PostProcess Technologies 5th Edition Report Reveals Post-Processing Challenges for 2026

PostProcess Technologies has released the 5th edition of its annual post-processing trends report, and the findings reveal growing concerns about scalability in additive manufacturing.

Key Findings

For the first time, achieving consistent part quality across batches has become the top challenge, cited by 54% of respondents. This is closely followed by the time required for post-processing operations at 53%.

The survey also found that 70% of respondents doubt their current post-processing methods can keep pace with increasing production volumes as AM moves toward finished part production.

What Hasnt Changed

Support removal (59%) and surface finishing (48%) remain the two most commonly used post-processing techniques since the surveys began in 2019. Material extrusion continues to be the dominant AM process, followed by resin-based and powder-based methods.

The Investment Gap

Only 25% of total AM expenses go toward post-processing for most companies surveyed. While 68% prioritize improving end part quality, 52% say their top investment priority is redirecting labor to higher-value operations.

As production volumes increase and AM becomes more focused on finished parts, the post-processing sector must evolve to meet scale and throughput demands.

Download the full report here