Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue: 3D Printing 2013-2025: Technologies, Markets, Players.
3D printing has received much attention in the press over recent years. Hyped as the technology to bring about a third industrial revolution, 3D printing was in fact invented in the late eighties-- and since then it has seen steady, if unspectacular, growth. After 2009, however, changes occurred which have seen the fortunes of the 3D printing world take an abrupt turn for the better. Manufacturers of 3D printers are reporting a surge in demand and markets for 3D printing are growing rapidly across a number of application areas as new materials development open up new opportunities.
The common feature of 3D printer technologies is the generation of a 3-dimensional physical object from a digital model. The process is additive in nature: materials are laid down only where needed, and this results in significantly less materials wastage than traditional manufacturing techniques. Each of the technologies is suitable for use with a different range of materials, which in turn defines the suitable applications of the printer.
Originally used for the rapid production of prototypes for form and fit testing, applications are transitioning towards also functional testing of prototypes under working conditions, and further, the manufacture of final products.
While 3D printing of final products is relatively slow compared to traditional manufacturing methods, new, more complex design avenues have opened up to enable the economic production of lighter components that are critical to the aerospace and automotive industries. Applications are also emerging in the medical and dental fields, where the opportunity afforded by cheap customisation is allowing surgeons to replicate a patient's body based on MRI and CT scans in order to practice difficult invasive procedures. In addition, medical and dental implants are fully customised to a particular individual.
This report will be useful to any organization currently considering how 3D printing might be of value to them but are unsure of the right technology to employ. It will also be of value to any organization already familiar with 3D printing, but wishing to seek either a broader overview, or a more detailed and up-to-date knowledge of the field and its development.
This report gives forecasts to 2025 for the following sectors:
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Consumer Product
- Medical/dental
- Jewelry, architecture and the design arts
Applications are detailed for:
- Rapid prototyping
- Final product manufacture
- Tooling
The medical/dental sector has strong growth potential. Currently valued at $141M, it will grow to $868M by 2025 led by dental applications and increasing use for the manufacture of orthopaedic implants. Growth will also be rapid in the jewellery, design arts, and architectural sectors which will see a combined compound annual growth rate of 20 percent for the period.
When significant penetration has occurred into the above markets, 3D printing will lock into the capital expenditure cycles associated to the aerospace and automotive industries, and, as is the case for CNC machines, periodic fluctuations in sales will occur- growth will not be steady and monotonic.
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