10-24-2023: Chuck Hull received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from Joe Biden
Medal was given for his contribution to the creation of Additive Manufacturing
On October 24, 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden led a ceremony to honor selected pioneers in science and technology. The event was dedicated to awarding the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. Among the scientists, inventors, and entrepreneurs honored was Charles "Chuck" Hull – the creator of stereolithography (SLA), the world’s first additive manufacturing technology, and the founder of 3D Systems, the first company to produce additive machines, which are now known as 3D printers.
The United States awards the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation as two of the highest honors given to individuals for their outstanding contributions to science and technology. Last year’s ceremony celebrated a diverse group of inventors and innovators for their groundbreaking achievements.
Hull received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation for two reasons – aside from inventing and patenting the additive method itself, his solution gave birth to an entirely new industry. Hull, commonly known as the "father of 3D printing," significantly improved manufacturing processes and democratized design and production, enabling both large and small companies to enter a level of production for items and parts that was previously inaccessible due to high entry costs in certain sectors. Hull also played a key role in developing and introducing the .STL file format, which remains one of the industry standards to this day.
During the ceremony, the White House recognized Hull for his support of innovation and manufacturing improvements, emphasizing his crucial role in shaping the economic and technological landscape of the country. Hull's contributions played a pivotal role in placing the United States at the forefront of the global 3D printing arena, making the U.S. one of the global leaders in this market. His induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2016 placed him alongside other prominent inventors and innovators such as Thomas Edison and Steve Jobs.
This year, on August 8, we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the patent application for stereolithography. The year 1984 is regarded as the official beginning of additive manufacturing technologies. Although Hull is widely considered the creator of additive manufacturing technology, which he patented in 1984, it’s important to remember that he wasn’t the first person in the world to work on this solution. Other individuals who made significant contributions to the development of Additive Manufacturing include Japan’s Hideo Kodama, the French inventors Alain Herbert, Alain Le Méhauté, Olivier de Witte, and Jean-Claude André, as well as the American Carl Deckard.
Source: www.c-span.org