Production of parts for final products is now 34.7% of the market for 3D printing

Revenues from the production of parts for final products represents 34.7% of the entire market for 3D printing, Wohlers Associates found in its research for the Wohlers Report 2014.

Since 2003, this market segment has gone from less than 4% to more than one-third of total revenues from 3D printing products and services worldwide (see chart). In capturing this share of the market, the use of 3D printing for this application grew by 65.4% in 2013 to an estimated $1.065bn, up from $643.8m in the previous year.

“We are seeing companies push the limits of additive manufacturing to new levels and apply the technology in entirely new ways,” said Terry Wohlers, president of Wohlers Associates and a principal author of Wohlers Report 2014.

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“Through investment, hard work, and determination, companies in aerospace, medical, dental, and other industries are finding ways to use additive manufacturing to produce quality parts,” Wohlers stated. Given the vast interest and opportunities that lie ahead, Wohlers Associates strongly believes that the use of 3D printing for series production will grow to become the largest application, by far, in the future.

The 276-page Wohlers Report 2014 is packed with up-to-date and practical information that includes 35 charts and graphs, 60 tables, and 248 images and illustrations. The report was created with support from 82 service providers, 29 system manufacturers, and the valuable contributions of 70 co-authors in 24 countries, Wohlers said. The 2014 edition marks the 19th consecutive year of its publication.

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