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3D Printing 2018-2028: Technology and Market Analysis

Current usage, future applications and market forecasts


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After initial commercialisation in the 1990s, 3D printing underwent a period of intense interest in 2013. Key players were quick to capitalise on this interest, enjoying exponential revenue growth between 2013 and 2016 as a result. Since then, the hype has subsided and additive manufacturing is starting to find its place among other manufacturing methods. In particular, focus has now shifted away from the consumer and rapid prototyping, and towards the digitisation of workflows and the manufacture of production quality final products. Several industries are now seriously analysing the benefits and competitive edge that 3D printing can lend their operations, and the most eagerly anticipated technological innovations are catering to these professional users. Although all signs point to a period of seriousness and readjustment in the 3D printing market as it transitions to cater to the needs of this user group, there remains enormous potential for growth over the next decade: IDTechEx forecasts that the global market for 3D printing equipment, materials, software and services is estimated to be worth $22 billion by the year 2028.
 
Technology and Applications
In 2018, the 3D printing market comprises multiple different printer technologies. This report takes an in-depth look into established printer types compatible with polymer, metal and ceramic materials, including Vat Photopolymerisation (SLA/DLP/CLIP), Powder Bed Fusion (SLS/DMLS/EBM); Material Extrusion, Material Jetting, Binder Jetting, Directed Energy Deposition and Sheet Lamination. Key technological capabilities, applicable markets, SWOT analyses and key manufacturers are discussed for each established printer type. In addition, nascent printer technologies that will be commercialised in 2018 are introduced, and their technological capabilities evaluated.
 
Market analysis
This report forecasts the overall 3D printing market to 2028, with in depth discussion of currently commercialised and emerging printer technologies. The current state of the printer market is analysed, and long-range forecasts from 2018-2028 for installed base, units sold and revenue per annum segmented by printer technology, value chain position and end user industry are evaluated.
IDTechEx conducted exhaustive primary research with companies positioned throughout the entire 3D printing value chain for key insights into the trends impacting growth to 2028. Over 60 company profiles have been included in the report including Stratasys, 3D Systems, EOS, Concept Laser GmbH and Arcam AB, amongst others.
 
