Reshoring, Repurposing & Reliability with Metal Additive Manufacturing

3D printing methods have long been used for the creation of spare parts and prototypes amongst a number of sectors including automotives and R&D. Metal additive manufacturing is now emerging more rapidly within oil and gas, jewellery, and building and construction sectors on both a small and large scale. IDTechEx's report, "Metal Additive Manufacturing 2025-2035: Technologies, Players, and Market Outlook", covers trends within the metal additive manufacturing sector, along with an extensive range of methods, from more incumbent technologies to newer additions.

 

 

Inbuilt monitoring systems and quality control software are allowing for improved part quality within 3D printing. Both new entrants and applications for the technology are also increasing as a result of the emergence of such improved technologies, alongside the steady growth of the 3D printing materials market. IDTechEx's 3D Printing Research Reports provides a broader scope on emerging materials and methods.

 

Metal additive manufacturing specifically boasts increased benefits when compared to other material feedstocks in 3D printing, including freedom of design, local manufacturing, cost savings, and reduced manufacturing times. Metal printing technologies cover a vast array of approaches, with IDTechEx's report covering powder bed fusion, binder jetting, directed energy deposition, sheet lamination, vat photo-polymerization, extrusion, and material jetting, along with their extended subsections.

 

 

IDTechEx outlines the growth in the Chinese metal additive manufacturing market as being one of the biggest drivers for the industry worldwide. Despite having been established for less time than in other countries in Europe and North America, the Chinese market has been favored amongst domestic customers for its competitive pricing, according to IDTechEx.

 

New approaches to reshoring are predicted to be a huge industry trend in coming years. This will see manufacturing processes established close to the locations requiring services, to allow for on-demand parts and quicker turnaround times. There may be increased pressure for some countries to begin reshoring in line with new tariffs, particularly notable between the US and China, resulting in many companies likely wanting to protect themselves from being impacted. Reshoring trends may therefore increase the domestic production of parts and subsequently the adoption of 3D printing going forward.

 

 

Cost-competition across the board is beneficial to the metal additive manufacturing market, due to metal 3D printers being known for their high expense. IDTechEx reports that low-cost systems are increasingly being produced to make the technology more accessible particularly for smaller businesses or research labs. Additionally, the desire for larger printers with multi-laser capabilities, able to print parts up to approximately three meters tall, is noticeable amongst sectors such as aerospace, energy, and space exploration. The increase in size of parts is not the only innovation being made within these larger-format printers. Productivity, reduced print times, and improved part quality can also be seen, alongside the advancement of laser configurations, which could hopefully make additive manufacturing a feasible alternative to traditional methods in producing end-use components, rather than just prototypes.

 

Sustainability is also a key trend amongst a number of industries, and additive manufacturing is no exception. Recycled feedstocks and circular supply chains are increasingly becoming a priority according to IDTechEx's research. Metal powders that can be produced from scrap could see a huge reduction in CO₂ emissions, with some companies creating emission-free steel powder, while the UK's RAF is using retired fighter jet materials such as titanium to create new components.

 

 

Some restraints outlined within the report for the uptake of 3D printing include lack of access to personal training and the steep costs of printers and powder materials, which are still somewhat restricted in their supply. The post-processing requirements can also be time consuming and act as an additional barrier to faster turnaround times, which as well as certain speed restrictions, can lead to low volume production. Despite some of these drawbacks, however, the market for metal additive manufacturing is predicted by IDTechEx to grow to US$13.3 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 10.4%, highlighting a promising next ten years.

 

For more information and future forecasting, visit IDTechEx's report, "Metal Additive Manufacturing 2025-2035: Technologies, Players, and Market Outlook", and the wider portfolio of 3D Printing Research Reports.