The term “Additive manufacturing” is more accurate here, because it is a more generalized name for all the processes that build up near-net shapes from scratch. In this case, it’s SLS (selective laser sintering). 3D printing is only a popular term because it’s more catchy…
What’s more amazing is: I’ve seen this guy in the building that I work in, he regularly has meetings with a professor whose office is next to mine! The world is a small place…