May.23, 2013
Wohlers Associates, Inc. an independent consulting firm today announced the release of the Wohlers Report 2013, the company's annual in-depth analysis of additive manufacturing and 3D printing worldwide.
Wohlers Report 2013 documents important developments in all aspects of 3D printing from the past 18 months, including its applications, processes, manufacturers, and materials.
According to the report, the market for 3D printing in 2012, consisting of all products and services worldwide, grew 28.6% (CAGR) to $2.204 billion. This is up from $1.714 billion in 2011, when it grew 29.4%. Growth was 24.1% in 2010. The average annual growth (CAGR) of the industry over the past 25 years is an impressive 25.4%. The CAGR is 27.4% over the past three years (2010–2012).
Growth of the low-cost (under $5,000) "personal" 3D printer market segment averaged 346% each year from 2008 through 2011. In 2012, the increase cooled significantly to an estimated 46.3%, according to research by Wohlers Associates. Most of these machines are being sold to hobbyists, do-it-yourselfers, engineering students, and educational institutions.
Wohlers Associates believes the 3D printing industry will continue strong double-digit growth over the next several years and the sale of 3D-printing products and services will approach $6 billion worldwide. By 2021, Wohlers Associates forecasts the industry to reach $10.8 billion. It took the 3D printing industry 20 years to reach $1 billion in size. In five additional years, the industry generated its second $1 billion. It is expected to double again, to $4 billion, in 2015.
Posted in 3D Printing Technology
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Carl- That could be, but would also indicate that there are only so many units being sold right now (namely the hobbyists, schools, etc. listed). That in of itself would seem a bad sign for the industry.
Carl wrote at 5/26/2013 9:54:54 PM:
I wonder if part of the reason for their findings about low cost printing is in the numbers. if they are saying only 46.3 percent growth in dollar value when the lowest cost printers went from over $1000 (approx) to $399, perhaps the growth was a much higher percentage if they were counting units sold.
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