{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Additive Snack","title":"From Fashion to Metal AM: Scaling Additive Manufacturing into Production","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3526,"description":"Host Fabian Alefeld interviews Erin Mastroni, President and founder of I3D Manufacturing (founded 2013), about building one of the largest additive-focused contract manufacturers and the industry’s shift from prototyping to production. Mastroni describes moving from fashion retail and trend forecasting to an MBA in sustainable business, spotting production AM as a key trend, and launching a metal powder bed fusion business in Oregon with limited traditional manufacturing experience. She recounts early funding challenges, using SBA/New Market Tax Credits, and landing Blue Origin as an early customer, which helped establish I3D as a fast-moving development partner known for tackling difficult materials like titanium and new nickel alloys with EOS. I3D grew from 5 people and two machines to two campuses, ~30 machines, and 54 employees, is launching an internal “I3D Academy,” navigated a severe COVID revenue drop without layoffs, and was acquired in 2023 by BTX Precision (L Squared Partners), expanding into turnkey CNC and broader capabilities while discussing PE’s role, production scalability, and emerging AI opportunities.00:00 Podcast welcome01:47 Fashion to additive04:27 Funding and mission06:52 Blue Origin breakthrough08:27 Becoming a dev partner12:19 I3D today scale15:29 Growing talent academy17:05 Growth phases and pandemic20:22 Acquisition and turnkey expansion22:06 Private equity tipping point27:43 Private Equity Momentum28:41 Flow Driven Applications32:54 Supply Chain Use Cases35:12 Scaling Production Know How40:21 One Stop Shop Strategy43:14 Customers Get Smarter47:31 Next Wave Breakthroughs53:03 AI In Additive Manufacturing57:25 Closing Thanks","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/27ZYLdyZ8MHWZlxUWh87sIQyB5ttPhwcP3_CmUBDsv0/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzE2NDk0LzE3MDU5/NDgwMjItYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}