2027
DETROIT
APRIL 13-15 | DETROIT, MI Huntington Place
TURN DEMOS INTO DEALS
Featuring
Produced By
Colocated with
North America’s Leading Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial 3D Printing Event.
rapid3devent.com
DETROIT: MANUFACTURING STARTS HERE
The Great Lakes Region is one of North America’s largest concentrations of advanced manufacturing, with global leaders in automotive, mobility, robotics, healthcare, tooling, industrial equipment and materials all within reach. It’s the ideal market for companies selling additive manufacturing technologies and services.
Manufacturing Scale
Michigan’s manufacturing sector generated more than $114 billion in GDP in 2024, making it one of the largest manufacturing economies in the United States.1
Aerospace and Defense Expansion
Michigan’s defense and aerospace industry supports over 166,000 jobs statewide.2
Automotive Supplier Ecosystem
96 of North America’s top 100 automotive suppliers have a Michigan presence. 2
Made in Michigan
Ford | GM | Stellantis | GE Aerospace Stryker | Eaton | Bosch | General Dynamics Rocket Companies | Siemens
1 2
2
Michigan Economic Development Corporation Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
BUSINESS BEGINS ON THE SHOW FLOOR
Today’s buyers have unlimited access to webinars, videos, and online content. They come to RAPID + TCT for something digital can’t provide: hands-on product experiences, real conversations with technical experts and the confidence that comes from seeing solutions in person. That’s why attendees spend hours exploring the exhibit hall and why most leave planning follow-up conversations and purchasing decisions.
THE IN-PERSON ADVANTAGE PRODUCT DISCOVERY
70%
TAKE ACTION
TIME INVESTED
85% 89% 1 2 3
attend RAPID + TCT to discover new products and technologies. 2
of young professionals take action after visiting exhibitor booths. 3
PREFERRED LEARNING
9
rank in-person events as their preferred source for professional learning, more than any other. 1
average hours attendees spend on the RAPID + TCT show floor. 2
2026 SME - Freeman Trends Report 2026 RAPID + TCT Exhibitor Survey
CEIR Cracking the Code of Young Professionals’ Trade Show Floor Engagement Preferences
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RAPID + TCT 2026: BY THE NUMBERS
10,000
260+ 48+
TOTAL EVENT ATTENDANCE
30,000+ 130+
NUMBER OF SPEAKERS
52
INDUSTRY ALLIANCES
JOB FUNCTIONS
31% Product Design and Development 21% Owner/Company Management/
Corporate Executive
LEADS SCANNED
HOURS OF EDUCATIONAL CONTENT
COUNTRIES REPRESENTED
500+ 425
EXHIBITING COMPANIES
NEW PRODUCTS ON DISPLAY
105,000+
EVENT SQ. FT.
19% Manufacturing Engineering/Production 14% Other Job Function* 15% Sales and Marketing *Includes Educator, IT Systems, Control Engineering, Purchasing and QA.
2,500 and over
COMPANY SIZE
10%
Less than 20
36%
500-2,499
13%
Number of Employees
100-499
19%
20-49 50-99
10%
4
12%
PRIMARY BUSINESSES REPRESENTED Research & Development
Consulting / Engineering
Automotive
Defense / Government / Military
Consumer Goods
Medical / Healthcare
Aerospace / Aviation
PURCHASING POWER
79
%
of RAPID + TCT attendees influence equipment purchase decisions in their companies.
31
%
of RAPID + TCT attendees had equipment budgets that exceeded $200,000.
BUDGET 28% Up to $20,000 26% 22%
$20,001 - $50,000
$50,001 - $200,000
14% $200,001 - $1,000,000 10%
Over $1,000,001
RAPID + TCT 2027 WILL SELL OUT — DON’T WAIT TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE Reserve your preferred exhibitor space now for the additive manufacturing event of the year before it sells out! To reserve your exhibit space or receive additional details, email us at rapid.tct@sme.org.
