Charles R. Goulding and Kate Esposito explore how Italy’s celebrated “Made in Italy” tradition is getting a high-tech makeover through additive manufacturing, from Ferrari supercars to custom medical implants.
Introduction
Since the Renaissance, Italian goods have been associated with the utmost quality, artisanal mastery, and commitment to excellence. This affiliation strengthened in the 1950s when the term “Made in Italy” was popularized as a merchandise mark signaling premium craftsmanship and cultural heritage.
To deliver on the Made in Italy promise, many Italian companies have begun using additive manufacturing, improving their products and producing unique, high-caliber wares. From Ferrari to Fincantieri, additive manufacturing is revolutionizing industries across Italy, bringing forth a new technological renaissance.
The Companies Behind the Creations
The additive manufacturing revolution has spread far and wide, with more than 100 countries around the world using this technology for countless applications. As the second-largest manufacturing nation in Europe, Italy is a strong leader in additive manufacturing technologies.
Key sectors driving the adoption of AM in Italy include the automobile, biomedical, and maritime industries. Companies such as Ferrari, Fincantieri, LimaCorporate, Caracol, and Kentstrapper lead their respective sectors in the adoption of additive manufacturing across Italy, fostering nationwide innovation and advancements.
LimaCorporate
LimaCorporate, owned by medical technology corporation Enovis, is an Italian orthopedic company recognized as a global leader in the 3D design and printing of personalized medical components.
Headquartered in San Daniele del Friuli, Italy, the company operates in more than 20 countries around the world. LimaCorporate focuses on digital innovation and tailored hardware to aid surgeons and improve patient outcomes following joint replacement surgery. The company’s core goal is to improve patients’ quality of life by providing reconstructive and custom-made solutions. Their product portfolio includes large joint implants for hips and knees, small joint arthroplasties, solutions for shoulders, and a department focused solely on patient-specific prostheses and implants.
LimaCorporate was a pioneer in the transition from traditional manufacturing to industrialized 3D printing for orthopedics. In 2007, the company invented and patented its Trabecular Titanium (TT) technology. TT is an advanced 3D-printed porous biomaterial used in orthopedic implants. It mimics the physical and geometric structure of human cancellous bone, utilizing electron beam melting to promote rapid bone ingrowth and long-term implant stability.
Since 2007, LimaCorporate has produced more than 100,000 TT acetabular hip cups, which have demonstrated excellent clinical survivorship over a decade after implantation. Following the success of the acetabular cup, LimaCorporate has 3D printed other implants, including tibial plates and glenoid components.
In 2016, the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) began using LimaCorporate’s Trabecular Titanium implants, which led the two companies to work together on multiple projects under a Master Development Agreement. HSS is ranked as the #1 hospital in the United States for orthopedics and is dedicated to providing its patients with the best technology possible. As a result, in 2021 HSS paired with LimaCorporate to open the ProMade Point of Care (PoC) Center in New York City.
Located at the HSS main campus on the Upper East Side, this facility is the first provider-based 3D design and printing facility for custom complex joint replacements. The ProMade PoC Center enables dynamic collaboration between LimaCorporate engineers and HSS surgeons. This ensures patients receive the highest levels of quality, reliability, and speed. The integration reduces the time to surgery for patients requiring custom 3D printed components by many weeks.
The patient-specific custom solutions produced at the Center are used for complex procedures and are digitally designed pre-operatively for an ideal match with the patient’s anatomy. This is the first facility of its kind to be located directly on a hospital campus, and its success suggests that it will not be the last.
Fincantieri
Fincantieri is a major Italian shipbuilding company based in Trieste, Italy. It is one of the largest shipbuilders in the world and the leading Western builder of high-tech naval and cruise vessels, with operations spanning cruise ships, military warships, offshore units, and underwater infrastructure. Fincantieri utilizes additive manufacturing as a core component of its strategy to transform shipyards into cutting-edge technological hubs, aiming to enhance operational excellence, improve production processes, and develop high-tech solutions.
