Get ready now for 3D printing future

While professional uses such as prototyping will continue to account for the majority of demand, the more rapid growth will be seen in production and consumer applications. 

3D printers will increasingly be used to manufacture direct production parts and finished goods in a wide variety of applications. Freedonia analyst Pauline Tung expects "greater adoption of additive manufacturing technologies as 3D printing speeds and material quality improves”.

Robust growth will be seen in demand for printing materials, as the rapidly expanding installed base of 3D printers fuels related materials consumption. Plastics will continue to account for the majority of materials demand, but faster growth is projected for metals, based on their greater strength and resistance, as well as rapid gains in markets such as aerospace. Demand for software and other 3D printing products such as 3D scanners will grow in line with the overall average, supported by the ongoing need for technological updates and upgrades.

Some of the fastest growth will be seen in the medical and dental market, with especially good opportunities expected in dental applications such as braces, prostheses, crowns, bridges, dental aligners, and models for dental restoration procedures. Other significant markets for 3D printing products include consumer products (e.g., jewelry, toys, fashion clothing, consumer electronics), automotive, and aerospace. 

The US will remain by far the largest national 3D printing market in the world, accounting for 42 percent of global sales in 2017. In developed areas such as the US and Western Europe, 3D printing market value will be supported by the growing presence of metal-based 3D printers for the production of finished parts, as such systems are significantly more expensive than plastics-based 3D printing systems. Rapid gains are expected in China, where most applications (especially in large markets such as consumer products manufacturing) center on design, sample testing, or prototyping. 

Think about supply chain implications
Supply chain consultancy, Crimson & Co 3D printing says 3D printing will have little impact in the immediate future but potentially cause chaos in the not so distant future.

John Sewell, principal, Crimson & Co explained: "As Bill Gates famously said, ‘we always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten’. This rings true for 3D Printing, which is unlikely to affect businesses in the next two years, but undoubtedly will within the next ten years.

"The current excitement around 3D printing can be compared to the hype surrounding the emergence of lasers in the 1970’s – everyone knew that it would be huge, but they did not know what to do with it.

"One of the first areas to benefit from more widespread use of 3D printing will be sectors which require frequent ‘spares and repairs’. Traditionally, these types of businesses will spend large amounts on transporting small parts from across the world and storing them at a closer location to the end customer, where they will sit until needed. This is where supply chain leaders will need to weigh up the fees involved in each option and understand which route is right for them, but it is likely that costs will be dramatically reduced through the 3D printing option.

"Gaining a bit of experience and knowledge in the area of 3D printing now and preparing as much as possible will enable organisations to exploit opportunities as they arise.”