MISLIŠTE Nikola Blažević

Guest Nikola BlaževićHosted by Sandro KraljevićMay 3, 2026

Nikola Blažević

About this episode

What you'll hear in this conversation

When a technology is still so new that its technical name — 'additive manufacturing' — gives way to a popular, simpler one like '3D printing,' the market often struggles to grasp its full potential. Nikola Blažević, director of Mikro Tvornica, works to bridge that gap. He doesn't just provide 3D printing services; he’s actively educating a market still largely unaware of how layer-by-layer creation is moving from niche prototypes to viable small-batch production across engineering, medicine, and art. This conversation explores the practical realities of adopting such a technology, from its core process to the critical role of client education. Readers will understand not only the diverse applications of 3D printing but also the strategic approach needed to bring a new, complex capability into everyday business.

Insights from the conversation

What to take from this episode

The primary use of 3D printing wasn't to make final products, but to enable 'prototyping' — creating two or three iterations of a component to test its fit and function before committing to mass production. The value of additive manufacturing isn't just in making something, but in making the right thing by failing cheaply and quickly.

Beyond single prototypes, 3D printing is increasingly used for 'small series' production, creating ten to a hundred units to test the market. If you can validate demand for a new product with minimal upfront investment, you've removed the biggest barrier to launching it.

Nikola defines additive manufacturing by its core process: 'adding material layer by layer,' unlike traditional methods that subtract material from a larger block. This fundamental shift in production means designers think in terms of building up, not carving out, opening possibilities for complex geometries and material efficiency.

The market for 3D printing is still in its 'early adapt' phase, Nikola observes, with a clear divide between early adopters and more skeptical potential clients. The path to broader adoption isn't just about offering a service; it's about actively educating the majority who haven't yet grasped its benefits.

When asked about client resistance, Nikola reframes it: 'It's not so much resistance as curiosity,' he says, noting the flood of questions from potential clients. What looks like hesitation in a new market is often just a call for more information, making education a core sales function.

Mikro Tvornica places 'great emphasis on education,' not just for clients but for the broader market, viewing it as beneficial even for competitors. When you're building a new category, educating potential users isn't a cost; it's the fastest way to expand the entire market, making the pie bigger for everyone.

From the outset, Mikro Tvornica developed its 'internal modular machine,' designed to combine multiple production processes. This early commitment to a flexible, in-house system means they can adapt to diverse client needs and integrate future technologies without being locked into a single process.

Mikro Tvornica's blog title, 'The world is a digital playground, and 3D printing is our field,' encapsulates the mindset of a startup in a new industry. It’s a declaration of intent: to claim a specific space within a vast digital landscape and define the rules of engagement for their chosen technology.

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