Highlighting a uncommon business effort, Materialise (Nasdaq: MTLS) has filed a specialised disclosure (Kind SD) with the US Securities and Alternate Fee (SEC), describing the way it screens the usage of battle minerals generally often called 3TG like tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold, throughout its 3D printing operations. These supplies, generally utilized in electronics and superior manufacturing, are typically sourced from conflict-affected areas just like the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Though the corporate doesn’t supply uncooked supplies instantly, it surveyed its suppliers to hint the origin of those minerals. The findings revealed that some supplies might have originated from high-risk areas, however suppliers usually couldn’t verify their precise sources.
In response, Materialise outlined a technique to strengthen transparency, together with provider engagement and alignment with worldwide due diligence frameworks just like the Organisation for Financial Co-operation and Improvement (OECD) tips. This can be a extensively used algorithm that assist corporations examine the place their minerals come from and ensure they’re not linked to battle or abuse.
This uncommon look into moral sourcing within the additive manufacturing (AM) sector raises essential questions on how 3D printing corporations handle world provide chains. Materialise’s technique displays a rising, although nonetheless uncommon, effort within the business to carry extra transparency to sourcing practices.
Certainly, most non-public and non-US corporations aren’t required to file these disclosures. Nonetheless, the difficulty is changing into extra related as 3D printing strikes deeper into sectors like aerospace, medical gadgets, and electronics—industries the place provide chain guidelines are stricter. Materialise’s transparency brings consideration to part of the 3D printing world that doesn’t usually make headlines: how supplies are sourced, and whether or not that course of helps moral practices. In doing so, it additionally exposes what stays a blind spot within the business, not in compliance however in dialog, transparency, and public accountability.
The place minerals are discovered within the Democratic Republic of Congo. Picture courtesy of PANZI.
Underneath US regulation (particularly Rule 13p-1 of the Securities Alternate Act), corporations should report whether or not the 3TG metals used of their merchandise come from the Democratic Republic of the Congo or close by international locations, the place mining has been linked to violence and human rights abuses. Whereas the rule focuses on the Congo area, different areas like Myanmar, Indonesia, and components of South America have additionally raised considerations over related points.
From 2023 by 2025, nearly all main publicly traded 3D printing corporations—together with 3D Programs, Stratasys, Desktop Metallic, Velo3D, Materialise, Shapeways, voxeljet, and Markforged—filed the required Kind SD disclosures. These whose merchandise comprise 3TG metals additionally submitted Battle Minerals Studies (CMRs) describing efforts to hint the supply of those supplies. Whereas no firm on this sector prevented submitting, the extent of element and transparency various extensively. Smaller service-oriented corporations like Shapeways (now owned by WVS Worldwide) and international issuers resembling Materialise and voxeljet weren’t exempt.
Most corporations explicitly reference the OECD Due Diligence Steering because the framework for his or her battle minerals program. For instance, 3D Programs states that its due diligence measures have been “designed to adapt, in all materials respects, with the … OECD’s Due Diligence Steering.” In the meantime, Stratasys equally outlines its course of in accordance with the 5 steps outlined by the OECD.
This exhibits that many corporations within the 3D printing business are taking battle minerals guidelines severely and attempting to observe worldwide requirements. Those who filed a Battle Minerals Report mentioned they’d inside groups dealing with the method, checked for dangers by surveying their suppliers, and took steps to take care of issues, like following up or serving to suppliers perceive the foundations.
Mining operations within the japanese Democratic Republic of Congo. Picture courtesy of Sufficient Undertaking
Greater corporations like 3D Programs and Stratasys mentioned they assessment third-party audit information on the smelters of their provide chain and publish their findings yearly. They embrace sections corresponding to every OECD step, talk about the usage of instruments just like the Accountable Minerals Initiative (RMI’s) smelter database, and, in 3D Programs’ case, embrace tables of smelters and international locations of origin recognized. Additionally they discuss follow-up actions, resembling 3D Programs’ “escalation plan” for red-flag smelters.
Smaller corporations adopted related steps, simply on a smaller scale. For instance, Shapeways requested all its key suppliers to fill out varieties about the place their supplies got here from after which checked these solutions in opposition to a trusted listing of accredited smelters.
Each firm that filed a CMR reached out to its provide chain to collect data on mineral sourcing. For instance, 3D Programs reported that it encourages suppliers to use licensed conflict-free smelters, whereas Stratasys and Shapeways reported 100% or near-100% response charges from their surveyed suppliers.
Briefly, public 3D printing corporations that filed full CMRs did so as a result of they couldn’t make certain concerning the supply of some supplies. Their detailed studies—particularly in comparison with these in different sectors—counsel the business is making a severe effort to fulfill the requirements.
Subscribe to Our Electronic mail E-newsletter
Keep up-to-date on all the most recent information from the 3D printing business and obtain data and provides from third social gathering distributors.
Add your 3D Fashions and get them printed shortly and effectively.
