Additive Manufacturing UK (AMUK), the UK’s leading trade association dedicated to the additive manufacturing (AM) sector, has released its 2025 Annual Action Plan. Building on the success of its inaugural action plan launched last year, this updated plan sets out the roadmap to enhance the UK’s position as a global leader in additive manufacturing research, development, adoption, and application.

The plan highlights progress made in 2024, including increased membership, strategic initiatives, and enhanced services, all of which contributed to strengthening the UK’s global competitiveness in AM. It addresses critical challenges in the areas of supply chain, skills, and standards, with newly defined actions to drive forward the development of the UK’s AM ecosystem.

Key challenges for the 2025 plan include initiatives to grow and develop the UK supply chain, establish an industry agreed training programme, and simplify and roadmap the standards landscape for additive manufacturing. Efforts will include expanding AMUK’s case study database, creating a comprehensive adoption guide, and exploring an online part printability assessment tool to help companies evaluate the suitability of AM technologies for their operations. On skills development, AMUK is committed to advancing education and training pathways by developing new curriculums, launching school outreach programmes, and hosting regional open days to promote additive manufacturing adoption. The plan also aims to demystify the complex standards landscape, with actions including the development of sector-specific standards roadmaps, providing free access to key standards, and hosting a dedicated event to foster understanding and best practices in the use of AM standards.

The UK’s share of the global AM market, currently estimated at 4–5.5%, has the potential to grow to 7% by 2030 with the right support. Achieving this would position the UK market at over $6 billion, making it a key player in a global industry forecasted to be worth up to $105 billion by 2030.

Josh Dugdale, Head of Additive Manufacturing UK, commented: “At AMUK, our mission is to establish the UK as a global frontrunner in additive manufacturing. This year’s plan demonstrates our ongoing commitment to fostering innovation, supporting our members, and addressing the challenges that matter most to the sector. By driving collaboration and providing targeted support in supply chain development, skills training, and standards adoption, we aim to unlock the transformative potential of additive manufacturing and secure the UK’s leadership on the global stage.”

Among the new initiatives outlined in the 2025 plan are the support for an AM users’ group event, the launch of the Membership Spotlight programme to showcase members and their achievements and the implementation of the 3D Printability assessment tool for the UK manufacturing supply chain to use and test their designs free of charge on the AMUK website. The plan also introduces exploratory actions, including the development of an online part printability assessment tool and enhanced collaboration with supply chain exhibitions and professional bodies to amplify the visibility of the UK’s AM capabilities.

The AMUK 2025 Annual Action Plan provides a comprehensive framework for addressing industry challenges and driving sector growth. By fostering collaboration among industry, academia, and government, AMUK is poised to create a robust environment for the development and adoption of AM technologies.