On September 16–17, 2026, in Karlstad, Sweden, 3DPrint.com senior contributors Ulf Lindhe and Mikael Schuisky delivered a keynote at AM Meetup 2026, tracing the history of metal additive manufacturing and projecting how PBF and DED will evolve in a multipolar world. The event was hosted by Sweden's On Demand 2033 initiative, which explores local on-demand production of critical spare parts to strengthen industrial resilience and reduce supply chain dependence. The article notes that the logic driving metal AM adoption is changing: defense readiness, technological sovereignty, regional supply, access to critical materials, and disruption resistance are replacing cost alone as primary considerations. NATO's defense production plans explicitly focus on industrial capacity and resilient supply chains, while the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act echoes concerns over material dependence. Apple's decision to switch all titanium cases for the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11 to 3D printing with recycled titanium powder—saving over 400 tonnes of titanium in 2025—and its extension of metal AM to the hinge of a foldable iPhone are seen as major signals that metal AM is entering consumer mass production. The article concludes that the metal AM market will form multiple interconnected ecosystems across China, North America, and Europe: Chinese suppliers such as Eplus3D with its EP-M3050 (2.8-meter casing) are pushing large build envelopes, multi-laser systems, and aggressive cost-performance; Europe and the US retain advantages in regulated applications, process know-how, materials, software, and certification; equipment maker consolidation and shakeout continue, with value accruing to companies that master applications, certified processes, and critical production steps. Value for powder buyers: ① Regionalization of metal AM will spur demand for localized powder supply and certification, so monitor regional powder capacity layouts; ② Apple-scale consumer electronics mass production validates the economics of recycled titanium powder, so titanium powder procurement should track changes in recycled material and cost curves; ③ Regulated industries such as defense and energy are tightening powder batch traceability and certification requirements, so it is advisable to prepare early for qualification thresholds.