As traditional manufacturing wrestles with global supply chain disruptions, soon to be enforced tariffs, shifting consumer demands, and relentless calls for customisation, London-based subcontract 3D printing bureau 3D People is claiming that low-volume production on-demand is no longer a limitation — it’s a strategic advantage.
Today, 3D People announces plans to redouble its efforts to cater for low-volume production demands for its customers, a demand that is by no means new, but which reflects the increased orders for fast, flexible, and functional AM parts in batches that traditional manufacturing simply can’t handle efficiently.
With additive manufacturing (AM) increasingly proving its mettle beyond prototyping, 3D People is helping customers break away from costly tooling, rigid MOQs, and sluggish production cycles.
“Companies are waking up to the fact that tooling costs, minimum order quantities, and inflexible design cycles are killing their ability to adapt,” says Sasha Bruml, Co-Founder of 3D People. “That’s where AM shines. Low-volume production on-demand is no longer a compromise — it’s a competitive edge.”
Across a variety of industries and application areas, demand is rising for high-quality, functional end-use parts in small batches — with short lead times and the freedom to iterate. For many, the ability to produce 50 or 500 precision parts without tooling is reshaping how they launch products and serve customers.
“We’ve been running hundreds of low-volume projects across SLS and MJF for years,” says Felix Manley, Co-Founder of 3D People. “Today, however, the demand is becoming unprecedented. It’s not just about cost — it’s about speed, flexibility, and cutting out waste. Customers are rethinking manufacturing from the ground up, and additive is giving them a whole new playbook.”
Far from a fallback option, 3D People positions AM as the go-to solution for fast-moving, design-led production where performance, aesthetics, and agility matter more than volume.
With shorter product cycles and tighter feedback loops becoming the norm, the companies thriving in 2025 are the ones that can make parts on-demand, pivot without penalties, and go to market faster than ever.
“This isn’t about hype — it’s about hard truths,” adds Bruml. “The old rules don’t apply anymore. Agile, low-volume manufacturing is here, and it’s levelling the playing field for innovators everywhere.”
3D People’s continued focus on streamlining its low-volume production service is a direct response to this industry shift — a bold, practical step that redefines what smart manufacturing can look like today.
