Apple 3D-prints titanium watch cases at scale

2025-11-18 · Publisher : Apple · Domain : Industry 4.0 & 5.0

On 18 November 2025, Apple details mass additive manufacturing of the titanium cases of Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11, from 100% recycled powder and using half the material. The iPhone Duo hinge cover follows in September 2026.

### Background On 18 November 2025, **Apple** reveals that all **Apple Watch Ultra 3** and **titanium Apple Watch Series 11** cases are now **3D-printed**, in millions of identical units. 3D printing, long limited to prototyping, becomes a high-volume production process for cosmetic parts. ### Key facts - Material: **100% recycled** aerospace-grade titanium powder, fused layer by layer with lasers. - Additive manufacturing replaces machining of forged parts: **half the raw material** of previous generations. - Apple estimates it saves more than **400 metric tons** of raw titanium over the year. - The Series 11 case keeps a mirror finish, the Ultra 3 its durability and light weight. - On 9 September 2026, Apple launches **iPhone Duo**, its first foldable, whose recycled titanium hinge cover is also mass-produced by 3D printing. ### Why it matters It is a large-scale demonstration that metal additive manufacturing can meet the cosmetic, dimensional and volume requirements of consumer electronics. For industry, the signal is about material savings and decarbonization as much as design freedom. ### Takeaway Metal 3D printing moves from prototype to mass production of visible parts, with a quantified environmental case.

Tags : Fabrication additive, Électronique, Usine, Recyclage