On February 18, 2025, according to the Resource database, on February 11, Eastern Time, the world field for additive manufacturing inaugurated a historic moment – Chuck Hull, co -founder of 3D 3D printing technology, was officially elected as a member of the 2025TH National Academy of Engineering (NAE).
This greatest honor from the American engineering industry received a total of 127 local academicians and 22 international academicians this year.
As a university establishment of high -level engineering founded in 1964, the selection of academicians of the NAE has always aimed to “promote national prosperity and development and the promotion of engineering and technological innovation”. Its selection criteria emphasize “pioneering achievements in emerging technologies”, which is very consistent with Hull’s double identity as a LA technology and pioneer of 3D systems.
Hull, 86, is still the director of technology for regenerative medicine at 3D Systems. Its technical exploration began in the 1980s, when it successfully developed the photosensitive molding technology of the photosensitive resin of ultraviolet hardening while working as engineering vice-president at UVP (now Analytik Jena). This revolutionary study produced its first fruitful results in 1983 – the first cup of ocular washing finished in 3D in the world.
In 1987, Hull officially patented three-dimensional lithography technology and launched the first SLA-1 commercial 3D printer through the new 3D system company. Over the past 30 years, 3D Systems has gone from a single SLA technology supplier to an industry giant covering the entire industrial manufacturing chain for polymers and metal additives thanks to continuous technology research and development, material innovation and strategic mergers and acquisitions.
“Chuck’s pioneering work has completely changed the manufacturing paradigm, especially in the field of health care,” said Dr. Jeffrey Graves, president and chief executive officer of 3D Systems.
In his acceptance speech, Hull said: “It is both an honor and a responsibility to work with so many exceptional engineers to promote technological progress. I can’t wait to continue to promote engineering technology to create greater value for human well-being via the NAE platform.”
However, the first American academician to be selected for the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) for 3D printing technology is Behrokh Khoshnevis (2019). He is a professor at the University of South California.
