HP Targets 50 Percent Cut in 3D Printing Hardware Costs
Industrial operators should prepare for lower ownership costs as the manufacturer prioritizes end-use production scalability.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Manufacturing
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HP Additive Manufacturing is aiming to slash the total cost of ownership for its 3D printing systems by 50 percent every few years. The initiative seeks to shift the industry from prototyping toward end-use production.
Why it matters
The company views persistent cost reductions as a critical lever to drive widespread additive manufacturing adoption and overcome designer inertia. Reducing these overheads could significantly impact firms currently evaluating the transition from traditional manufacturing methods.
HP targets a 50 percent total cost of ownership reduction every two to three years, building on its 15-year involvement in the 3D printing space. Currently, partner operators like ADDMAN maintain fleets of 35 printers to manage production throughput.
The players
HP Additive Manufacturing
A division of the global technology hardware manufacturer that provides industrial 3D printing solutions and materials.
Alex Moñino
The senior vice president and general manager of HP Additive Manufacturing Solutions with a 29-year tenure at the company.
ADDMAN
A 3D printing service provider that operates 35 printers in San Diego to support high-volume manufacturing output.
The details
HP leverages internal AI to recalibrate printer consistency, ensuring output tolerance across disparate hardware. By utilizing broader HP procurement networks while maintaining dedicated sales teams, the division works to lower operational barriers. The firm is also expanding its material capabilities, introducing new filaments to process applications its Multi Jet Fusion technology could not previously handle.
Timeline
2013: HP officially approved its Multi Jet Fusion business plan.
2026: Alex Moñino outlined the division's current additive strategy.
Market Landscape
HP is attempting to break the historical precedent of 3D printing remaining limited to prototyping by forcing costs down through process development. This strategy aims to shift the sector toward end-use production, which the firm expects to provide the majority of its revenue within five to ten years.
Operators currently using additive manufacturing should track their equipment's total cost of ownership against HP's biennial reduction targets. As hardware consistency improves through AI-driven calibration, businesses may find it increasingly viable to migrate parts from traditional molding to 3D production.
The takeaway
HP is focusing on recurring cost efficiency to convert 3D printing from a prototyping tool into a high-volume production standard. Operators should monitor their own machine maintenance cycles and output consistency metrics to determine when additive processes reach price parity for their end-use parts.
Further reading
For more on industry hardware trends, visit our Manufacturing section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Engineering.
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