Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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 welcome
01:47 Fashion to additive
04:27 Funding and mission
06:52 Blue Origin breakthrough
08:27 Becoming a dev partner
12:19 I3D today scale
15:29 Growing talent academy
17:05 Growth phases and pandemic
20:22 Acquisition and turnkey expansion
22:06 Private equity tipping point
27:43 Private Equity Momentum
28:41 Flow Driven Applications
32:54 Supply Chain Use Cases
35:12 Scaling Production Know How
40:21 One Stop Shop Strategy
43:14 Customers Get Smarter
47:31 Next Wave Breakthroughs
53:03 AI In Additive Manufacturing
57:25 Closing Thanks
____________________
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Privacy Policy: https://www.eos.info/en/footer/privac...
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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 welcome
01:47 Fashion to additive
04:27 Funding and mission
06:52 Blue Origin breakthrough
08:27 Becoming a dev partner
12:19 I3D today scale
15:29 Growing talent academy
17:05 Growth phases and pandemic
20:22 Acquisition and turnkey expansion
22:06 Private equity tipping point
27:43 Private Equity Momentum
28:41 Flow Driven Applications
32:54 Supply Chain Use Cases
35:12 Scaling Production Know How
40:21 One Stop Shop Strategy
43:14 Customers Get Smarter
47:31 Next Wave Breakthroughs
53:03 AI In Additive Manufacturing
57:25 Closing Thanks
____________________
Subscribe to our YouTube channel:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/eosgmbh?sub_c...
Follow us:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/eos
Twitter: twitter.com/eos3dprinting
Instagram: instagram.com/eos3dprinting
____________________
Imprint: eos.info/en/footer/imprint
Privacy Policy: https://www.eos.info/en/footer/privac...
____________________
