Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi underscore how advanced databases—from trade flows to digital twins—are turning 3D printing into a proactive, data-powered engine for growth.
The landscape of additive manufacturing is changing—fast. At the forefront of this shift is data. With the explosion of new and expanded databases, 3D printing providers are gaining powerful tools that can dramatically reshape their market strategy. From international trade flows to supply chain analytics and digital twins, data is no longer just back-office noise—it’s a core asset that can drive customer acquisition, product development, and even influence financial outcomes.
Let’s break down how these databases are transforming the way smart 3D printing firms are identifying opportunities and delivering real value.
Tariff Databases: Mining Trade Flows for Profitable Targets
Trade data, once relegated to compliance and logistics teams, is now a goldmine for business development. Companies like Bloomberg are leading the charge in making this data actionable through platforms like Import Genius. By pulling in public import/export records and combining them with financial metrics like cost of goods sold and sales data, 3D printing providers can surface high-value opportunities that directly affect the bottom line.
Here’s how it works in practice: Imagine identifying a company that’s importing large volumes of specialized metal brackets. These components are ripe for substitution. If a 3D printing firm can reproduce domestically with competitive pricing and shorter lead times, that’s a win not just for supply chain resilience but for margin expansion. By targeting these imports, especially those with high weight-to-value ratios or complex logistics, 3D printing providers can create a clear value proposition.
Additionally, analyzing export data offers another angle. If a company exports large volumes of parts to a specific country, local 3D printing facilities in that country can reduce shipping costs and tariffs. In some cases, generative design may allow firms to combine multiple components into one streamlined part that falls into a more favorable tariff category, lowering total landed cost.
Digital Twins: Engineering Insight Meets Additive Manufacturing
Digital twins are no longer just buzzwords—they’re an increasingly common part of modern equipment design and lifecycle management. By creating virtual replicas of physical products, manufacturers gain a full suite of design, testing, and optimization capabilities without ever touching the factory floor.
3D printing providers should be paying close attention. Companies like Lockheed Martin and Rolls-Royce have invested heavily in digital twin infrastructure to model and monitor everything from jet engines to satellite components. While the detailed data behind these systems is typically proprietary, 3D print firms can work under nondisclosure agreements with digital twin owners to explore on-demand, on-shore additive manufacturing possibilities.
What makes digital twins especially powerful in this context is their ability to accelerate the design-for-additive-manufacturing (DfAM) process. With precise scans, stress simulations, and lifecycle data already baked in, these digital models can shorten development cycles and lower the risk of quality issues—two long-standing concerns for 3D printing skeptics.
Sourcing Data: The New Frontier in Domestic Supply Chain Strategy
Corporate sourcing departments are undergoing a philosophical shift. After years of globalization and just-in-time strategies, supply chain resilience is now the name of the game. Companies aren’t just looking for cheaper suppliers, they’re looking for closer, more agile ones.
This opens a door for 3D printing providers, particularly those specializing in metal or industrial-grade printing. Historically, “make or buy” decisions leaned toward external suppliers due to tooling costs and economies of scale. But as metal 3D printing becomes more capable and cost-effective, the question is now “buy or make with 3D printing?”
3D printing firms can use sourcing databases to identify companies that rely heavily on foreign suppliers for parts that could be produced in-house. By offering domestic, on-demand production options, they help clients reduce lead times, cut down on logistics risks, and potentially benefit from reshoring and onshoring incentives.
Alternative Energy Components: A Tax Credit Windfall
If there’s one sector where 3D printing can make an outsized impact today, it’s alternative energy. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, alternative energy systems that meet specific domestic content thresholds qualify for significantly higher tax credits. That includes solar, wind, and geothermal projects.
Take geothermal as an example. These systems require a host of customized, often hard-to-source components. If even a portion of these parts can be 3D printed domestically, the project might meet the content threshold needed to unlock enhanced federal incentives. For developers and investors, that’s not a marginal gain—it can be a game-changer.
Our firm’s energy practice has compiled detailed databases that map out component sourcing across various renewable technologies. This allows clients to pinpoint where 3D printing could tip the scale. We’ve seen cases where a modest shift in component sourcing—enabled by additive manufacturing—has led to seven-figure tax credit increases.
Jacob Goldman’s presentation on YouTube dives deeper into this topic, offering examples of how 3D printing intersects with domestic content requirements under federal law. It’s a must-watch for any 3D print provider looking to enter the renewable energy space. Jacob is the Vice President of our firm, R&D Tax Savers.
The Role of AI and Skilled Talent
The value of data doesn’t stop at collection. AI-powered tools are rapidly increasing our ability to sift, sort, and make sense of massive datasets. Pattern recognition, predictive modeling, and optimization algorithms are making it easier than ever to spot trends, simulate outcomes, and build smarter workflows.
For 3D printing firms, this means greater agility and smarter targeting. Integrating AI with trade data, digital twins, and sourcing information creates a flywheel effect where every data point leads to better insights and better decisions.
Fortunately, the talent pool is catching up. Universities are producing a new generation of engineers and business professionals trained in both data science and manufacturing. These hybrid skills are essential for any 3D printing company looking to leverage data-driven opportunities.
The Research & Development Tax Credit
The now permanent Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit is available for companies developing new or improved products, processes and/or software.
3D printing can help boost a company’s R&D Tax Credits. Wages for technical employees creating, testing and revising 3D printed prototypes are typically eligible expenses toward the R&D Tax Credit. Similarly, when used as a method of improving a process, time spent integrating 3D printing hardware and software can also be an eligible R&D expense. Lastly, when used for modeling and preproduction, the costs of filaments consumed during the development process may also be recovered.
Whether it is used for creating and testing prototypes or for final production, 3D printing is a great indicator that R&D Credit-eligible activities are taking place. Companies implementing this technology at any point should consider taking advantage of R&D Tax Credits.
Conclusion: Data as a Sales Weapon
The rise of advanced databases is more than a back-office improvement—it’s a strategic weapon. 3D printing providers who understand how to mine and apply data can stop waiting for leads to come to them. Instead, they can proactively find and close high-impact opportunities.
From reshoring components and qualifying for tax credits to redesigning parts for tariff advantages, the upside is substantial. The message is clear: 3D printing providers who integrate data management, AI, and deep market insight into their operations will be the ones leading the next wave of manufacturing innovation.
The tools are here. The data is ready. It’s time to use it.
