SME and Rapid News team up on leading 3D manufacturing event

Non-profit manufacturing association, SME, and owner of the TCT Group, Rapid News Publications Ltd, have today announced a strategic partnership that will see the two companies team up to produce RAPID, one of North America’s leading 3D technology events from 2017.

The two organisations are combining their nearly 30 years of insights and experience in accelerating the adoption and advancement of 3D manufacturing technologies and say they are confident that the new event, to be renamed RAPID + TCT, will result in an increased impact on the U.S. manufacturing industry.

By forming the alliance, the US manufacturing industry will benefit equally from SME’s 26 years of producing the 3D technology conference and exhibition, combined with TCT’s 20 plus years of coverage at the forefront of the 3D printing, additive manufacturing and product development industries.

"RAPID has developed significantly in the last five years and still we recognise that even more 3D manufacturing knowledge and expertise is needed now,” said Debbie Holton, director of Events and Industry Strategy at SME.

"By combining the resources of SME with TCT’s trusted and respected global brand and media reach, we will create an even stronger event that has a greater national impact on manufacturing, helping companies compete with these high tech tools in a quickly changing market.”

Emerging technologies such as additive manufacturing (3D printing) and other 3D technologies are enabling manufacturers to reduce time to market, produce stronger and lighter parts, improve efficiency, reduce waste, cost and emissions and create products and geometries they couldn’t create before.

Increased awareness of these real benefits of using advanced manufacturing technologies will encourage more companies to adopt these technologies which will improve their ability to compete on the global stage.

"This is a strategically important and exciting move for both of our organisations,” said Duncan Wood, Chief Operating Officer, Rapid News Publications Ltd.

"This partnership with SME fits with our mission of accelerating 3D technology adoption worldwide. RAPID is the leading 3D manufacturing show in the U.S. and we are delighted to be able to add our experience, ideas and media power to the fantastic team at SME, We look forward to building an amazing RAPID + TCT event with them in the coming years.”

The RAPID + TCT partnership will go into effect for the 2017 event.