May 02, 2025 In this episode, Craig Rosenblum, President of Himed, joins the 3DHEALS podcast to reflect on the evolution of the additive manufacturing industry following RAPID + TCT 2025. Anchored by EOS President Glynn Fletcher’s statement, “3D printing is cool, but cool is not a business model,” the conversation explores the shift from flashy tech demos to meaningful, scalable applications—especially in healthcare. Craig shares insights from the conference, including advances in hydrogel-based rapid liquid printing, the growing role of supporting industries like materials suppliers and test labs, and the increasing emphasis on cross-sector collaboration. With a background in materials science and decades of biomaterials leadership, Craig offers a grounded perspective on how 3D printing is moving from hype to health-impacting reality.
Our Guest:
Craig Rosenblum is the President of Himed. Over 30 years of operation, Himed has become a global leader in calcium phosphate based biomaterial production and has developed proprietary plasma spray coatings and surface treatments. Craig and his team collaborate directly with dental and medical device manufacturers around the world to provide innovative biomaterial solutions. Craig received his B.S. and M.S. degree in Materials Science & Engineering with a Biomaterials concentration from The Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD). With a focus in biomaterials characterization, his groundbreaking research explored the variations in the microstructure and mechanical properties of dental enamel. These studies were the first to demonstrate the unique heterogeneous nature of enamel. Craig also serves on The Johns Hopkins University Materials Science & Engineering Advisory Board and is a community manager with 3DHeals, focusing on healthcare 3D printing.
Show Notes:
When EOS president Glynn Fletcher declared “3D printing is cool, but cool is not a business model” at Rapid TCT 2025, he captured the evolution across the additive manufacturing landscape. In this eye-opening conversation with Craig Rosenblum, president of Himed, we explore how the industry matures beyond technological demonstrations toward practical, sustainable applications.
Craig brings a unique perspective as both a materials science expert and the leader of a 35-year-old biomaterials company (Himed) that has adapted to incorporate 3D printing into its portfolio. He walks us through the shifts he observed at North America’s largest 3D printing conference, where the atmosphere has noticeably changed from previous years’ technology showcases to focused discussions on industry-specific solutions.
The conversation reveals fascinating developments, from the MIT startup creating “gravity-defying” materials through Rapid Liquid Printing in hydrogels to the reality behind AI buzzwords in additive manufacturing. We discuss how the ecosystem surrounding 3D printing is expanding, with increased participation from supporting industries like materials suppliers and testing laboratories, who recognize their crucial role in advancing the technology.
Perhaps most compelling is the emphasis on collaboration over competition. As Stratasys CEO Yoav Zeif noted, “The competition is status quo” – a recognition that advancing additive manufacturing requires collective effort across sectors rather than siloed approaches. This collaborative mindset particularly resonates in healthcare applications, where improved patient outcomes provide a powerful shared purpose.
Whether you’re a 3D printing professional, healthcare innovator, or curious about how manufacturing is evolving, this conversation offers valuable insights into an industry at an inflection point – moving from what’s possible to what’s useful, from technological spectacle to sustainable transformation.
Related Links:
The 3D Frontier of Medical Devices: A Conversation With Sam Onukuri (podcast)
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