Segments - Automated 3D Printing Market by Offering (Hardware, Software, and Services), Process (Material Handling, Part Handling, Multi-Processing, Automation Production, and Post-Processing), Technology (Electron Beam Melting, PolyJet Printing, Stereolithography, Laminated Object Manufacturing, Fused Deposition Modeling, Laser Metal Deposition, Digital Light Processing, Selective Laser Sintering, and Others), End-User (Healthcare, Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Industrial Manufacturing, and Others), and Region (Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East & Africa) - Global Industry Analysis, Growth, Share, Size, Trends, and Forecast 2023 – 2031
The global automated 3D printing market size was USD 1 Billion in 2022 and is likely to reach USD 23.47 Billion by 2031, expanding at a CAGR of 42% during 2023–2031. The market growth is attributed to the increasing investments in research & development activities and the adoption of industrial automation.
3D printing is also called additive manufacturing. 3D printing is a method of creating three-dimensional solid object layers by using a computer design, whereby layers are built up to create 3D parts. The final design of printing is cut from a large material, which is the opposite of the subtractive manufacturing process. 3D printing enables the production of complex shapes by generating less material wastage than traditional methods.
3D printers start with predetermined settings, produce prints, send out the complete part, and start with the next file. This process repeats until all files have been created, especially in an automated solution. Automated 3D printing facilitates streamlining the prototyping process and fast-tracking the manufacturing of parts for emergency events. Some of the parts are removed from a 3D printer, as additional materials are recycled and reused. Sinter, polish, heat-treat, and smooth surfaces are automated post-processing equipment. These equipment are digitally and additively manufactured parts.
COVID-19 has negatively affected the automated 3D printing market, due to the disruption of supply chains and demands for treatments & materials. Technological developments in the medical device, pharmaceutical, and manufacturing sectors have significantly enhanced during the pandemic.
Pandemic has affected the supply chain of personal protection equipment (PPE) and other medical devices in hospitals that made it hard to get the medical supplies. Automated 3D printing (additive manufacturing) has developed a remarkable fabrication process during the pandemic, as its flexibility and accessibility to produce the complex and monolithic parts.
The research report presents a complete market overview by providing detailed information about the current market trends, existing drivers, growth opportunities and potentials, and emerging challenges. The global automated 3D printing market report has up-to-date insights about market scenarios that can shape the overall market performance and output during the forecast period, 2023 to 2031.
Rising Number of Automobiles
The increasing number of automobiles other than buses and trains have become the main mode of transportation and an essential part of human lives. There are 1.3 billion motor vehicles on the road over the globe and are expected to increase by 1.8 billion in 2035, out of which 74% are passenger cars and 26% are commercial vehicles.
3D printing might be used in creating molds and tools for manufacturing grips, jigs, and fixtures. 3D printing allows automakers to produce samples and tools at a low cost and eliminate high costs in future production. In 2014, Local Motors launched the first-ever 3D-printed electric car. Afterward, other firms followed the adoption of automated 3D printing techniques as well.
With the increasing trend towards automation, the US auto manufacturers around 80 to 90 % of prototype assembly has been printed. Air intake, exhaust, and ducting are the popular components parts, which are designed digitally, 3D printed, and fitted on the car, then tested through multiple iterations.
Increasing Number of Applications
Increasing the usage of the technology in many applications like drug delivery, 3D printed organs, transplantation, and other healthcare industries are driving the global automated 3D printing market. Surgical procedures merged with R&D investments, due to increasing demand for customizing implants are also driving the global automated 3D printing market. The growing adoption of 3D printing applications in the healthcare industry, coupled with 3D printing and printers is expected to prompt the growth of the market.
Operational Challenges
Many industrial printers are slow and less effective, as they are old equipment. The adoption of 3D printing in various industries such as automobile and consumer products are hampered by slow and less effective equipment. Price of the machinery, materials accessibility, need for post-processing, manufacturing cost, lack of expertise, software development & capabilities, and recyclability are some of the difficulties that are the major factoring restraining the growth of the global market.
