Printing at Scale: How Large-Scale Additive Manufacturing Is Redefining Industrial Production

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM East Coast USA Time

Location: SME Main Stage

Moderator(s)

Brett Conner, PhD

Chief Manufacturing Officer
SME

Panelist(s)

BP

Brian Post

Group Leader - Manufacturing Systems Design Group
ORNL
Amy M. Elliott, PhD, PhD

Group Leader - Systems Automation and Monitoring Research
Oakridge National Laboratory
Melanie Lang

Chief Executive Officer
FormAlloy Technologies Inc
Jennifer Coyne, MS

The Barnes Global Advisors

Today, large-scale AM includes high-rate directed energy deposition systems for metals, pellet-fed extrusion for reinforced thermoplastics, robotic wire arc systems, hybrid additive-subtractive platforms, and more! As materials, controls, and software have matured, the conversation has shifted from “Can we print it?” to “Should we manufacture it this way?” This panel will explore how the technology landscape has diversified over the past ten years, the economic drivers behind large-scale AM adoption, and the technical hurdles still limiting broader deployment. Looking ahead, panelists will discuss automation, digital integration, sustainability, new material systems, and whether large-scale AM will fundamentally alter how and where we manufacture.