C4IP is honoring Charles W. Hull (born 1939), who has transformed manufacturing, medicine, and design through his invention of stereolithography — better known as 3D printing.
- Hull was born in Clifton, Colorado, and studied engineering physics at the University of Colorado before joining Ultraviolet Products, a company that used UV light to solidify liquid plastic polymers.
- Hull discovered that it was possible to “print” three-dimensional objects by arranging and solidifying plastic layers one at a time, a technique he patented in 1989.
- Hull continued to improve upon his invention throughout his career and has registered over 90 U.S. patents to date.
- He received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in 2023.
- Hull’s invention kickstarted the global 3D printing industry, which topped $20 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach nearly $90 billion by 2030.
- The company Hull founded to commercialize his invention, 3D Systems, remains a major player in the industry today, with nearly $100 million in revenue in Q1 2025.
- Today, new forms of 3D printing technology continue to unlock scientific frontiers: In recent years, advancements in 3D printing have been used to produce rocket engines, personalized implants and prosthetics, and even living human tissue.