Key questions that are answered in this report
  • What are the current and emerging printer technology types in 2018?
  • How do metrics such as price, build speed, build volume and precision vary by printer type?
  • What are the strengths and weaknesses of different 3D printing technologies?
  • Which printers support different material classes?
  • What is the current installed base of 3D printers?
  • What is the price range of 3D printers by technology type?
  • What are the market shares of those active in the market?
  • What are the key drivers and restraints of market growth?
  • How will sales of different printer types evolve from 2018 to 2028?
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Further information
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Table of Contents
1.EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1.1.Why adopt 3D printing?
1.2.Major material-process relationships
1.3.Degree of market saturation in 2017
1.4.TPE printers unit sales market share 2017
1.5.Vat photopolymerisation unit sales market share 2017
1.6.Polymer powder bed fusion unit sales market share 2017
1.7.Metal powder bed fusion unit sales market share 2017
1.8.Revenue forecast for hardware, software and services
1.9.3D printing revenue forecast by industry
1.10.Drivers and restraints of growth
2.INTRODUCTION
2.1.Glossary: common acronyms for reference
2.2.Scope of report
2.3.The seven different types of 3D printing processes
2.4.Major material-process relationships
2.5.Why adopt 3D printing?
2.6.History of 3D printing polymers: the rise of the hobbyist
2.7.History of 3D printing metals
2.8.Business models: securing future revenues
2.9.Consumer vs prosumer vs professional
2.10.Use patterns and market segmentation
2.11.The desktop 3D printer explosion
2.12.Drivers and restraints of growth
3.POLYMER PRINTING PROCESSES
3.1.Powder bed fusion: Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
3.2.Binder jetting: polymer binder jetting
3.3.Extrusion: Thermoplastics (TPE)
3.4.Vat photopolymerisation: Stereolithography (SLA)
3.5.Vat photopolymerisation: Direct Light Processing (DLP)
3.6.Material jetting
3.7.Sheet lamination: Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM)
4.POLYMER PRINTERS: COMPARISON
4.1.Price versus precision
4.2.Price versus speed
4.3.Price versus volume
4.4.Speed versus volume
4.5.Speed versus precision
5.METAL PRINTING PROCESSES
5.1.Powder bed fusion: Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)
5.2.Powder bed fusion: Electron Beam Melting (EBM)
5.3.Directed energy deposition: Blown Powder
5.4.Directed energy deposition: Welding
5.5.Binder jetting: Metal Binder Jetting
5.6.Binder jetting: Sand Binder Jetting
5.7.Sheet lamination: Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing (UAM)
6.NEW METAL PRINTING PROCESSES
6.1.Extrusion: Metal + polymer filament (MPFE)
6.2.Vat photopolymerisation: Direct Light Processing (DLP)
6.3.Material jetting: nanoparticle jetting (NJP)
6.4.Material jetting: magnetohydrodynamic deposition
6.5.Material jetting: microfluidic electroplating
7.METAL PRINTERS: COMPARISON
7.1.Price versus precision
7.2.Price versus speed
7.3.Price versus volume
7.4.Speed versus volume
7.5.Speed versus precision
7.6.Precision versus volume
8.CERAMIC PRINTING PROCESSES
8.1.Extrusion: Clay
8.2.Vat photopolymerisation: Digital Light Processing (DLP)
8.3.Service bureaus: additional processes
9.3D PRINTING SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY
9.1.Overview of 3D printing software segments
9.2.Relationship between 3D printing hardware and software
9.3.Hobbyist 3D printing software usage
9.4.Professional 3D printing software usage
9.5.Computer Aided Design (CAD)
9.6..STL files
9.7.Computer Aided Engineering (CAE): Topology
9.8.Computer Aided Engineering (CAE): process simulation
9.9.Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM): Build preparation
9.10.Unmet needs in 3D printing software
10.TECHNOLOGY FORECAST
10.1.EU Roadmap for Technical AM Development
10.2.EU Roadmap of Grand Challenges served by AM
10.3.Supersonic metal powder jetting
10.4.Multiphoton lithography
10.5.The rise of multimaterial printing
10.6.3D scanners and medical imaging techniques
10.7.Generative design for product lightweighting
10.8.Thermoplastic Recycling
10.9.LCD stereolithography 3D Printing
11.APPLICATION CASE STUDIES
11.1.Increasing value of 3D printed objects
11.2.Prototyping
11.3.Timeline of adoption
11.4.Rochester Institute explores the Vader MK1
11.5.Boeing 787 Dreamliner
11.6.Autodesk optimises topology for Airbus partition wall
11.7.Bone foam implants improve performance
11.8.Dad designs son's 3D printed prosthetic arm
11.9.Under Armour generatively design Architech shoes
12.MARKET ANALYSIS
12.1.Revenues of major printer OEMs
12.2.Mergers and acquisitions in metal 3D printing
12.3.Degree of market saturation in 2017
12.4.TPE printers unit sales market share 2017
12.5.Vat photopolymerisation unit sales market share 2017
12.6.Polymer powder bed fusion unit sales market share 2017
12.7.Metal powder bed fusion unit sales market share 2017
12.8.Metal printers: average prices 2017
13.MARKET FORECAST
13.1.Forecast methodology and presentation of findings
13.2.Installed base supply forecast: Industrial printers
13.3.Annual unit sales forecast: Industrial printers
13.4.Annual printer revenue forecast: Industrial printers
13.5.Installed base supply forecast: Desktop printers
13.6.Annual unit sales forecast: Desktop printers
13.7.Annual printer revenues forecast: Desktop printers
13.8.Revenue forecast for hardware, software and services
13.9.3D printing revenue forecast by industry
14.CONCLUSIONS
14.1.3D printing is still a highly innovative technology
15.COMPANY PROFILES
15.1.3D Ceram
15.2.3D Systems Europe
15.3.Aleph Objects, Inc
15.4.Arcam AB
15.5.AREVO Labs
15.6.Beijing Tiertime Technology Co Ltd
15.7.BMW
15.8.Boeing
15.9.Botfactory
15.10.Buzz Technology
15.11.Carbon3D
15.12.Carima
15.13.Ceradrop, a MGI Group company
15.14.Chemcubed
15.15.Concept Laser
15.16.Cytosurge
15.17.Dassault Systemes
15.18.Efesto
15.19.envisionTEC
15.20.EOS
15.21.EPSRC
15.22.ExOne
15.23.Fabrisonic
15.24.Ford Motor Company
15.25.Formlabs
15.26.Fraunhofer IWU
15.27.Fripp Design Ltd
15.28.Höganäs
15.29.Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies
15.30.Impossible Objects
15.31.Leapfrog 3D Printers
15.32.Lockheed Martin
15.33.Luxexcel
15.34.Markforged
15.35.Materialise
15.36.Nascent Objects
15.37.Norsk Titanium
15.38.Optomec
15.39.Photocentric
15.40.Printrbot
15.41.Prodways
15.42.QuesTek Innovations
15.43.Realizer
15.44.Reebok International
15.45.RepRap Professional
15.46.Ricoh
15.47.Rittmeyer
15.48.Rize
15.49.Roland
15.50.Sciaky
15.51.Siemens
15.52.Sinterit
15.53.SLM Solutions
15.54.Solidscape
15.55.Stratasys
15.56.Trinckle
15.57.Ultimaker
15.58.Voltera
15.59.Volvo Construction Equipment
15.60.Voxel8
15.61.Voxeljet Technology
15.62.Wanhao
15.63.Zmorph
 

Report Statistics

Slides 254
Companies 64
Forecasts to 2028
 
 
 
 

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