High Cost of 3D Printing
High-cost of 3D printing is the major restraint in the global automated 3D printing market. Stereolithography, electron beam, laser beam, photopolymerization, and droplet deposition techniques are 3D printing technologies, which are expensive than other types of commercial printing technologies. While the products can reduce the price and improve efficiency for final 3D printed products, the high cost of 3D printers is expected to restrain the global market.
Increasing Mass Production Technology
3D printing has constantly been developing from prototyping and small batch to mass production technology, which is growing the adoption rate of industrial 3D printing. Industrial and non-industrial vendors have shifted their focus toward bringing automation to 3D printing.
Usage of additive manufacturing and hardware growing with stand-alone systems that are used for tooling, prototyping, and single-part production. These are used for core systems with automated production lines boosting the opportunities in the light-out industries.
The global automated 3D printing market research report includes an assessment of the market trends, market segments, and regional markets. Overview and dynamics have also been included in the report.
Attributes |
Details |
Report Title |
Automated 3D Printing Market - Global Industry Analysis, Growth, Share, Size, Trends, and Forecast |
Base Year |
2022 |
Historic Data |
2016–2021 |
Forecast Period |
2023–2031 |
Segmentation |
Offering (Hardware, Software, and Services), Process (Material Handling, Part Handling, Multi-Processing, Automation Production, and Post-Processing), Technology (Electron Beam Melting, PolyJet Printing, Stereolithography, Laminated Object Manufacturing, Fused Deposition Modeling, Laser Metal Deposition, Digital Light Processing, Selective Laser Sintering, and Others), and End-Users (Healthcare, Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Industrial Manufacturing, and Others) |
Regional Scope |
Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East & Africa |
Report Coverage |
Company Share, Market Analysis and Size, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, Market Trends, and Revenue Forecast |
Key Players Covered in the Report |
Universal Robots A/S; EOS; NVBOTS; Renishaw PLC.; Stratasys; Materialise; Formlabs; Authentise; SLM Solution; 3D Systems Corporation; PostProcess Technologies; Coobx; DWS Systems; Concept Lase (GE); The ExOne Company. |
3D Printers are Quick, Productive, and Efficient
Based on offering, the global automated 3D printing market is divided into hardware, software, and services. The hardware segment is projected to hold a significant CAGR of 39.6% over the forecast period. Automated 3D printers are becoming quicker, more productive, and more efficient than before, which is the expansion of the 3D printing hardware segment.
The automated 3D printing market for additive manufacturing is increasing with new applications, end-users, and industries. Adoption of advanced technologies in hardware such as meta machines and binder jetting, which are less expensive than Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) systems, helps metal 3D printing to gain popularity.
Software segment is expected to hold the second-largest market share in the automated 3D printing market, as resolving several issues with the 3D printing process has been increasing in recent years.
3D printing software achieves to build complex designs and raise print rates, which aids in increasing the growth of the market. 3D modeling software is used to convert the model into data for the printer to understand and makes the printing of the 3D object process simple.
Prototyping and Small-batch Production
On the basis of process, the global market is segregated into material handling, part handling, multi-processing, automation production, and post-processing. The automation production segment is anticipated to hold the largest market share over the forecast period.
3D printing technology has expanded from prototyping and small-batch production to mass-production in manufacturing units. A large number of 3D printer manufacturers are taking necessary steps to integrate their technologically advanced products into end-to-end workflows. There are several other benefits to automating the entire 3D printing process such as speed, cost, ergonomic designing, consistency, and others.
The material handling segment is expected to hold the second-largest market share, as it provides increased productivity, flexibility, cost savings, and efficient conveyance. To satisfy the particular requirements of clients, end-of-service (EOS) providers offer three products with various levels of automation for small, medium, and large volumes of materials.
3D printing can produce reliable parts and are interoperable with all end-of-service (EOS) systems for plastic additive manufacturing and combined with various manufacturing environments. Parallel material and construction reduce the time to build orders and surge overall productivity.
