Report Forecasts Additive Manufacturing Materials Market to Exceed $600 Million by 2025

The additive manufacturing (AM) market continues to grow by leaps and bounds as more and more industries find ways of leveraging the technology. Wohlers Report 2013 saw a 28.6% increase in products and services in 2012, and estimates a total market value of nearly $6 billion by 2017. Manufacturers have also seen a boom, with 3D Systems reporting its third quarter revenue grew 50% from the prior year to a record $135.7 million.

Unsurprisingly, the AM materials market is growing alongside products and services. A new report by industry research firm IDTechEx estimating that the value of the AM materials market will exceed $600 million by 2025. The report, 3D Printing Materials 2014-2025: Status, Opportunities, Market Forecasts, was published this month, and was authored by Dr. Wendy Kneissl, senior technical analyst at IDTechEx.

The report focuses on the major AM material groups including photopolymers, thermoplastics in solid form (ie. filaments and pellets), thermoplastics in powder form, metal powders, and powder-bed inkjet powders. According to the report, the current market is dominated by photopolymers and thermoplastics, at 56% and 40% usage, respectively.

IDTechEx forecasts that increased production of end-use products will drive sales growth of other materials in the near future. Metal materials are expected to see the largest amount of growth as demand grows, but the overall production of metal materials will probably remain about the same. While an expansion of the market will eventually drive prices down for other materials, the company forecasts that metal material prices will remain relatively steady.

A general decrease in material costs will result in some difficulties for 3D printer manufacturers that attempt to restrict customers from buying new materials from anyone but the original manufacturer. The same sales model that has kept the 2D printing industry afloat could run into problems in the 3D printing industry. Attempts to manufacture cartridges that are unique to a single AM system could be viewed as with extreme skepticism by the consumer base, perhaps leading to a larger third-party market.

Additionally, attempts by 3D printer manufacturers to artificially inflate the price of materials will not be greeted with approval from major corporate clients, who are likely to push back against such tactics using their vast purchasing potential as leverage.

Below you’ll find a video about different AM materials.

Sources: IDTechEx, 3D Systems