Drone safety for the world — the Vectorsave and Materflow partnership takes 3D printing to new heights

When multirotor drones took to the skies, Antti Taskinen saw something others didn’t. With a background in aviation technology, Taskinen immediately understood that the growing drone market would need safety solutions to match. That insight gave rise to Vectorsave — a state-of-the-art parachute system for multi-rotor drones, now used across the globe.

From the very start, Vectorsave chose 3D printing as its manufacturing solution — and Materflow as its partner.

“3D printing enables rapid development and lightweight yet durable structures — exactly what drone parachutes require,” says Taskinen.

Safety equipment that meets regulatory requirements

Vectorsave’s products are more than accessories — they are often mandatory safety devices when drones are operated over people or in urban areas. Professional-grade drones frequently carry expensive imaging and measurement equipment as well.

The parachute system operates independently and fully automatically: if a drone tilts to an extreme angle or begins to fall uncontrollably, the parachute deploys and ensures a safe landing.

Materflow has played a critical role in particular when fire safety-rated materials are required.

“Some of our customers have very strict requirements for the fire safety ratings of the materials used. Materflow is able to supply prints that meet those needs,” Taskinen says.

Drones in search and rescue and research

Vectorsave parachutes are used in professional applications including search and rescue operations, fire site mapping, power line inspection, and soil fertility surveys. In these situations, safety is critical — and that is precisely why the Vectorsave parachute system is an important part of many operators’ drone fleets.

Vectorsave has two main products:

1. Ready-made parachutes for the most common drone models, including DJI Mavic 2, Phantom 4, Inspire, and Matrice.
2. Custom parachutes for drone manufacturers, where the safety system is integrated directly into the manufacturer’s own design.

A growth story and export success

Vectorsave has grown steadily over the past seven to eight years — with the last three to four years marking a period of strong international expansion.

Approximately 90% of Vectorsave’s products are exported. Custom solutions are developed for applications including public authority use and manufacturers producing their own drone platforms. Customisation is also required to meet specific material standards.

The collaboration with Materflow has enabled agile, high-quality production even when requirements are demanding and delivery schedules are tight.

Materflow is proud to play a part in building a safer sky — one printed component at a time.