Würth Additive Group's Mikhail Gladkikh on Digital Inventory and AM Adoption in Oil and Gas

Mikhail Gladkikh, a veteran of the oil and gas industry now at Würth Additive Group, discussed digital inventory strategies and additive manufacturing adoption in the energy sector on the 3DPOD podcast. The conversation focused on how oil and gas companies are approaching AM for maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) applications, digital supply chains, and operational resilience. Gladkikh brought his direct experience from the energy sector to frame the discussion around practical adoption hurdles and what operators actually need from AM suppliers.

This episode updates a recurring dynamic in the AM industry: the slow, qualification-heavy adoption of AM in energy verticals, particularly oil and gas. Unlike aerospace or consumer electronics, energy operators face fragmented standards, variable part criticality, and a conservative procurement culture that resists replacing proven cast or forged parts. Gladkikh's emphasis on digital inventory and MRO aligns with a broader industry push to position AM as a supply chain resilience tool rather than a production technology for high-volume parts. Würth Additive Group, as a distributor and service provider, sits at the value-chain intersection between material suppliers, printer OEMs, and end users, making its perspective on adoption friction particularly relevant. The conversation implicitly contrasts with the faster qualification cycles seen in consumer electronics or medical-dental, reinforcing that energy remains a segment where service economics and qualification cost are the binding constraints.

For AM suppliers targeting the energy sector, the practical takeaway is that success depends less on machine speed or build volume and more on integrating into existing procurement workflows and demonstrating part reliability under operating conditions. Gladkikh's background suggests Würth Additive is positioning itself as a translator between AM capabilities and energy industry requirements, a role that requires patience and domain credibility rather than technology spectacle. The digital inventory model, if executed well, could reduce the cost of carrying spare parts for aging equipment, but it demands that end users trust the AM supply chain enough to retire physical stock.