What The Barnes Global Advisors does

The Barnes Global Advisors (TBGA) is the largest independent additive manufacturing engineering consultancy, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and operating through a distributed workforce with industry presence across six continents. Founded in 2017 by John Barnes (formerly of 3D printing groups at Honeywell, Lockheed, and Arconic) and rebranded from The Barnes Group Advisors to The Barnes Global Advisors in 2020, the firm delivers three integrated service lines: (1) Advising through its trademarked ADDvisor® expert network covering qualification and certification, systems and process economics, digital transformation strategy, supply chain mapping, and ecosystem convening; (2) Training, anchored by the 100% online Purdue University AM Certificate program and including modular in-person, virtual, and tailored corporate learning paths spanning AM introduction through Advanced Design for AM; and (3) Communications, a strategic content, media-relations, and event-management practice built initially as TBGA Media in 2022. Supporting programs include the Electron Beam Consortium, Resilient Manufacturing initiatives, and the Casting Augmentation Tiger Team.

TBGA's revenue model is professional services across fee-based advisory engagements, training program tuition and corporate contracts, and communications retainers, with a stated no-cost training tier for Maritime and Defense Industrial Base professionals. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales combined with event-driven thought leadership (AMS, RAPID + TCT, Formnext, Manufacturing Mavericks podcast) and inside sales via website inquiry. The customer base is concentrated in U.S. federal defense and aerospace (U.S. Navy via BlueForge Alliance MIB Program, U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory and AFRL/ARCTOS for Delta Qualification TEAM RED, U.S. Army AMNOW, NASA, Veterans Health Administration) with named enterprise customers including Wabtec Corporation (rail/transit AM at scale with over 100,000 production AM parts) and ExOne. TBGA holds ITAR accreditation, enabling export-controlled defense work, and has received $1.975 million in non-dilutive DoD IBAS/NIIS program funding (April 2023) to develop a resilient Western Pennsylvania manufacturing ecosystem. Operations are led by a Managing Director (Laura Ely), Director of Programs (Jennifer Coyne, ex-GE Transportation AM), Director of Engineering (Dr. Rob Carter, ex-AFRL QUASAR), Director of Business Development (Christina Kurth), and Director of Operations (Tierney Barnes), with senior ADDvisors contributing cumulative experience of 350+ years in AM and 500+ years in advanced manufacturing.

Name

The Barnes Global Advisors

Legal name

The Barnes Global Advisors

Website

https://barnesglobaladvisors.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Barnes Global Advisors is the largest independent additive manufacturing engineering consultancy, offering advisory (ADDvisor), training (including the Purdue AM Certificate), and communications services to U.S. defense, aerospace, rail, and manufacturing organizations worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Consulting/Advisory Services: TBGA provides professional consulting services through their team of ADDvisor experts, helping organizations integrate advanced manufacturing technologies into their operations. This includes strategy development, qualification support, and technical advisory.
2. Training Programs: TBGA offers comprehensive AM training courses including individual learning (Purdue AM Certificate), team-based learning, and tailored corporate training solutions. Programs range from 1-hour awareness courses to 40-hour advanced DfAM courses.
3. Communications Services: TBGA provides communications strategy, thought leadership content development, media relations, social media management, and visual content creation services to help clients communicate their AM value propositions.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

TBGA is an independent engineering consultancy that helps organizations adopt and scale additive manufacturing (AM) and advanced manufacturing technologies. Its core offerings span three service lines: Advising (ADDvisor expert consulting on AM integration, qualification and certification, digital transformation, and supply chain strategy), Training (curricula from introductory awareness to advanced design for AM, plus the online Purdue AM Certificate), and Communications (strategy, media relations, social media, and visual content services).

Product overview

The Barnes Global Advisors (TBGA) is the largest independent additive manufacturing (AM) engineering consultancy, offering a unified platform of three core service lines: Advising, Training, and Communications. The Advising service line features the ADDvisor® team providing expert consulting on AM technology integration. Training encompasses in-person/virtual courses, the Purdue AM Certificate (online program), and tailored corporate learning solutions. Communications includes strategy, event management, social media, and visual content services. TBGA also operates several specialized programs including the Electron Beam Consortium, Resilient Manufacturing initiatives, and the TBGA Toolbox. Content offerings include the Manufacturing Mavericks Podcast and contributions to the Voices AMplified podcast. The company positions itself as a trusted advisor connecting industry and government to accelerate AM adoption globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advising Services (ADDvisor) Consulting service in which TBGA's ADDvisor experts embed with client teams to guide additive manufacturing technology integration across digital, design, materials, qualification and certification, digital transformation, and supply chain strategy for enterprise and government clients.
• Additive Manufacturing Training Multi-tier additive manufacturing training program offering individual, team-based, and custom corporate curricula covering introductory AM awareness through advanced design for AM, with electives on powders, qualification and certification, facility safety, and operations.
• Purdue AM Certificate Online, self-paced additive manufacturing certificate program developed with Purdue University that enables individual learners to build formal AM credentials at their own pace.
• Communications Services Strategic communications offering that helps clients develop messaging strategy, thought leadership content, media relations, social media management, event management, and visual content to communicate their additive and advanced manufacturing value propositions.

