Autentica has launched a blockchain-based platform for intellectual property protection in additive manufacturing, recently validated by the UK National Composites Centre. The London-based company, led by Founder Irma Gilbert and CTO Uros Kostelac, developed the system to provide encrypted file streaming and tamper-proof audit trails for distributed supply chains. The platform connects OEMs, print farms, and buyers through a blockchain-authenticated marketplace, ensuring secure transmission of design files and machine instructions for industrial AM workflows.

This development addresses the critical barrier of IP security that has historically hindered the adoption of decentralized manufacturing, particularly in aerospace and defense sectors where traceability is mandatory. While competitors often rely on centralized cloud security or proprietary file formats, Autentica utilizes a distributed ledger to verify the digital thread from design to final part production. With UK SME adoption of AM currently hovering around 17.1%, this infrastructure aims to lower the risk threshold for smaller manufacturers to participate in high-value, distributed production networks.

For manufacturers, this platform provides a verifiable mechanism to maintain asset control when outsourcing production to third-party print farms. The immediate challenge for Autentica is to demonstrate scalability beyond pilot deployments and achieve seamless integration with existing MES and ERP systems used by large-scale OEMs. Success will depend on the platform's ability to maintain low-latency file handling without compromising the security protocols validated by the NCC.