Through a partnership with Australian company Titomic, Fincantieri has explored large-scale metal 3D printing. The company entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to evaluate this AM process for its manufacturing abilities. This technology is recognized as one of the world’s largest and fastest metal 3D printing processes, capable of producing parts up to 30 feet in length. The primary goal of this collaboration is to improve existing repair activities and manufacturing, facilitating the creation of next-generation high-tech vessels.
Fincantieri has also partnered and signed an MoU with Teijin Automotive Technologies, the European subsidiary of Teijin Ltd. based in Tokyo. With this partnership, Fincantieri is working to adopt large-scale carbon fiber-based composites in both civil and military shipbuilding. This involves the engineering of non-structural bulkheads designed for weight reduction and the integration of functions to meet the most stringent operational and safety requirements for maritime vessels.
The bulkheads will be developed using an innovative composite material created by Aeronautical Service, a Fiumicino-based SME company that Fincantieri has worked with in the past. This partnership builds on Fincantieri’s industrial strategy to expand the adoption of advanced materials across its portfolio, confirming its role as a driving force in the development of the best available technologies for shipbuilding.
Ferrari
Widely regarded as one of the best sports car manufacturers in the world, Ferrari has long stood as a bastion of pride for Italians and is a strong example of the meaning behind Made in Italy. To move its iconic cars from concepts to assembled products, Ferrari has integrated additive manufacturing into its production techniques.
Over time, the company has transitioned from using AM primarily as a prototyping and research tool to integrating it into the final production of high-performance road cars. This evolution reflects a broader shift in the automotive industry, where additive manufacturing is maturing into a viable option for mass production and vehicle engineering.
In 2024, Ferrari officially unveiled and launched the F80 hypercar, the most powerful road car ever built by Ferrari. The F80 marks the first time Ferrari has openly integrated metal 3D printed parts into the final production of a road-going vehicle. Additive manufacturing was used to create the upper wishbones of the car’s suspension system, which is completely independent on all four wheels.
The inclusion of 3D printed metal parts in the F80 offers many advantages that help Ferrari meet the demands of the automotive industry, including increased weight reduction and flexibility in design. This enables Ferrari’s engineers to utilize innovative geometries and configurations otherwise restricted by traditional manufacturing methods, improving vehicle efficiency and performance.
Furthermore, 3D printed metal parts allow for the removal of certain conventional components, such as the stabilizer bar, and help engineers make more precise adjustments to the camber angle of the wheel. These refinements contribute to enhanced vehicle dynamics and handling. Ferrari’s use of additive manufacturing in the F80 highlights the brand’s adaptability and willingness to evolve as new technologies emerge.
In its Formula 1 racing division, Scuderia Ferrari utilizes AM to gain a competitive edge through rapid research and development. During the 2022 Australian Grand Prix, the team deployed 3D-printed sensor mounts on its F1-75 race cars. These mounts, likely made from unfilled or fiber-filled nylon via SLS or MJF, were used to hold electronics in place to measure front wing height during testing.
Additionally, Scuderia Ferrari has used additive manufacturing to develop redesigned piston heads with integrated internal cooling channels. Additively manufacturing these parts from a steel alloy provides greater strength and heat resistance while unlocking weight-saving opportunities through geometric optimization. In the world of F1 where every millisecond counts, the many advantages additive manufacturing offers could be the difference between first and last place.
Kentstrapper
Kentstrapper is a pioneering Italian manufacturer of 3D printers that has transitioned from hobbyist roots to a significant player in the industrial additive manufacturing market. Founded in Florence in 2009 by brothers Lorenzo and Luciano Cantini, the company was born out of the RepRap project and created “Archimede,” the first consumer-grade desktop 3D printer produced in Italy. Since its inception, the company has developed 15 different models, evolving its focus toward high-performance systems for professional and industrial sectors.
The flagship of Kentstrapper’s current lineup is the Mille, a large-format Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) system designed to print massive components. The machine features a 1,000 x 1,000 x 1,000 mm build volume, allowing users to print large components as single parts rather than multiple smaller sections to reduce joints and assembly work. The system includes a continuity mode where a second extruder automatically takes over if the first runs out of material or detects a feed problem, facilitating long or unattended print jobs.
