Iran 3D Show Demonstrates Promise of Growing Iranian 3D Printing Industry

In March, we learned that Iran would soon be hosting its first 3D printing trade show, the Additive Manufacturing Symposium. Despite a couple of date changes – and a name change to Iran 3D Show – the conference was held this month and demonstrated that Iran is heading steadily in the direction of 3D printing. The show included an exhibition, several speeches and a competition that involved 17 3D printer manufacturers encompassing 13 FDM machines and four DLP 3D printers.

About 30 companies exhibited, including 3DFast, Sizan, iDesign, Rahimian, APA and Noura Layeh Negar, growing Iranian companies that we could be hearing much more about in the future in terms of building up Iran’s 3D printing industry. The country is serious about creating a strong 3D printing economy, beginning by investing in 3D printing-related startups as well as adding additive manufacturing programs in colleges and universities.

“This event was officially the first immersive effort to gather those who are active in AM or 3D Printing industry,” Dr. Mashayekh of the Vice Presidency of Advanced Manufacturing and Material Development told 3DBaz. “Given that this field is too young in the country, therefore we audience rate is low. But we assume big crowds of this small group of people have participated and come for the event. We hope the numbers go high in the upcoming years so we can consider it in more global aspects.”

Keynotes included discussion of dental 3D printing, Fab Labs, jewelry, bioprinting, and more. Jewelry is one of the first applications that alerted us to the growth of 3D printing in Iran. The technology had a significant presence at February’s Iran Gold Expo, illustrating how firmly established it’s become in the jewelry industry as well as its emergence in a country that hasn’t seen a whole lot of it thus far.

That seems to be changing, though. The first 3D printer manufacturer in Iran was Sizan, which has been producing 3D printers for over three years and also began the country’s first 3D printing service bureau. Others have since joined it, but Sizan remains a standout, as evidenced by its victory in the FDM portion of the Iran 3D Show 3D printer competition. Competition winners included:

• Sizan, first place, FDM for the 3L 3D printer
• ZXprinter, second place, FDM for the Hermes
• Namagostar Diaco Rad, third place, FDM for the Diaco S
• Parsa3D, first place, DLP
• Karno Jam, second place, DLP

While attendance may have been on the low side, as Dr. Mashayekh pointed out, that’s evidence that the industry is still a young one in the country. The  Vice Presidency of Science and Technology Affairs recently established a roadmap with the goal of making Iran a leader in additive manufacturing over the next decade; the ultimate objective is to see Iran holding 40% of the Middle Eastern 3D printing market in 10 years.

“3D printing is about software, electronics and materials. Investors from inside and outside must cooperate until this technology reach a stable point. We have 10-year plans so we can finally export Iranian 3D printing machines in initial markets like Africa and south eastern Asia,” said Dr. Mehrdad Shokrieh, Secretary of Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Development.

“Also we have to engage knowledge-based companies to attract general audience especially by submitting multi-media contents. Another plan will be forming the Iranian 3D printing forum which will gather both academic and industrial institutions. Iran must reach its market share up to 40% in Middle-East for the 2026 road-map.”

It’s exciting to watch a new industry emerge within a country, and we’ll continue to follow the growth of 3D printing in Iran. This three-day event was a promising sign of what looks to be the start of a great deal of forward momentum. Discuss in the Iran 3D Show forum at 3DPB.com.