When you exhibit at RAPID + TCT, your investment is supported by our comprehensive marketing and public relations campaign! Last year’s efforts made nearly 1,500,000,000 impressions across 1,501 media mentions. All exhibit space purchases include: • Customized turnkey marketing tools (including leads generated) • Unlimited Expo Passes (booth staff and guests) • 20% off Conference Passes (booth staff and guests) • Dedicated account representative • Comprehensive exhibitor profile (website and app) • Media relations support rapid3devent.com
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GET NOTICED WHERE AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE MANUFACTURING INNOVATIONS SOAR Connect with defense and aerospace professionals actively seeking advanced manufacturing solutions for flexibility, speed and adaptability. With strong attendance from DoW, military contractors, and government agencies, this showcase is designed for exhibitors who deliver cutting-edge technologies for aerospace, mobility and defense applications. In the AeroDef Knowledge Bar, APEX Accelerators facilitate small group sessions to discuss best practices for conducting business safely and securely in the defense industry and other federal departments.
DETROIT: MISSION HQ ARMY PURCHASING POWERHOUSE
70% 6
of U.S. Army purchases are facilitated by the Army Contracting Command– Detroit Arsenal.
HISTORY OF DEFENSE FULFILLMENT
IRONCLAD NETWORK
in annual Department of War contracts flow through Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Pennsylvania — the multistate manufacturing and defense corridor surrounding AeroDef Detroit.
Tap into SME’s massive network of aerospace and defense employer relationships including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, BWXT, and many more.
PREVIOUS AERODEF ATTENDEES •
Mechanical Engineering Division Chief — U.S. Army GVSC
•
Advisor Materials Engineer — Naval Nuclear Laborator
•
Director, Office of Small Business Programs — U.S. Navy Industrial Plant Equipment Program Lead
•
Commander — Navy Regional Maintenance Center
•
Commander USACE Detroit District — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
•
Sr. Principal Propulsion Engineer — Northrop Grumman
•
Research Engineering Senior Manager — Lockheed Martin
•
Manufacturing Engineer — Oak Ridge National Laboratory
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A high‑value showcase of next‑generation manufacturing tools, systems and solutions, including a Knowledge Bar on the show floor exclusively for companies in the smart manufacturing space. Discover smart manufacturing technologies, including advanced automation, real‑time data intelligence and connected digital systems, to create highly efficient, adaptive production environments that optimize quality, reduce downtime and accelerate decision‑making.
IS YOUR TECHNOLOGY RESHAPING THE FACTORY FLOOR? The Smart Manufacturing Experience Showcase is designed for companies whose products and services drive manufacturing’s digital transformation. If you recognize your category below, you belong on the RAPID + TCT show floor.
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• Industrial IoT & Connectivity
• Manufacturing Cybersecurity
• Artificial Intelligence & Analytics
• CAD/CAM & MES Software
• Digital Twins & Simulation
• Cloud & Edge Computing
• Robotics & Automation
• Workforce & Training Tech
Explore technologies and solutions from America
Makes members advancing additive and advanced manufacturing, and discover how industry,
government and research partners are working
together to accelerate adoption and strengthen U.S. manufacturing. The showcase also brings
innovation to life through the Additives in Steel
Challenge, highlighting new approaches to additive manufacturing for the steel industry.
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING START UP SHOWCASE
Along with attracting established names, RAPID + TCT prides itself on nurturing the next generation of
advanced manufacturing technology providers.
The Advanced Manufacturing Start Up Showcase
creates space for emerging technology applications and cutting-edge software and hardware to market. On the floor, attendees can meet founders, ask
questions and explore technologies at their earliest commercial stages.
Email RAPID.TCT@SME.ORG to learn how you can showcase your innovations at North America’s leading advanced manufacturing and industrial 3D printing event.
GET NOTICED
AMERICA MAKES SHOWCASE
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REAL ROI. REAL IMPACT. REAL EXHIBITORS. A turning point for us. We built strong relationships with US distributors and formed key partnerships with OEMs. Those conversations turned into real business faster than we expected.”
— Daniel Flachsenberg, Head of Additive Manufacturing DIAMANT Polymer GmbH
An outstanding event for the Direct Dimensions team. From connecting with customers, partners and industry leaders, the show delivered valuable conversations and new opportunities. We’re excited to build on that momentum in Detroit.”
– Michael Raphael, Founder and CEO Direct Dimensions Inc.
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Our most important show in the Americas: engaged visitors, high-quality conversations and a front-row view of the technologies shaping our industry. We can’t wait to be back.”
– Dominik Oehler, Senior Global Event Manager DyeMansion
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1000 Town Center, Suite 1910 Southfield, Michigan 48075
2027
DETROIT, MI APRIL 13-15
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING’S NORTH AMERICAN HOME FOR 36 YEARS. RAPID3DEVENT.COM