Highlighting a uncommon trade effort, Materialise (Nasdaq: MTLS) has filed a specialised disclosure (Type SD) with the US Securities and Trade Fee (SEC), describing the way it screens using 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 immediately, 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 typically couldn’t affirm their precise sources.
In response, Materialise outlined a method to strengthen transparency, together with provider engagement and alignment with worldwide due diligence frameworks just like the Organisation for Financial Co-operation and Growth (OECD) tips. This can be a extensively used algorithm that assist firms verify 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 vital questions on how 3D printing firms handle world provide chains. Materialise’s technique displays a rising, although nonetheless uncommon, effort within the trade to carry extra transparency to sourcing practices.
Certainly, most non-public and non-US corporations aren’t required to file these disclosures. Nonetheless, the problem is turning 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 typically 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 trade, 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.
Beneath US legislation (particularly Rule 13p-1 of the Securities Trade Act), firms should report whether or not the 3TG metals used of their merchandise come from the Democratic Republic of the Congo or close by nations, 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 elements of South America have additionally raised issues over comparable points.
From 2023 by way of 2025, just about all main publicly traded 3D printing firms—together with 3D Methods, Stratasys, Desktop Steel, Velo3D, Materialise, Shapeways, voxeljet, and Markforged—filed the required Type 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 averted submitting, the extent of element and transparency various extensively. Smaller service-oriented corporations like Shapeways (now owned by WVS Worldwide) and overseas issuers similar to Materialise and voxeljet weren’t exempt.
Most firms explicitly reference the OECD Due Diligence Steering because the framework for his or her battle minerals program. For instance, 3D Methods states that its due diligence measures had been “designed to adapt, in all materials respects, with the … OECD’s Due Diligence Steering.” In the meantime, Stratasys equally outlines its course of based on the 5 steps outlined by the OECD.
This reveals that many firms within the 3D printing trade are taking battle minerals guidelines severely and making an attempt to observe worldwide requirements. People who filed a Battle Minerals Report stated that they had inside groups dealing with the method, checked for dangers by surveying their suppliers, and took steps to cope with issues, like following up or serving to suppliers perceive the principles.
Mining operations within the jap Democratic Republic of Congo. Picture courtesy of Sufficient Undertaking
Larger firms like 3D Methods and Stratasys stated they overview third-party audit knowledge on the smelters of their provide chain and publish their findings yearly. They embody sections corresponding to every OECD step, talk about using instruments just like the Accountable Minerals Initiative (RMI’s) smelter database, and, in 3D Methods’ case, embody tables of smelters and nations of origin recognized. In addition they discuss follow-up actions, similar to 3D Methods’ “escalation plan” for red-flag smelters.
Smaller firms adopted comparable 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 towards a trusted record of accepted smelters.
Each firm that filed a CMR reached out to its provide chain to collect info on mineral sourcing. For instance, 3D Methods 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.
In brief, public 3D printing firms that filed full CMRs did so as a result of they couldn’t make sure in regards to the supply of some supplies. Their detailed experiences—particularly in comparison with these in different sectors—counsel the trade is making a severe effort to fulfill the requirements.
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