Quantifiable outcome

• TBGA trained 3,453 people through various programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• EWIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2025EWI, a leading advanced manufacturing and engineering solutions company, announced a strategic partnership with TBGA to enhance resources and expertise available to members of its Additive Manufacturing Consortium (AMC).
• Electron Beam Consortium (EBC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2025TBGA facilitated the formation of the Electron Beam Consortium to advance the development and industrialization of electron beam powder bed fusion technology. Founding members signed an MoU establishing the framework for collaboration to drive technological progress across industries.
• Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT)secondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 10 February 2025Strategic partnership to transform training landscape across the Northeast. Together, CCAT and TBGA will develop robust training programs using TBGA Additive Manufacturing Training through 5-10 partner organizations.
• BlueForge AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2024TBGA and BlueForge Alliance are collaborating to support the U.S. Navy Maritime Industrial Base (MIB) Program's advanced manufacturing initiatives. The partnership enhances advanced manufacturing strategy, qualification, certification processes, and provides consultation on investment opportunities.
• Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) / ARCTOS Technology SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 July 2024TBGA was selected by AFRL through a contract with ARCTOS Technology Solutions to lead an effort defining investments for metal AM in fabricating fracture critical components.
• America Makes Delta Qualification ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 October 2023TBGA was awarded the contract to lead TEAM RED (Thorough Evaluation of AM with Rigorous Expertise and Data) within the America Makes Delta Qualification program, funded by AFRL. This represents a pivotal advancement in AM qualification standards.
• Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) and Secure America Institute (SAI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 November 2021TBGA is partnering with TEES and SAI in a new consortium establishing the Texas Defense Aerospace Manufacturing Community (TDAMC). This five-year DoD-funded program will inject targeted smart manufacturing skills and technologies into Texas' aerospace manufacturing portfolio.
• Purdue UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Purdue University to deliver the 100% online AM Certificate program. TBGA team members instruct collegiate and graduate-level courses.
• ADDvance Manufacturing Technologies (Spain)secondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational training partner in Spain for TBGA's additive manufacturing training programs.
• Tiziri Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (South Africa)secondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational training partner in South Africa for TBGA's additive manufacturing training programs.
• Indian 3D Printing Network (India)secondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational training partner in India for TBGA's additive manufacturing training programs.
• America MakescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTBGA has provided communications support to America Makes since 2014, becoming an extension of their internal communications team. TBGA creates social media content, supports event communications, and drives industry partnerships for the national additive manufacturing innovation institute.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• EWI: EWI is an advanced manufacturing engineering solutions provider that operates the Additive Manufacturing Consortium (AMC). It directly competes with TBGA in AM qualification, process development, and serves overlapping defense and aerospace customers, and in fact signed a strategic partnership with TBGA in 2025.
• Wohlers Associates (ASTM Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence): Wohlers Associates is the long-standing AM industry consultancy known for the Wohlers Report, and now operates within ASTM International. It is a direct competitor to TBGA in providing AM market intelligence, advisory, and standards-adjacent consulting to government and industry.
• SmarTech Analysis: SmarTech Analysis publishes AM market research and provides advisory services to firms across the AM value chain. It competes directly with TBGA's communications and market intelligence offerings for industrial and defense clients evaluating AM adoption.
• AMPOWER: AMPOWER is a European-based AM consulting and market intelligence firm that publishes the AMPOWER Report and provides strategic advisory to industrial AM adopters. It is a direct peer to TBGA in the AM advisory space, with comparable service lines.
• America Makes: America Makes is the national AM innovation institute that convenes industry, government, and academia. TBGA has provided communications support to America Makes since 2014, and the institute is both a partner and a comparator in driving U.S. AM adoption programs.

Broad incumbents

• Materialise: Materialise is a global industrial 3D printing software and services company that offers AM consulting, qualification, and production services. It is a broader incumbent that overlaps with TBGA on AM advisory and qualification work for industrial and aerospace customers.
• Stratasys: Stratasys is a leading polymer and metal AM OEM with a services and consulting arm. As a large incumbent in the broader AM ecosystem, it competes indirectly with TBGA for enterprise training, qualification, and workforce development engagements.
• Renishaw: Renishaw is a precision engineering and metal AM OEM offering installation, training, and application support. It is a broad incumbent whose services portfolio competes with TBGA's training and qualification offerings, particularly in aerospace and medical verticals.
• 3D Systems: 3D Systems is a global AM OEM with end-to-end services including training, qualification, and application engineering. As a broad incumbent with deep aerospace and defense relationships, it competes with TBGA for similar enterprise AM advisory work.

Others

• BlueForge Alliance: BlueForge Alliance is a nonprofit supporting the U.S. Navy's Maritime Industrial Base program. TBGA partners with BlueForge Alliance on Navy MIB advanced manufacturing initiatives, positioning it as a complementary ecosystem player rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ManufacturingMavericksPodcast
• Xx.com/TBGAddvisor

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Barnes Global Advisors