3D Printing Trends – What Is The Fastest Growing Segment?

3D printing industry remains highly fragmented across different printers, materials, and software. This fragmentation in the 3D industry will be a catalyst for growth, as no single company controls the majority of the market, according to The Information Network’s report The Information Network.

There are nearly 200 printer suppliers described in the report with products on the market, and an average of 1.4 different printers per supplier. This does not count home-made 3D printers that can be built in one day for less than $200.

The large market for FFF printers has cultivated another business that is further fragmenting the 3D printing market – materials. Materials represented 19.4% of the 3D printing industry in 2013, which in our analysis includes materials, printers, service bureaus, and spare parts. In the report, we note that materials will be the fastest growing sector of the industry, representing a 22.1% share in 2020. This would include 3D Printing Plastics.