{"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.\n00:00 Podcast welcome\n01:47 Fashion to additive\n04:27 Funding and mission\n06:52 Blue Origin breakthrough\n08:27 Becoming a dev partner\n12:19 I3D today scale\n15:29 Growing talent academy\n17:05 Growth phases and pandemic\n20:22 Acquisition and turnkey expansion\n22:06 Private equity tipping point\n27:43 Private Equity Momentum\n28:41 Flow Driven Applications\n32:54 Supply Chain Use Cases\n35:12 Scaling Production Know How\n40:21 One Stop Shop Strategy\n43:14 Customers Get Smarter\n47:31 Next Wave Breakthroughs\n53:03 AI In Additive Manufacturing\n57:25 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}