Being invited to present to the VDMA — Germany's largest and most influential mechanical engineering industry association — is a significant recognition of Lines Manufacturing's growing reputation as a leader in large-scale additive manufacturing. We were honoured to host a dedicated webinar for VDMA's network of industrial members, sharing our technology, our industrial case studies, and our vision for the future of large-format polymer production.
The Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau (VDMA) represents over 3,500 member companies in Germany's mechanical and plant engineering sector — one of the country's most important industrial pillars. Its members design and manufacture the machines, systems, and equipment that underpin industries from automotive and food processing to energy and chemicals. When VDMA's network pays attention to a technology, German industry pays attention.
The association has been actively tracking the industrialisation of additive manufacturing — the transition from prototyping tool to genuine production system — and Lines Manufacturing was invited to contribute a manufacturer's perspective: what does it actually look like to produce industrial polymer parts at scale, and where does large-scale additive manufacturing fit into the production strategies of established German manufacturers?
The webinar covered the core pillars of Lines' technology and value proposition, structured around the questions that German industrial buyers most frequently ask:
– Capability boundaries: What sizes, geometries, and materials can Lines' FGF systems handle, and what are the current constraints?
– Production economics: How does the cost structure of large-scale additive manufacturing compare to injection moulding, thermoforming, or machined composite tooling?
– Quality and certification: What validation processes ensure that additively manufactured parts meet the performance and regulatory requirements of industries like automotive and rail?
– Industrial case studies: Real-world examples of large components produced with Lines technology for clients in mobility, marine, and infrastructure sectors.
– Integration into existing production systems: How do Lines machines fit alongside conventional manufacturing assets, and what does the operational workflow look like?
The Q&A session that followed was detailed and technically demanding — exactly what you would expect from VDMA's membership. Questions ranged from material recyclability and process repeatability to remote monitoring capability and after-sales support structures. Our team welcomed the challenge: this is the kind of rigorous interrogation that sharpens our thinking and improves how we communicate our product to industrial buyers.
Several participants expressed specific interest in applications for tooling, jigs and fixtures, and spare parts programmes — areas where large-scale additive manufacturing offers compelling advantages over traditional methods and where Lines has proven production experience.
Events like this VDMA webinar are an important part of Lines Manufacturing's engagement strategy in Germany. We believe in taking the time to educate the market — not just promoting our technology, but helping industrial decision-makers understand where and how it creates genuine value. The more deeply German manufacturers understand large-scale additive manufacturing, the better placed they are to integrate it intelligently into their operations.
We are grateful to VDMA for the invitation and to all the participants for their thoughtful engagement. If you are a VDMA member and would like to continue the conversation, our German team is ready to meet you — in Frankfurt, at your facility, or on a follow-up call. Reach out at vertrieb@lines-manufacturing.com.
