MilAM 2026 – Military Additive Manufacturing Summit
Extrude Hone is participating in MilAM 2026, the largest annual military 3D printing event in North America. This conference and technology showcase serves as a strategic forum where operational military needs, advanced production technologies, and federal initiatives converge to shape the future of industrial capabilities for military and aerospace applications.
MilAM 2026 offers a unique opportunity for industry professionals, international partners, and senior leaders to connect, collaborate, and engage in high-level dialogue on integrating next-generation production methods that enhance resilience, readiness, and warfighting effectiveness across joint and allied forces.
What is the Military Additive Manufacturing Summit (MilAM)?
MilAM 2026 will take place February 3–5, 2026, at the Tampa Convention Center (USA). Recognized as the largest military-focused 3D printing event in North America, it combines a high-level conference with an extensive technology showcase.
Designed as an educational and professional development event, MilAM enables attendees to:
- Explore current industrial capabilities and production solutions
- View live 3D printing demonstrations and system-level innovations
- Learn how advanced production supports supply chain resilience
- Engage directly with federal agencies, policymakers, and acquisition leaders
Closely aligned with America Makes, the summit brings together the Department of Defense, NCDMM, OEMs, SMEs, and the broader industrial base to extend advanced production initiatives across active military units.
Who attends MilAM 2026?
MilAM 2026 attracts a diverse, international network of professionals across the entire additive manufacturing value chain.
Military and government attendees include the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, defense agencies, program offices, and allied forces. These senior decision-makers engage in dialogue around current priorities, directives, and acquisition strategies shaping the future of warfighting and advanced manufacturing.
Industry professionals include OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, machine manufacturers, material producers, and software providers delivering solutions for defense applications, supply chain security, and digital integration.
Research organizations, national laboratories, certification bodies, and academic institutions also participate, reinforcing qualification, standards development, and technology maturation.
MilAM 2026 core focus
MilAM 2026 emphasizes the transition from experimentation to repeatable, certified, and scalable deployment of industrial 3D printing across fleets and platforms.
Key priorities include:
- Integrating new production methods into operational systems
- Reducing cost and iteration cycles
- Strengthening supply chain resilience and responsiveness
Mission-critical applications
The event highlights flight-critical and combat-critical components, as well as sustainment and battlefield repair use cases, where advanced production techniques directly support operational readiness and mission success.
MilAM 2026: strategic value and benefits
MilAM 2026 provides a unique opportunity for industry professionals, military leaders, and international partners to engage at a strategic level. By fostering public–private collaboration, the summit accelerates technology transfer, shortens development cycles, and aligns additive manufacturing initiatives with defense acquisition and sustainment frameworks.
The event supports forward-deployed manufacturing, mitigates spare parts obsolescence, and reduces logistics burdens—key advantages in contested and distributed operational environments.
Through networking, expert presentations, and direct engagement with policymakers, MilAM reinforces its role as a driving force behind integrating additive technologies into modern defense strategies.
Technologies showcased at MilAM 2026
MilAM 2026 offers a comprehensive showcase of printing technologies and advanced manufacturing solutions shaping the future of military and aerospace production.
Metal additive manufacturing for defense
Key technologies include Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF, EBM) and Directed Energy Deposition (DED), presented through live demonstrations and technical presentations.
Discussions address material performance, process control, and techno-economic analysis, helping attendees assess cost, scalability, and operational value.
Polymer and composite AM systems
High-performance thermoplastics, continuous fiber reinforcement, and large-format AM systems are showcased for tooling, fixtures, and structural components, supporting faster iteration and reduced lead times.
Software, digital thread, and qualification tools
Software solutions for simulation, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and process monitoring are highlighted, alongside secure data management, IP protection, and certification-by-analysis approaches essential for defense qualification.
Extrude Hone solutions for metal additive manufacturing
As a leading supplier of surface enhancement technologies for over half a century, we are now committed to pushing the boundaries of AM.
Extrude Hone has specifically anticipated the finishing challenges unique to additive manufacturing by developing a dedicated range of AFM supports and media designed to address the geometric complexity and surface conditions characteristic of AM parts.
These media have been formulated to adapt to tortuous internal channels, lattice structures, and local variations in material density, while ensuring controlled and repeatable material removal.
Thanks to optimized carriers and abrasives selected according to alloys and additive processes (SLM, EBM, DMLS, etc.), Extrude Hone achieves levels of finish, throughput, and functional performance that are unattainable with conventional methods.
Extrude Hone provides advanced surface-finishing and flow optimization solutions that enhance the performance, reliability, and lifecycle of metal additive manufacturing components for defense and aerospace applications.
Meet our experts at the Extrude Hone booth
Visit the Extrude Hone booth during MilAM 2026 to connect with our experts, explore our capabilities, and discuss how our solutions support mission-critical additive manufacturing programs.
Experience how Extrude Hone helps shape the future of defense manufacturing.
