3D Printing & Additive Manufacturing Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a 3d printing & additive manufacturing business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for 3D printing service bureaus and additive manufacturers. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual processes, materials, and industries served.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial General & Products Liability | Covers injuries from printed parts and products — end-use and load-bearing parts carry the most exposure. | Core | |
| Manufacturer's / Technology Errors & Omissions | Covers customer financial losses from out-of-spec parts, design changes, or late delivery. | Core | |
| Commercial Property & Business Income | Covers printers, powders, and shop, plus income lost while production is down. | Core | |
| Equipment Breakdown | Covers lasers, print heads, and electrical failures that destroy printers and builds. | Core | |
| Workers' Compensation | Required by law; powder, fume, burn, and asphyxiation exposures. | Prevalent | |
| Cyber / Privacy Liability | Covers hacked printers, tampered files, and theft of customer designs. | Prevalent | |
| Media / Intellectual Property Liability | Covers claims that a printed design infringes a patent, trademark, or copyright. | Prevalent | |
| Umbrella / Excess Liability | Adds limits for serious injury claims from part failures. | Prevalent | |
| Aircraft Products Liability | Needed if any part goes into aircraft — usually excluded under standard products coverage. | Situational | |
| Product Recall | Pays to retrieve and replace defective printed parts. | Situational | |
| Pollution Liability | Covers powder, resin, and solvent releases and waste disposal. | Situational | |
| Property of Others / Bailee | Covers customer-supplied materials and parts in your care. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by 3D printing businesses is the line between printing and designing. A shop that only prints a customer's file looks like a job shop, but once it modifies, optimizes, or recommends a design, it can be sued as the designer — and many products policies exclude professional or design work. Printed parts used in aircraft, vehicles, or medical devices can also fall under industry-specific exclusions. Confirm that design work is covered under E&O, and tell your carrier which industries your end-use parts go into.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your 3d printing & additive manufacturing coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: 3D Printing & Additive Manufacturing Insurance · 3D Printing & Additive Manufacturing Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a 3d printing & additive manufacturing business need?
The core coverages for a 3d printing & additive manufacturing business are Commercial General & Products Liability, Manufacturer's / Technology Errors & Omissions, Commercial Property & Business Income, Equipment Breakdown. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my 3d printing & additive manufacturing coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.