The LPBF metal printer from ETH Zurich spin-off a-metal uses enclosed powder cartridges for powder supply—the cartridge sits directly above the recoating unit, eliminating the need for a cleanroom, airlock, and special filtration system. The target price is under CHF 100,000 (versus CHF 500,000+ for conventional equipment), and the system can be installed in an ordinary workshop. It offers a 30 μm layer thickness; powder removal is done via integrated gloves, and excess powder is sieved and recirculated within the enclosed system. The build cylinder measures 150 × 150 × 150 mm. The company has completed 8 pilot units and 10 pre-production units, delivering 18 units in total, with customers concentrated in dental technology and industrial tooling (conformal cooling inserts). "Eliminating the cleanroom plus enclosed powder management" is emerging as a parallel route to lowering the barrier to metal powder use. (November roundup, Ada candidate inclusion)