Nov.19, 2013
The use of 3D printing for the production of parts for final products is getting close to 30% of all 3D printing, says a leading analyst firm Wohlers Associates.
Following a decade-long growth trend, final part production created by 3D printing rose to 28.3% of the $2.2 billion spent last year on 3D printing products and services worldwide. In 2003, it represented only 3.9% of revenues, as shown in the following chart.
The production of parts for final products is expected to far surpass prototyping applications for 3D-printed parts, according to Tim Caffrey, senior consultant at Wohlers Associates, who is a principal author of Wohlers Report 2013. This is because the ratio of prototypes to production parts is often 1:1,000 or greater. "The money is in manufacturing, not prototyping," said Caffrey. "The opportunity for more commercial production activity from additive manufacturing is immense."
The use of 3D printing, also referred to as additive manufacturing, for final part production is growing in several diverse market segments. Wolhers Associates says they include metal copings for dental crowns and bridges, orthopedic implants, and jewelry. The aerospace industry is also an important market for the production of 3D-printed parts. Boeing uses additive manufacturing extensively to produce environmental control system ducting for directing the flow of air on military and commercial aircraft. GE Aviation announced that it will use 3D-printed fuel nozzles on its next-generation LEAP engine. The company plans to 3D print about 40,000 nozzles annually for its aircraft engines in the coming years. And Rolls-Royce is also considering using 3D printing to manufacture lighter components for its aircraft engines.
Wohlers Associates forecasts the 3D printing industry will continue to post strong double-digit growth over the next several years, reaching $6 billion by 2017 and $10.8 billion by 2021. 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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