingdom?
Metalysis is the highest-funded 3D Printing company in United Kingdom, with $90.3M in disclosed equity funding.
How many 3D Printing companies in United Kingdom are funded?
37 of the 144 3D Printing companies in United Kingdom on this list have disclosed at least one equity funding round.
How many 3D Printing unicorns are there in United Kingdom?
None of the 3D Printing companies in United Kingdom on this list currently has a disclosed valuation of $1B or more.
Who are the top investors in United Kingdom 3D Printing companies?
The most active investors in United Kingdom 3D Printing companies on this list include Europa, Mercia, EIC Fund, Gov, Parkwalk.
Rohit KhannaTrends & Stories

Rohit lives in the feed. He covers what's moving right now — the funding rounds, launches and shifts breaking across the trade press — and ties them back to where the sector is heading.

Coming soon