AZORG is structurally embedding 3D printing within its hospital by establishing PrintPlace on the Moorselbaan campus. This brings product development, prototyping, and small- to medium-scale production directly onto healthcare workfloors. At its new headquarters, PrintPlace features advanced 3D visualization tools, 3D scanners, and around thirty 3D printers – an unprecedented setup in Belgian healthcare that positions AZORG as a pioneer in point-of-care medical 3D printing.

Founded in 2016 by Wesly Jacobs, Dimitri Buytaert, Pieter De Backer, and Tim Martens, PrintPlace has evolved into a product developer with extensive experience in accessible custom projects, particularly for medical applications.

“The greatest added value lies in the preliminary process: co-creating a solution, engineering, design, testing, and fine-tuning,” said Jacobs. “In recent years, we’ve developed several customized solutions for services like Cardiology and Vascular Surgery. By being physically present within AZORG, we can now go through that process together with healthcare providers, in direct consultation and close to the patient.”

This proximity accelerates iteration and enables rapid testing and implementation, creating a one-stop shop – from concept and visualization to prototype and production.

A first outcome is an innovation in the Urology department led by Dr. Geert De Naeyer. In collaboration with PrintPlace, a new guidance tool for prostate punctures was developed to improve accuracy, efficiency, and patient comfort.

“In our daily practice, we encountered the limitations of existing tools. They were expensive, not always available, or didn’t fully meet our needs. By developing this tool together, we can work much more effectively. We are currently in the patient testing phase, and the initial results are promising,” said Dr. Geert De Naeyer, urologist at AZORG.

A second project with Dr. Tom Peeters focuses on Orthopedics. Detailed preoperative planning is enabled through anatomical 3D models, including a recently printed complex fracture. This preparation reduces intraoperative surprises, and patients can take the model home as a tangible explanation of their care.

With PrintPlace on-site, AZORG can rapidly address practical needs across disciplines – from new instruments to ergonomic aids and facility components – streamlining visualization, validation, and refinement without lengthy external processes. This fosters a culture of co-creation rooted in clinical reality.

“For both AZORG and PrintPlace, this isn’t a standalone project, but a structural choice,” said Jacobs. “By bringing 3D visualization, 3D printing, and product development in-house, innovation is now literally just a few steps away from practical application.”

“What makes this project so unique is that we’re not doing 3D printing remotely, but working with people on the shop floor. This creates solutions that truly connect with daily practice and offer immediate benefits to patients,” said Frank Staelens, Director of Healthcare Innovation at AZORG.