BigRep America partners with SEMA Garage for large-format 3D printing bay and June 23 lunch-and-learn

BigRep America has partnered with the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) to install a dedicated large-format 3D printing bay at the SEMA Garage facility in Diamond Bar, California. The centerpiece is the BigRep STUDIO.2, a large-format FFF printer with a build volume of 1000 x 800 x 600 mm, capable of processing engineering-grade thermoplastics including PLA, PETG, TPU, and advanced composites. On June 23, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., the companies will host a free lunch-and-learn session covering when large-format AM makes economic sense, design-for-additive-manufacturing best practices, and material selection for manufacturing applications. The session is open to SEMA members and aims to bridge the gap between desktop prototyping and industrial-scale production for automotive aftermarket parts.

This partnership targets a persistent gap in the polymer AM market: the jump from desktop FDM/FFF systems to industrial large-format production. While desktop 3D printing is now standard in product development, manufacturers often face tooling-cost and lead-time barriers when scaling parts beyond a single-build envelope. BigRep’s STUDIO.2 directly addresses this by enabling one-piece printing of large components such as intake manifolds, bumper brackets, and custom interior trim, eliminating the need for assembly or expensive injection molds. The move fits a broader pattern of service-based adoption, where hardware vendors embed themselves in end-user workflows through physical service centers rather than relying solely on machine sales. For SEMA, which represents over 6,000 member companies in the automotive specialty-equipment industry, this provides a low-risk on-ramp for members to evaluate large-format AM without upfront capital expenditure.

From an expert standpoint, the practical value here is access and education, not technology novelty. The STUDIO.2 is a proven platform, and BigRep’s challenge has always been converting interest into repeat usage. By placing the machine inside SEMA Garage—a facility already trusted by members for product development services—BigRep reduces the friction of trial. The real test will be whether attendees move from the June 23 session to actual production runs, and whether SEMA Garage can sustain the service volume. For automotive aftermarket buyers, this is a concrete opportunity to validate large-format FFF for low-volume tooling and end-use parts without committing to a machine purchase.