At RAPID + TCT 2026, 3D printer OEM Stratasys showcased a series of new materials and software capabilities aimed at widening the scope of its additive manufacturing solutions across key industries. The announcements target both practical usability improvements and application-specific performance, helping manufacturers more readily adopt or scale 3D printing within their production workflows.
“These innovations are designed to solve real challenges manufacturers face when adopting or scaling additive manufacturing,” said Rich Garrity, Chief Business Unit Officer, Stratasys. “We are committed to continuous investment and development across our portfolio, working closely with customers to reduce barriers to adoption and unlock the incredible value that additive manufacturing can provide throughout the whole production workflow.”
High-Performance Filaments Push Industrial Boundaries
A key development in Stratasys’s FDM lineup is the availability of ULTEM 1010 as a filament option for the F3300 printer. Known for its aerospace-grade thermal resilience and the lowest coefficient of thermal expansion within the FDM portfolio, this material is particularly suited for composite tooling, where dimensional accuracy under stress is non-negotiable. When combined with the F3300’s accelerated print speeds and built-in material drying system, the result is a reduction in per-part costs without sacrificing quality.
Looking ahead, larger spool configurations of ULTEM 1010 filament are expected to arrive this summer for use with the Fortus FDC filament dryer, which is compatible with the F900 and Fortus 450mc Gen III systems. This enhancement supports longer uninterrupted production runs, giving manufacturers greater consistency and throughput when fabricating demanding industrial components.
On the photopolymer side, two Origin-compatible resins round out this segment. P3 Deflect 110 resin is engineered for end-use parts that face both heat and mechanical stress ,such as automotive brackets, jigs, and similar structural components. Meanwhile, Loctite 3D IND3785 Low Migration resin targets regulated industries, meeting FDA and EU standards for small-batch food and pharmaceutical production while delivering surface quality on par with injection molding.
PolyJet Materials and Software Elevate Prototyping and Precision
Two new PolyJet materials bring enhanced durability to the J3 and J5 printer platforms. PolyJet ToughONE White enables design teams to produce functional prototypes capable of handling repeated mechanical stress, snapping, bending, and iterative testing, so that validation cycles more closely reflect real-world product behavior.
Its counterpart, PolyJet ToughONE Black, matches the same structural performance while offering stark visual contrast, making it well-suited for high-impact design reviews and functional demonstrations.
Complementing these materials is a new software feature within GrabCAD Print Pro: Measurement-Based Warped Adaptive Modeling (WAM). By automatically correcting warping based on actual measured dimension data, this tool brings a new level of geometric accuracy to the Origin P3 platform. Parts with tight tolerances. such as electrical connectors, precision jigs, and industrial fixtures. can now be produced correctly on the first attempt, reducing the iterative cycles typically required to dial in complex geometries.
SLA Materials and Industry Presence Round Out the Announcement
Stratasys has also extended its stereolithography portfolio with Somos WaterShed White, a new entry in the WaterShed SLA material family. Combining moisture resistance, a smooth opaque finish, and structural durability, this material is well-positioned for detailed prototypes in automotive, aerospace, and industrial settings where functional testing is part of the validation process. It is validated across all Neo printers, up to and including the large-format Neo800+.
AM Is Redefining Its Go-To-Market
The wave of new material and software launches across the additive manufacturing industry reflects a calculated response to where the market stands heading into 2026. According to the 3D Printing Industry Executive Survey, 70.3% of AM executives now expect business conditions this year to be favorable or very favorable, up sharply from 51.2% who felt that way about 2025, with the “very favorable” camp more than doubling. But the optimism is conditional. Executives consistently identify customer education as the dominant barrier: many organizations still approach additive manufacturing using design assumptions borrowed from injection molding or CNC machining, leaving most of its value, part consolidation, geometric freedom, lead-time reduction, unrealized.
This is precisely why portfolio expansions targeting usability, material accessibility, and workflow integration are a strategic priority right now: the technology has largely proven itself; the challenge is making it easier to adopt and qualify at scale.
Competitors are responding to this same pressure in parallel. Formlabs launched its Tough Resin Family alongside updates to its PreForm software specifically targeting workflow improvements, reducing time spent managing supports, imports, and packing so users can focus on design and problem-solving.
In a similar vein, UnionTech debuted its MUEES430 PRO at RAPID + TCT this week, positioning smarter batch production as its central value proposition. Both moves reflect that the barriers to adoption are no longer technical, they are operational.
3D Printing Industry is inviting speakers for its 2026 Additive Manufacturing Applications (AMA) series, covering Energy, Healthcare, Automotive and Mobility, Aerospace, Space and Defense, and Software. Each online event focuses on real production deployments, qualification, and supply chain integration. Practitioners interested in contributing can complete the call for speakers form here.
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Explore the full Future of 3D Printing and Executive Survey series from 3D Printing Industry, featuring perspectives from CEOs, engineers, and industry leaders on the industrialization of additive manufacturing, 3D printing industry trends 2026, qualification, supply chains, and additive manufacturing industry analysis.
Featured image shows Software Accuracy Center MWAM. Photo via Stratasys.
