AMUG honors six industry experts with 2026 DINO Awards at its 37th annual conference in Reno

The Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) presented its 2026 DINO (Distinguished INnovator Operator) Awards to six industry professionals during its 37th annual conference held from March 15-19, 2026, in Reno, Nevada. The award recipients, including Chris Prue, Brian Post, Annie Wang, Olga Ivanova, Daniel Landgraf, and John Thiell, were selected by a committee led by Bruce LeMaster for their extensive tenure and technical contributions to the additive manufacturing sector. This cohort represents a cross-section of the AM ecosystem, including expertise spanning government laboratories and industrial equipment manufacturing. Only 205 DINO Awards have been issued throughout AMUG's 38-year history, underscoring the selective nature of this recognition.

As a central hub for the additive manufacturing community, AMUG plays a critical role in the industry value chain by facilitating knowledge transfer between hardware OEMs, material scientists, and end-use application engineers. While many industry events focus on hardware specifications or material properties like Ti-6Al-4V or PA12, AMUG focuses on the operational and collaborative aspects of scaling AM technologies. By recognizing leaders across diverse sectors, AMUG addresses the critical need for standardized best practices and professional development in a field that is rapidly moving from prototyping to high-volume production in aerospace, medical, and automotive verticals. This recognition helps maintain a cohesive professional network that is essential for solving complex manufacturing challenges.

For stakeholders in the AM space, these awards highlight the specific individuals driving technical standards and operational excellence within the community. The selection of recipients from both government and private sectors indicates that the technical challenges of scaling technologies like LPBF and binder jetting require deep cross-sector collaboration. Companies looking to integrate advanced AM workflows should recognize these awardees as key technical influencers within the global manufacturing ecosystem. The focus remains on the practical application and service-oriented leadership required to move additive manufacturing into mainstream industrial production.