The printer is integrated with Kentstrapper’s KS AI System for remote monitoring, technical support, and fleet management. This includes Clara, an AI-based assistant trained on knowledge assembled from past technical support tickets. Clara can identify known problems, explain them to users, and guide troubleshooting with aid from technicians, making problem-solving incredibly easy.
Kentstrapper’s technology is applied across many sectors, focusing on reducing assembly stages and increasing design freedom. Kentstrapper demonstrated its viability in the automotive industry by using the Mille to print 700 mm electric-vehicle battery enclosures as a single component. The company targets the luxury market with professional printers like the Zero HS, Bold, and Mavis, which offer high speed and precision for customized fashion accessories.
Kentstrapper’s systems support a wide array of technical materials, including carbon fiber, glass-reinforced nylon, and ASA, ABS, TPU, and ESD-safe materials. Furthermore, beyond hardware manufacturing, Kentstrapper operates as a full-service provider for the AM ecosystem. The company offers 3D scanning, 2D/3D design services, and professional training courses. By providing professional-grade Italian printers and equipping people with the skills to use them, Kentstrapper is supporting a vision of widespread adoption of AM technologies.
Caracol
Caracol is a leading Italian technology manufacturer specializing in Large Format Additive Manufacturing (LFAM). Founded in 2015, the company’s core mission is to overcome the limits of traditional manufacturing by producing components previously considered too big or complex to print. Caracol utilizes a robotic approach to 3D printing, integrating industrial arms with advanced materials and proprietary software to serve high-performance sectors such as aerospace, maritime, energy, and construction.
The company’s ecosystem is built around two primary robotic manufacturing components, Heron AM and Vipra AM. Heron AM is a modular turnkey platform designed for fabricating large-scale composite parts and processing advanced thermoplastics. Vipra AM is a robotic turnkey platform dedicated to producing advanced large-scale metal parts. By offering two distinct LFAM platforms, Caracol can address a wide range of industrial needs and operate a flexible business model.
Caracol recently announced its partnership with Designtech and LAMÁQUINA to build Milan’s first permanent hub for robotic LFAM specifically applied to the design sector. This collaboration combines innovative infrastructure, industrial-grade technology, and fabrication expertise to create an operational environment embedded directly within the city’s design community. Each partner in the collaboration provides a complementary set of skills and resources. Caracol serves as the technological enabler of the project, lending its robotic manufacturing ecosystem to the hub.
Designtech, a Milan-based business incubator, acts as the ecosystem builder, connecting creative talent, industry partners, and manufacturing capabilities. LAMÁQUINA, a Barcelona-based design consultancy, brings specialized production culture and know-how in robotic fabrication. The hub is designed to capitalize on Milan’s concentration of aesthetic and engineering expertise, focusing on architecture, furniture, and construction.
Milan has long established itself as a leading global designer, and the partnership’s goals for the hub perfectly align with the city’s focus on fashion and innovation. Beyond the physical facility, the partnership aims to use the hub as a base to reach the broader Italian economy and international markets.
On August 20th, 2026, Caracol hosted a webinar focused on their microfactory model and the many advantages it offers over traditional manufacturing methods. Caracol’s microfactories are highly automated, digital production plants that combine LFAM, post-production, quality control, assembly, and delivery into one unified framework.
The microfactories operate around three key technologies: robotic advanced manufacturing, integrated software, and AI process intelligence.
Centralized production systems are constantly at risk due to geopolitical instability, tariff volatility, and persistent supply chain disruptions. These factors, combined with many companies’ growing need for low-volume, customized parts, point toward microfactories as the production method of the future. During the webinar, Caracol mentioned that it recently deployed one of Europe’s largest LFAM microfactories for Treddy, an Italian industrial 3D printing and consulting company based in Pescara, Italy.
