Additive Manufacturing Industry Pioneer Picked for AMUG Award

The Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) announces Joe Allison, principal of 3D Ventures and CEO of Gentle Giant Studios, as the recipient of its Innovators Award. AMUG bestows this award on those who have created innovations that have advanced the additive manufacturing (AM) industry.

Since 1988, Allison has been instrumental in innovations that use AM, starting with patented advancements in stereolithography. Over his 34 years in industry, he has created software tools, process improvements and technology refinements. He has also led companies such as Solid Concepts, Stratasys Direct Manufacturing, Evolve Additive Solutions, and Gentle Giant Studios as CEO.

“I was in the CAD/CAM world when I saw a 3D printer for the first time,” says Allison. “I immediately called my recruiter because I wanted to work for that business. That’s how I got my start at 3D Systems in 1988 as a process development engineer. And that was the launching pad of my whole career.”

Allison will be presented with the Innovators Award at the 2025 AMUG Conference. Previous recipients include industry luminaries Chuck Hull, Scott Crump, Carl Deckard, Fried Vancraen, Gideon Levy, Hans Langer, Andy Christensen, Diana Kalisz and Greg Morris.

“Joe Allison has played a pivotal role in the industry over more than three decades,” says Shannon VanDeren, AMUG president. “AMUG is recognizing him with this award for his impact on the industry and its users. That impact extends back to the earliest days of the technology, and his continued contributions of knowledge and input carry us further with each day.”

Allison's Contributions

Allison helped advance stereolithography during his stint at 3D Systems. In 1991, he co-founded Solid Concepts, one of the first 3D printing service bureaus. At Solid Concepts, Allison led the company in adoption of various additive technologies for prototyping and for end-use production.

Allison contributed to technologies such as automated support generation software, Bridgeworks, for stereolithography and a universal CAD viewer, SolidView. Other Solid Concepts achievements included being a third-party supplier to Boeing for flight-certified Selective Laser Sintering parts, and championing the application of Direct Metal Laser Sintering for prototyping and production.

By the time Stratasys acquired it in 2014, Solid Concepts had grown to become a large 3D-printed parts supplier. 

For nearly four years, Allison served as CEO of Stratasys Direct Manufacturing and executive vice president of Stratasys. In those roles, he oversaw the integration of Solid Concepts, Harvest Technologies (another acquisition), and Stratasys’ RedEye service bureau.

“In both of those roles, I continued my career’s work to enable agile production technologies through the integration of 3D printing with conventional manufacturing processes,” says Allison.

“Joe has been a role model for me since I entered the industry in 1996,” says Bruce LeMaster, AMUG’s director at large. “On my first trip to Valencia for training at 3D Systems, I slipped away to visit Joe and his team at Solid Concepts. I was blown away by his expertise and willingness to share. Since then, he has always been willing to help out and give advice when asked. He is truly deserving of the AMUG Innovators Award.”

After departing Stratasys, Allison co-founded 3D Ventures, a venture capital group. He is currently a principal for the group and has seeded over a dozen startups in the 3D printing space. Allison is also chairman of the board for Evolve Additive Solutions, an organization he led as CEO for 2 years during the launch of its new 3D printing technology. Most recently, he took on the CEO role at Gentle Giant Studios.

Throughout his career, Allison has received honors, including being recognized by Inc. 500 for leading one of America’s fastest-growing private companies. He also received two AMUG Distinguished INnovator Operator (DINO) Awards for his contributions to stereolithography and selective laser sintering technologies in their early stages of development. From 1996 to 2000, Allison served on AMUG’s executive board.

On Wednesday, April 2, 2025, Allison will take the stage for a conversational interview during the AMUG Conference. In this Innovators Showcase, he will respond to questions asked by the host with the intent of getting to know the person behind the innovations. The Innovators Showcase aims to be unique in that it is structured as an intimate conversation between two acquaintances witnessed by AMUG Conference attendees.

The AMUG Conference will be held March 30–April 3, 2025, at the Hilton Chicago in Chicago, IL. Conference details and registration are available at www.amug.com.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.