Will the 3D Printing Industry Grow 300%?
From the user’s point of view, the 3D Printing market can be basically divided into two sectors: the market for plastic printers that are now also affordable for private consumers, and the market for professional devices that are used in industry to “print” with materials of all kinds, including ceramic and metal powders. Although analysts still consider the additive manufacturing market to be a niche sector, they nonetheless state that it had a volume of up to €2 billion in 2012. It took the sector 20 years to reach a market value of over $ 1 billion. The second billion was attained only five years later, and analysts now believe that it could grow at least fourfold over the next ten years.
But What About Mass Production?
Until recently, additive manufacturing was mainly used for rapid prototyping. Prototypes are produced layer by layer in the aerospace, automotive, and machine tool production industries, as well as in the medical and dental technology sectors. According to studies conducted by the Fraunhofer Additive Manufacturing Alliance, approximately 150 companies currently operate in this services market.
