Pennsylvania-based manufacturer developing accessible metal 3D printing systems Xact Metal announced it is expanding access to affordable metal 3D printing for small and medium-sized businesses while promoting a more decentralized approach to additive manufacturing. The company reported a 30% increase in orders for 2025 compared with the same period in 2024 and announced the appointment of Mark Barfoot as Vice President of Global Sales.
“Our growth strategy and product roadmap to expand the use of metal additive manufacturing by offering a new level of price and performance continues to be welcomed by our customers,” said Juan Mario Gomez, CEO of Xact Metal.
In 2025, orders grew more than 30% compared with the previous year, driven by strong demand for the XM200G single- and double-laser metal printers across defense, medical, plastic injection molding, and other manufacturing applications. The XM200G μHD, capable of printing very small parts with 5–15 μm metal powders and a 25 μm laser spot size, has received positive feedback, along with the upcoming XM300G mid-size four-laser printer.
To support this growth, Mark Barfoot, who brings more than 25 years of additive manufacturing experience—including leadership roles at Voxel Innovations, the Edison Welding Institute, Javelin Technologies, and the Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Lab at the University of Waterloo—has been named Vice President of Global Sales. He has also been actively involved with AMUG for over 13 years, serving as its President for more than two years.
Strong Performance Across the 3D Printing Industry in 2025
Other major 3D printing companies also reported strong 2025 performance. Formlabs closed 2025 with record quarterly results, driven by strong sales across its product portfolio. The Fuse series of selective SLS printers grew more than 25% year over year in Q4, seeing adoption in production and end-use applications across industries from startups to defense. In addition, large-format SLA systems and the dental portfolio reached all-time highs, contributing to overall revenue, printer shipments, and materials sales, reflecting broader uptake of additive manufacturing in industrial and healthcare sectors.
3D Systems’ Aerospace & Defense segment saw strong performance in 2025, driven by revenue growth, facility expansion, and technological advancements to support secure domestic manufacturing for national security and space programs. The division, expected to become the company’s largest industrial business in 2026, serves applications across crewed and uncrewed aircraft, naval platforms, defense systems, rocket propulsion, and satellites. The segment is forecast to have grown over 15% in 2025, with revenue from production printing systems and custom metal parts projected to exceed $35 million in 2026, supported in part by adoption in high-reliability programs and the Fiscal Year 2026 NDAA.
These results align with broader market data from CONTEXT, which shows 2025 growth concentrated at the extremes of the 3D printing market. Industrial metal systems, particularly high-end machines for aerospace, defense, and specialized manufacturing, returned to growth, supporting companies like Xact Metal and 3D Systems. At the same time, high-performance polymer platforms continued to see adoption in production and end-use workflows. Midrange and professional segments, however, faced declines, underscoring that significant growth in 2025 was largely captured by suppliers targeting high-demand, high-value applications.
The 3D Printing Industry Awards are back. Make your nominations now.
Do you operate a 3D printing start-up? Reach readers, potential investors, and customers with the 3D Printing Industry Start-up of Year competition.
To stay up to date with the latest 3D printing news, don’t forget to subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter or follow us on Linkedin.
Featured image shows Xact Metal’s metal 3D printers. Photo via Xact Metal.