Using this microfactory, Treddy is able to reduce component weight by 57%, lead times by 80%, costs by 25%, and waste by 10%. The implementation of Caracol’s microfactory has revolutionized Treddy’s manufacturing strategies and made the company much more efficient. Microfactories are yet another example of Caracol’s mastery over additive manufacturing technologies.
Caracol will be at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago from September 14th to 19th this year. We look forward to visiting their booth to witness the unveiling of the company’s latest technological innovations and see how they are continuing to push the boundaries of additive manufacturing.
EssilorLuxottica
EssilorLuxottica is a global leader in eyewear retail and manufacturing, with a market evaluation exceeding US$100 billion. The company was formed from a 2018 merger between Essilor and Luxottica, a Milan-based eyewear enterprise. EssilorLuxottica owns iconic brands such as Ray-Ban, Oakley, Persol, Prada, Chanel, and Versace, along with over 30 others. Furthermore, EssilorLuxottica controls both the design and retail aspects of its business through its ownership of major prescription eyewear networks, including LensCrafters and Sunglass Hut. While the company’s massive global production demands are too large to rely entirely on 3D printing for mass-market frames, EssilorLuxottica has integrated additive manufacturing across its design, prototyping, specialty product, and tech-integration divisions.
Located in Italy, EssilorLuxottica’s Agordo plant serves as the company’s central prototyping engine. Designers leverage many polymer technologies, including stereolithography (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS), and material jetting to rapidly fabricate physical frames. Utilizing additive manufacturing allows EssilorLuxottica to sidestep traditional mold making, reducing design iterations and cutting modeling times.
This enables faster prototype testing, reduces raw material waste, and speeds up time-to-market. With this technology, the company can also produce customized frames perfectly tailored to an individual’s facial measurements, shapes, and ergonomic needs. This was recognized in 2017 when the company released OOY, a collection featuring lightweight, flexible frames made using 3D printing technology.
EssilorLuxottica has been working to incorporate outside technologies into its eyewear lines. In 2022, the company acquired Nuance Hearing to develop glasses that double as discreet hearing aids. The glasses were the first product on the market to feature no-show hearing aids, with the goal of reducing the stigma surrounding traditional hearing solutions.
Additionally, EssilorLuxottica works closely with Meta Platforms in a major long-term partnership to design and manufacture AI-powered eyewear. The companies started collaborating in 2019 and signed a 10-year extended agreement to build multi-generational smart glasses.
Since then, the partnership has launched Meta AI glasses under EssilorLuxottica’s Ray-Ban and Oakley brands, which have become extremely popular. Meta also acquired a 3% minority stake in EssilorLuxottica to further cement their joint commitment to the wearable AI market. Though additive manufacturing is not officially utilized to make these AI glasses, Meta owns 3D printing technology for smart eyewear lenses through its acquisition of Luxexcel, and it is highly likely that this machinery will be used for the development of future iterations of Meta glasses.
The Research and Design Tax Credit
For US-based companies involved in trade and business in Italy, the Research and Development (R&D) tax credit may apply if they have activities that satisfy certain thresholds and satisfy a “Four-Part Test.” If their business has integrated 3D printing, that is an excellent indicator of R&D-eligible projects. The R&D credit is for US-based, for-profit companies and subsidiaries, with US-based R&D-qualifying activities.
These activities may include, but are not limited to, designing or development new and/or improved products or processes, or software development/upgrades. R&D Tax Savers has helped hundreds of companies navigate the complexity of the R&D tax credit since it was signed into law in 1981.
Conclusion
With its storied history of innovation and advancement, it is no surprise that Italy is at the forefront of 3D printing technology. From Ferrari to Fincantieri, Italian companies are paving the way and showing the many benefits additive manufacturing offers across a wide range of industries. Looking forward, products such as Caracol’s design-centered LFAM hub and Kentstrapper’s Mille 3D printer suggest a very promising future for additive manufacturing. Countries around the world should take note of Italy’s success in the AM industry and follow in its footsteps to truly cement additive manufacturing as a globally integrated technology.
