In a new insight piece, “The Real Cost of 3D Printing: Beyond Price per Part,” 3D People Co-Founders Sasha Bruml and Felix Manley explain that while unit price comparisons make sense for traditional processes like injection moulding, they fail to reflect the transformative economics and agility of additive manufacturing (AM).

(25th November 2025, London, U.K.) London-based additive manufacturing specialist 3D People is urging manufacturers to abandon outdated metrics when evaluating 3D printing, warning that a fixation on price per part risks hiding the true value that additive manufacturing brings to modern production.

In a new insight piece, "The Real Cost of 3D Printing: Beyond Price per Part," 3D People Co-Founders Sasha Bruml and Felix Manley explain that while unit price comparisons make sense for traditional processes like injection moulding, they fail to reflect the transformative economics and agility of additive manufacturing (AM).

"Additive isn't just a different way to make parts, it's a completely different production philosophy," says Manley. "When companies focus purely on price per part, they miss the bigger picture, design freedom, shorter lead times, reduced inventory, and a more responsive supply chain. These are real commercial advantages that don't show up on a spreadsheet."

Unlike traditional manufacturing, AM requires no expensive tooling, allows rapid design iteration, and enables on-demand production. This flexibility eliminates stockholding and warehousing costs while empowering engineers to optimise components for performance rather than manufacturability.

"The smartest companies are looking beyond unit cost and focusing on total cost of ownership," adds Bruml. "When you factor in savings from lighter designs, reduced assembly complexity, and fewer warranty issues, additive often delivers better long-term value, even when the price per part appears higher."

3D People emphasises that hidden savings in areas such as logistics, quality assurance, and post-processing make additive manufacturing an increasingly strategic choice, particularly for low-to-mid volume production and products with shorter life cycles.

By helping customers understand the complete value chain (from design optimisation to surface finishing and part validation) 3D People is positioning itself as more than a supplier; it's a strategic manufacturing partner guiding companies toward smarter production models.

"We don't just quote parts, we collaborate," says Manley. "Our mission is to help engineers and procurement teams see additive as a full manufacturing solution, not just a quick fix."

As industries across the UK and Europe embrace on-demand digital manufacturing, 3D People's message is clear. The future of manufacturing isn't defined by price per part, it's defined by performance per part.

To access the full insight piece use this url - https://www.3dpeople.uk/3dpeopleuk-blog/the-real-cost-of-3d-printing-beyond-price-per-part/

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