Mantle Wins SME Additive Manufacturing Start-Up Technology Award

Mantle Inc., a metal 3D printing for moldmaking, announced that it has won the SME Additive Manufacturing Start-Up Technology Award for its innovative metal 3D printing technology. SME, formerly known as the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, selected Mantle and delivered the award at the 2023 RAPID + TCT conference, said to be North America’s largest additive manufacturing (AM) event.

The AM Start-Up Technology Award recognizes businesses with technologies that solve existing manufacturing problems with a unique technical approach. Mantle was selected as the winner of the award for its TrueShape 3D printing technology, which significantly reduces the cost and lead times to produce precision tooling while enabling better mold designs and solving skilled labor shortages (read “Mantle Unveils New Medical Mold Applications Achieved Through Metal 3D Printing” for an example). 

The AM Start-Up Technology Award is a highly competitive award. SME, an organization committed to promoting and supporting the manufacturing industry and the creator of critical toolmaking content such as Tooling U, screened numerous startups before selecting Mantle based on the criteria of:

• Technical feasibility: The technology has been demonstrated or is feasibly sound;
• Uniqueness: The technology solves an existing problem with a unique approach;
• Market potential: The technology serves a large market and can make a meaningful impact;
• Messaging and communication: The company has a clear value proposition and messaging.

“We are pleased to be selected. Since its public launch, Mantle has proven significant value for our customers by automating the process of making precision tools,” Ted Sorom, CEO and cofounder, Mantle, says. “Through multiple case studies, manufacturers of all sizes have experienced the ROI [return on investment] gains that Mantle’s 3D printing technology delivers by slashing the time and money needed to manufacture precision molds compared to traditional toolmaking processes.” 

Mantle announced the availability of its production machines in September 2022. It has already been adopted by some major OEMs, molders and moldmakers who have benefited from the reduced time to market, improved part quality and lower cost production that come from using Mantle technology. 

“Mantle’s win is a testament to our company’s commitment to innovation and excellence,” Paul DiLaura, CCO, Mantle, adds. “The award is a significant achievement and a major milestone for the company, demonstrating the potential of its technology and their ability to make a significant impact on the precision tooling market.”