3D Printing Industry in France
The French edition of The 3D Printing World Guide was published on 2025-02-25. It featured eleven companies representing five segments of France 3D printing market.
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France 3D printing industry
In France, when we talk about 3D printing, we are not just talking about a technology; we are talking about history, innovation, and a little of that iconic French charm.
France, being one of the world’s largest economies and a usual suspect when it comes to adopting new technologies, wasn’t absent from 3D printing’s first steps. Back in the 1980s, when 3D printing was still the province of science-fiction dreams, with its storied tradition of engineering, France was diving in. With institutions like École Polytechnique tinkering on early machines and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) playing a pivotal role in advancing 3D printing through groundbreaking research, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, and pushing the boundaries of materials science.
Change doesn’t happen overnight of course, but over the decades more and more applications have found their way to traditional production. French OEMs, such as Airbus and Safran, have been leading the industry in using 3D-printed metal components that make planes lighter, greener, and cooler.
This was while the luxury sector — always the one at the cutting edge of what’s next — began to employ 3D printing to make everything from haute couture to fine jewelry. Think a 3D-printed cast of a recognizable Chanel perfume bottle or a piece of experimental Hermès jewelry that appears to be from 3000 A.D. Only in France, right?
Of course, there have been plenty of obstacles, too. There were challenges, such as learning how to optimize designs and navigate challenging materials. But, as the French say, “C’est en forgeant qu’on devient forgeron” (It’s by forging that one becomes a blacksmith). And forge they did, transforming adversity into opportunity. Companies like Dassault Systèmes have done immense progress in the field of design digitalization and others, like Michelin, have led exploration efforts on next-generation 3D-printed tires.
Today, France is one of the world leaders in Additive Manufacturing, with a rich ecosystem that touches aerospace, healthcare, transportation and -you guessed it- fashion. From government-sponsored initiatives to community maker movements, innovation is everywhere.
France’s 3D printing journey has been one of curiosity, collaboration, and tons of French flair. It’s about building wild ideas, one layer at a time—and really, what’s more fun than that?
by Filippos Voulpiotis (3DNatives)
Filippos Voulpiotis is CEO of 3DNatives, associated with it since 2018. 3Dnatives is the largest international online media platform on 3D printing and its applications. With its in-depth analysis of the market, 3Dnatives gets over 1.3 million unique visitors per month and is currently available in English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian.