3D Printing Market Size, Share, Industry Analysis Report 2030

Updated on : Oct 22, 2024

The global 3D Printing market size is estimated to be USD 17.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 37.4 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 16.4% during the forecast period from 2024 to 2029.

The 3D printing industry growth is driven by ease in the development of customized products, reduction in manufacturing cost and process downtime, global government investment in 3D printing projects, availability of a wide variety of industrial-grade 3D printing materials, and complex part manufacturing in the aerospace & defense sector.

3D Printing Market Forecast to 2029

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Global 3D Printing Market Trends:

Drivers: Ease in the development of customized products.

3D printing enables the manufacturing of personalized products according to individual needs and requirements. Companies provide customized services, such as essential design development by designers, followed by customers' being able to co-design the product. Ongoing technological advancements in the existing 3D printing technologies, reducing costs of printers, and availability of a range of materials enable the easy manufacturing of custom-made products.

AM makes print-on-demand possible for part replacement, complex structural designs, specialty products, and low- volume production of customized functional parts. In producing low-demand items, 3D printing reduces overhead costs, such as inventory costs and costs associated with stock wastage. In the current market for consumer goods, where customers' choice is limited to model, color, and size, 3D printing allows customers to opt for more complex designs, enabling greater customization.

3D printing minimizes the time spent on programming and developing the design, accelerating the shipment of final 3D printed parts to its intended end users. 3D printing is still widely used for rapid prototyping as it reduces scrap and reworks; however, the trend is shifting toward manufacturing functional parts and tooling equipment. 3D printing also allows manufacturers to make crucial trial and error processes possible for physical products, owing to developing complex designs without needing any particular expertise.

Restraint: Lack of standardized testing methods to verify mechanical properties of 3D printing materials and high cost of raw materials.

The lack of standardized testing methods to verify the mechanical properties of 3D printing materials presents a substantial challenge for the 3D printer market. This issue becomes particularly critical in aerospace, automotive industry, and healthcare industries, where printed parts' reliability and performance are paramount. Without standardized testing protocols, there can be inconsistencies in part quality, leading to uncertainties about structural integrity and increasing the risk of failures.

This uncertainty can hinder the full-scale adoption of 3D printing in industries that require stringent quality control measures. Moreover, the high cost of raw materials used in 3D printing, including metal powders, high-performance polymers, and composite filaments, contributes significantly to production expenses.

This cost factor limits the scalability of 3D printing, especially for large-scale manufacturing processes. Addressing these challenges through the development of robust testing standards and advancements in material affordability is crucial for overcoming these restraining factors and unlocking the full potential of the 3D printing industry across various sectors.

Opportunity: Increasing demand for medical products and supplies in post-pandemic scenario

The post-pandemic landscape has witnessed a substantial surge in the demand for medical products and supplies, creating fertile ground for opportunities within the 3D printer market. This heightened demand stems from various factors, such as the need for agile response capabilities in healthcare industry, the imperative for  localized manufacturing to address supply chain vulnerabilities, and the  increasing  preference  for  personalized  medical solutions.

For instance, in October 2023, CurifyLabs (Finland), CurifyLabs launched the world's first GMP (good manufacturing practice)-produced Pharma Inks for 3D printable medicines, addressing the growing demand for personalized medicine in healthcare.

The Pharma Kit, comprising automated 3D printing technology and printable pharmaceutical inks, enabled the efficient production of customized drugs, leading to better patient care and improved medication outcomes. 3D printing technologies are a critical solution in this framework due to their inherent flexibility and adaptability. They enable the rapid and customized production of various medical devices, equipment, and supplies.

Challenge: Ensuring consistent quality of final 3D product with repeatable and stable production processes

Ensuring consistent quality of the final 3D product with repeatable and stable production processes presents a multifaceted challenge for the growth of the 3D printer industry. This challenge encompasses various aspects, such as the inherent variability of 3D printing materials, necessitating meticulous control over properties like viscosity, shrinkage, and thermal behavior to achieve uniform quality across diverse print runs.

Moreover, optimizing print parameters like layer height, print speed, and temperature settings for different materials and designs requires extensive testing and expertise to ensure consistent results. Machine calibration also plays a critical role, as precise calibration is necessary to maintain performance and accuracy, with factors like wear

3D Printing Services Market Insights and Growth Prospects:

The 3D printing services market is poised for robust growth, fueled by increasing demand for rapid prototyping, customization, and cost-effective production across a wide range of industries. As businesses seek more efficient and flexible manufacturing solutions, 3D printing is emerging as a transformative technology that offers advantages such as reduced material waste, shorter production cycles, and the ability to create complex geometries that traditional manufacturing methods cannot easily achieve.

In particular, the healthcare sector is experiencing a surge in adoption, with 3D printing being used for customized implants, prosthetics, and even bioprinting. Additionally, the automotive and aerospace industries are leveraging 3D printing to produce lightweight, durable components, driving further market expansion. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning with 3D printing technologies is enhancing automation and precision, while advancements in material science are broadening the scope of applications. As these trends continue, the 3D printing services market is expected to witness sustained growth, with emerging markets, SMEs, and startups playing an increasingly important role in shaping the future of the industry.

3D Printing Industry Ecosystem

3D Printer Market Segmentation

The market for printer segment to hold largest market share during the forecast period.

The 3D desktop printer market is divided into desktop and industrial 3D printers, serving various applications across personal, professional, and production sectors. These printers offer a continuous printing capability that minimizes material costs and reduces wastage, making them environmentally sustainable options for manufacturing. Companies like BigRep and WASP have developed industrial-grade printers capable of printing objects on a massive scale, which are ideal for creating large prototypes, sculptures, architectural models, and building components.

Simultaneously, the market has seen the emergence of affordable desktop 3D printers, democratizing access to this technology for hobbyists, small businesses, educational institutions, and individuals. These compact devices have sparked creativity and innovation, empowering users to materialize their ideas and explore new product development, research, and education possibilities.

The versatility of 3D printers extends beyond traditional manufacturing, finding  3D  printing  applications  in healthcare industry, aerospace industry, automotive industry, and consumer  products  industries,  among  others. This ongoing evolution and accessibility of 3D printing technology continue to drive innovation, efficiency, and cost- effectiveness, revolutionizing modern manufacturing and design processes across various sectors.

Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) segment to hold largest market share in the technology segment in the 3D Printing market during the forecast period.

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is the most prevalent technology in the 3D printer market, known for its versatility and cost-effectiveness. It utilizes a range of thermoplastic materials including polylactic acid (PLA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), polycarbonate (PC), and polyetherimide (PEI) to produce prototypes and functional parts swiftly and at a low cost. FDM's short lead times, sometimes as fast as next-day delivery, are facilitated by the high availability and accessibility of the technology.

This rapid turnaround time is advantageous for industries requiring quick iterations and prototypes. Additionally, FDM offers a broad selection of thermoplastic materials suitable for both prototyping and non-commercial functional applications, capable of producing high-precision plastic components with intricate geometries and fine details. These factors contribute to FDM's dominance in the market, enabling industries to accelerate product development cycles and create high-quality components for diverse 3D printing applications.

Powder Bed Fusion segment to hold the largest market share in the process segment in the 3D Printing market during the forecast period.

Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) has become a cornerstone technology within the additive manufacturing market, offering diverse applications across industries

The adoption of PBF encompasses various technologies such as Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), Selective Heat Sintering (SHS), Electron Beam Melting (EBM), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), and Selective Laser Melting (SLM) each tailored for specific material requirements and part complexities.

Metal 3D printing processes like DMLS and EBM are witnessing substantial growth, driven by demand for high- performance metal parts in the aerospace industry, automotive industry, and medical sectors. DMLS stands out for its cost-effectiveness and material versatility, while EBM is favored for superior mechanical properties and compatibility with reactive materials like titanium. SLM offers an alternative for high-strength metal components.

Polymer 3D printing, including SLS and SHS, remains significant due to affordability, making it suitable for prototyping, low-volume production, and parts with good dimensional accuracy.

Prototyping segment to hold the largest market share in the application segment in the 3D Printing market during the forecast period.

Adopting 3D printing for prototype development substantially reduces material waste and operational costs, offering a more sustainable and cost-effective approach compared to traditional manufacturing processes. 3D printing achieves this through its additive approach, building models layer-by-layer and using only the necessary material, thus minimizing scrap and optimizing material usage within designs, especially for complex geometries.

This approach reduces material waste and lowers material consumption costs, particularly for expensive materials like metals and high-performance plastics. Additionally, 3D printing streamlines the prototyping process, potentially reducing labor costs, minimizing inventory needs, and enabling faster design cycles with fewer revisions. While there may be considerations such as material costs and post-processing needs, the overall impact of 3D printing on reducing waste and operational costs makes it a highly attractive option for rapid prototyping.

Industrial segment in vertical to hold the highest market share of the 3D Printing market during the forecast period

Large-scale 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is reshaping manufacturing by offering numerous advantages over traditional techniques like machining and milling. This technology provides unparalleled design freedom, allowing for intricate designs with internal channels and complex geometries, resulting in lighter, stronger, and more efficient components.

It minimizes waste by building objects layer-by-layer, making it a sustainable manufacturing method. Large-scale 3D printing also enables faster prototyping and production applications, facilitating rapid design iterations and customization ideal for low-volume, high-value components or bespoke tools. In aerospace industry, it revolutionizes lightweight aircraft production, improving fuel efficiency and performance.

3D Printing Industry Regional Analysis

The 3D Printing market in the Asia Pacific is estimated to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period.

The Asia-Pacific region is poised to experience rapid growth in the 3D print market, driven by government initiatives promoting advanced manufacturing technologies and a growing demand for personalized products. This surge in industry adoption can be attributed to significant developments in the manufacturing sector, particularly in the automotive industry and healthcare industry.

With a strong presence in consumer electronics and ongoing urbanization, the region sees a rising need for additive manufacturing solutions. Small and medium-sized enterprises benefit from 3D printing's ability to efficiently produce customized products in small batches, a key advantage in sectors like automotive industry, aerospace industry, and healthcare industry.

Asian-Pacific governments recognize this potential and offer support through funding and infrastructure development, fostering a favorable environment for 3D printing companies. As technology advances and competition increases, the cost of 3D printing continues to decrease, further boosting 3D printing services market growth.

The region's proactive policies and investments in research and development attract renowned companies to establish their operations, particularly in countries like China, South Korea, and Japan, highlighting the immense potential of the Asia-Pacific 3D printer market in the foreseeable future.

3D Printing Market by Region

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Top 3D Printing Companies - Key Market Players

Major vendors in the 3D printing services market include

• Stratasys (US),
• 3D Systems, Inc. (US),
• HP Development Company, L.P. (US),
• EOS GmbH (Germany),
• General Electric (US),
• Materialise NV (Belgium),
• Desktop Metal, Inc. (US),
• voxeljet AG (Germany),
• SLM Solutions (Germany),
• Renishaw plc. (UK).

Apart from this, Protolabs (US), Optomec, Inc. (Mexico), Prodways Group (France), Ultimaker (Netherlands), Tiertime (China), XYZprinting (Taiwan), Höganäs AB (Sweden), UnionTech (China), Nexa3D (US), Trumpf (Germany), Formlabs (US), Markforged (US), Carbon (US), Nano Dimension (Israel), Rapid Shape GmbH (Germany) are among a few emerging companies in the 3D Printing Services market.

3D Printer Market Growth Report Scope

3D Printing Market Highlights

This research report categorizes the 3D Printing market offering, technology, process, application, vertical and Region.

Recent Developments in 3D Print Industry

• In November 2023, Stratasys introduced the F3300 Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printer at the Formnext conference, promising enhanced manufacturing capabilities with improved accuracy, uptime, and doubled output. With faster print speeds, higher part quality, and cost savings, it targeted demanding industries like aerospace and automotive. The F3300 aimed to streamline production and overcome supply chain challenges.
• In November 2023, Gilmour Space Technologies, an Australian launch services company, partnered with EOS for additive manufacturing solutions, transitioning from R&D to manufacturing for Australia's first sovereign orbital launch. Supported by the Australian Government's Modern Manufacturing Strategy, the partnership aimed to enhance in-house manufacturing capabilities, leveraging metal additive manufacturing for rapid innovation and space launch vehicle development.

Key Questions Addressed in the Report:

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