3D printing news, October 2026

Every month we pick a few industry updates and explain them for people who design and make parts. This October: a printer with four nozzles, a tax incentive for industrial 3D printers in Italy, and two trade fairs worth a date in the diary.

Four 3D printed brackets in white PLA, translucent PETG, black ABS and grey ASA
One bracket, four materialsPLA, PETG, ABS, ASA

1. Four nozzles, swapped in five seconds

Creality has launched the K3, an FDM (fused filament) printer with four nozzles, one for each filament. The maker says a nozzle swap takes about five seconds. International pre-orders are expected from mid-October, at under 900 dollars.

What it means for parts. With one nozzle per filament, less material is wasted at each colour change, and two materials are easier to combine in one part. A shape prototype rarely needs it, but for a part with areas that must stand out at a glance, such as a control or a grip, it becomes cheaper.

Source: Notebookcheck, 11 October 2026

2. Italy's 2026 tax incentive covers industrial 3D printers

Italy's 2026 Budget Law introduced a super-depreciation scheme (iperammortamento) for new capital goods. Industrial 3D printers are on the list, as long as they are new and connected to the company's production system. The uplift is 180% on investments up to 2.5 million euros, and applications go through the GSE platform, open since 12 June 2026.

What it means for parts. If you are thinking of bringing 3D printing in-house, it now pays more. Before buying a machine, though, it is worth knowing which parts you really need, in which materials and how often: printing the first parts with an outside studio helps you choose the right machine, or shows you do not need one. Some rules are still being settled, such as whether the goods must be made in Europe, so always check with your accountant.

Sources: Money.it, updated 31 March 2026 · FiscoeTasse, June 2026

3. Formnext, Frankfurt, 17-20 November 2026

The world's largest trade fair for additive manufacturing, meaning industrial 3D printing: machines, materials, software and applications.

What it means for parts. If you go, look for engineering materials and shop-floor applications such as jigs, soft jaws and inspection fixtures. That is where 3D printing saves money straight away, even for small companies.

Source: 3Dnatives, Formnext 2026

4. MECSPE, Bologna, 3-5 March 2027

Italy's main manufacturing fair returns to BolognaFiere. Tickets are expected to go on sale in November.

What it means for parts. In one day you can see machines, processes and suppliers across the supply chain. Put it in the diary now; we will come back to it in February.

Source: MECSPE, visitor information

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