Powdered Material and Laser Fuses
Based on technology, the global automated 3D printing market is segmented into electron beam melting (EBM), polyjet printing, stereolithography (SLA), laminated object manufacturing (LOM), fused deposition modeling (FDM), laser metal deposition (LMD), digital light processing (DLP), selective laser sintering (SLS), and others.
The SLS segment dominates the market share during the forecast period. SLS printers use powdered material and laser fuses for printing new things. Metal, ceramic, and plastic objects are all made by using laser sintering. This 3D printer can produce precise and delicate structures using selective laser sintering.
Increasing Demand for International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
On the basis of end-user, the global market is divided into healthcare, aerospace & defense, automotive, industrial manufacturing, and others. The industrial manufacturing segment is expected to hold a significant CAGR of 39.8% market share over the forecast period.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for environmental management systems is increasing over the past few years, particularly in the ISO 50001 standard, which require manufacturers to invest in energy-saving technologies and expand the market. 3D printing also called additive manufacturing to continues be a significant challenge. The process of printing is expected to reduce material and time loss.
The automotive segment is expected to hold the second-largest market share during the forecast period. Transportation of automobiles plays an essential role in human lives in modern society. 3D printing is used to produce molds, thermoforming tools, and quick fabrication of manufacturing grips, jigs, and fixtures. 3D printing allows automakers to produce samples and tools at low cost and reduce high-cost for future production needs.
North America to Dominate the Market
In terms of region, the global automated 3D printing market is classified as Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East & Africa. North America holds the largest market share in the automated 3D printing market.
The U.S. is the major supporting factor in the development of the automated 3D printing market in the region. Stereo Lithography (SLA) is an important technology adopted in the 3D printing market in North America. SLA has continued to surpass its applications in modeling and prototyping, through the improvement of various processes in 3D printing technology in the healthcare sector in the region.
The market in Asia Pacific is increasing at significant growth, due to the rising adoption of 3D printing applications in the region. Plastic materials used in automated 3D printing are anticipated to grow at a significant growth rate in the Asia Pacific market.
The global automated 3D printing market has been segmented on the basis of
Key players competing in the global automated 3D printing market are Universal Robots A/S; EOS; NVBOTS; Renishaw PLC.; Stratasys; Materialise; Formlabs; Authentise; SLM Solution; 3D Systems Corporation; PostProcess Technologies; Coobx; DWS Systems; Concept Lase (GE); The ExOne Company.
Some of these major companies adopted various business development strategies including mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, collaboration, product launches, and production capacity expansion to expand their consumer base and enhance their market share.
In January 2022, Materialise and Sigma Labs developed a breakthrough technology to enhance the scalability of metal used in additive manufacturing applications. Sigma Labs PrintRide3D sensor technology allows users to identify and correct metal build issues in real time.
In February 2022, Authentise announced the acquisition of all assets of Elements Technology Platform, the provider of self-serve workflow tools for manufacturing. The acquisition brings together a mix of tools and technologies for workflow management, real tile machine, AI, RFID technologies, and more.
In March 2020, PostProcess announced a partnership with the renowned 3D printer distributor Z-Axis. Z-Axis is expected to broaden the reach of PostProcess Technologies throughout Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Belarus, and Kirgizia.
The global automated 3D printing market size valued at around USD 708 million in 2021.
Operational challenges and high cost of 3D printing are the factors restraining the market.
Offering, process, technology, end-user, and region are the segments provided in the global automated 3D printing market report.
The global automated 3D printing market is estimated to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 42% during the forecast period.
North America is likely to dominate the global automated 3D printing market during the forecast period.
Healthcare, aerospace & defense, automotive, industrial manufacturing, and others are the end-users in the automated 3D printing market.
Universal Robots A/S; EOS; NVBOTS; Renishaw PLC.; Stratasys; Materialise; Formlabs; Authentise; SLM Solution; 3D Systems Corporation; PostProcess Technologies; Coobx; are some of the key players in the automated 3D printing market.