Beyond the hype: How additive manufacturing offers modern robotics flexibility

While the general hype around 3D printing has calmed down, its practical application in specific, high-stakes industries like drone manufacturing reveals its real transformative power. 

Alexandre d’Orsetti, CEO of Sculpteo, explains how the
journey of Dronavia, a French drone safety solutions provider, offers interesting insights on how to leverage additive manufacturing for tangible business advantages.

The modern robotics dilemma: Agility vs scalability
Traditional manufacturing processes often present
a dilemma: the need for agility in design iteration clashes with the high costs and lead times associated with tooling for scalability. This issue is particularly acute for companies such as Dronavia, which specialises
in critical drone safety systems, including parachutes, circuit breaker systems, and geofencing solutions.

Each drone model, each new regulation, each specific client requirement demands a tailored approach, yet the end product needs to be
robust, reliable and, eventually, mass-produced. This is where additive manufacturing – specifically technologies like Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) with materials like Nylon PA12 – is useful to bridge the gap.

Read the full article in DPA's August 2025 issue