3D Printing

Strong growth forecast for 3D printing in metals

According to IDTechEx technology analyst Rachel Gordon, 3D printing in metals is one of the fastest growing segments of the 3D printing (3DP) / additive manufacturing (AM) industry. In a recently released report, 3D Printing of Metals 2015-2025, sales of metal AM equipment are expected to grow at 48% now through 2025, and sales of materials is expected to grow at 32% during the same time period.

Breakdown of installed base and 2014 sales by company showing most companies are experiencing huge growth in sales and there are many new players in the market. Source: IDTechEx Research www.IDTechEx.com/3dmetals
Breakdown of installed base and 2014 sales by company showing most companies are experiencing huge growth in sales and there are many new players in the market. Source: IDTechEx Research www.IDTechEx.com/3dmetals

The reports forecast is bolstered by recent purchase activity, which includes GE Aviation investing $3.5 Billion in new plants to house the EOS M-280 additive machines to print 100,000 fuel nozzles by 2020.

And Arcam is using AM machines to make more than 50,000 orthopaedic implants.

Noted Gordon in a recent report on the industry, “Both these industries demand titanium alloys, giving them a market share of 31% by volume. Aerospace is also heavily investing in cobalt alloys, nickel alloys and aluminium alloys.”

Metal AM technology plays well into the Jewelry industry’s strengths too: this industry does not have qualifying standards AM machines must meet; jewelry designers are familiar with CAD and are used to subcontracting; jewelry designers are skilled in finishing and polishing and they love to freedom to create unusual designs. This industry is driving 3D printing in precious metals, with gold powder having a 49% market share by revenue.

And finally, the dental industry is also an important factor in metal AM. Metal is used to make copings and bridges with the same properties as cast parts.

The report, 3D Printing of Metals 2015-2025 covers a range of metal 3D printing equipment including selective laser melting, electron beam melting, blown powder, metal + binder, welding and other emerging technologies that can use a range of precious metals and engineering alloys including aluminium, cobalt alloys, nickel alloys, steels, nitinol, gold, platinum and many more.