Chuck Hull, Additive Manufacturing pioneer and 3D Systems co-founder, elected to NAE
February 18, 2025
3D Systems, Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA, has announced that its co-founder and Chief Technology Officer for regenerative medicine, Charles (Chuck) Hull, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). Election to the NAE is reputed to be among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer in the US.
Academy membership honours those who have made outstanding contributions in at least one of the following categories: engineering practice, research, or education; pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or development/implementation of innovative approaches to engineering education; or engineering leadership of one or more major endeavours.
Hull is being honoured for the invention of Additive Manufacturing and the subsequent development of the industry. “It is humbling to be elected to this academy of distinguished engineers,” he stated. “I’m honoured and excited to serve and work alongside such outstanding professionals to advance the positive impact engineering has on our world.”
Hull pioneered the development of Additive Manufacturing while acting as Vice President of Engineering at UVP, Inc. (now Analytik Jena), a manufacturer of ultraviolet light sources. His work on fusing UV resins into 3D structures for prototyping led to the creation of the first additively manufactured part (an eye wash cup) in 1983 using Stereolithography (SLA). He patented this technology and subsequently co-founded 3D Systems in 1986, launching the first commercial AM machine, the SLA-1, and thus establishing the AM industry.
Hull’s invention has earned him numerous accolades. In October of 2023, he received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation (NMTI) from President Joe Biden. Established in 1980, the NMTI is the United States’ highest honour for technological achievement, awarded by the President of the United States for outstanding contributions to America’s economic, environmental, and social well-being.
Previously, Hull was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame (2014) and received the European Inventor Award (2014) for his transformative impact. His contributions have also been recognised with the Manufacturing Leadership Lifetime Achievement Award (2016), the ASME’s designation of the SLA-1 as a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark, and The Economist’s 2013 Innovation Award. With eighty-five US patents and numerous international patents in ion optics and Additive Manufacturing, Hull’s legacy as an inventor is firmly established.
“On behalf of the entire 3D Systems team, it is my pleasure to extend our deepest congratulations to Chuck for this honour,” said Dr Jeffrey Graves, president & CEO, 3D Systems. “His pioneering work has revolutionised manufacturing and profoundly impacted healthcare delivery. Chuck’s invention of Stereolithography not only launched an entire industry but also sparked the proliferation of numerous applications for 3D printing technologies. Whether we look at aerospace, personalised healthcare solutions, AI infrastructure, or the automotive industry, 3D printing is playing a significant role in how these industries innovate. Thanks to Chuck’s groundbreaking initial innovation with SLA, we are transforming manufacturing and patient care for a better future.”
Hull is among 128 new members and twenty-two international members in the NAE Class of 2025. Elected by their peers, the ballot for this class was set in December and the final vote took place in January. Hull and his class will be formally inducted during the NAE’s Annual Meeting on October 5, 2025.
