Additive Manufacturing, also known as 3D Printing, is an innovation grounded in photonics. It is a process for making a physical object from a 3D digital model, typically by laying down many successive thin layers of a material. The technology is diffusing from prototyping to large scale manufacturing of final parts. Today, early adopters including GE, Siemens, Google/Motorola, and Boeing are 3D printing intricate, high mix, low volume, and weight-sensitive final parts.

Given well-capitalized strategic buyers with large cash reserves, a better financing environment for private equity, and an improved macro-environment, M&A activity in 2014 is predicted more robust than in the past two years. In the photonics industry and vertical market segments employing its technologies as core differentiators, trends of consolidation and premium priced, strategic acquisitions persist into 2014.

The PMC is the single largest contributor to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and raises more money than any other athletic fund-raising event in the country. PMC donates 100% of every rider-raised dollar directly to the cause.