3D Printing Metals Market Analysis By Product (Titanium, Nickel, Steel, Aluminum), By Application (Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Medical & Dental), By Form (Powder, Filament), By Region, By Country, And Segment Forecasts, 2018 - 2025

Industry Insights

The global 3D printing metals market size was valued at USD 192.9 million in 2015. Metals have been witnessing significant growth in the 3D printing market due to high strength and lightweight of the finished product. Various end-use industries have been trying to inculcate metal 3D printers as mainstream manufacturing equipment in order to reduce their lead time and increase profitability, which is expected to drive the market.

Availability of 3D printers in various sizes and capabilities is expected to fuel the market growth. However, high cost of the product and expensive process due to necessity of pure metals is anticipated to hinder the market growth. Intensive R&D is being conducted by the market players in order to develop application specific materials and compatible printers.

U.S. 3D printing metals market revenue, by application, 2014 - 2025 (USD Million)

3D printing metals are widely utilized in sectors including aerospace & defense, automotive, and medical & dental. Titanium, due to its properties such as light weight and anti-corrosion, is being used in the aerospace sector. Early adoption of the material by the industry is expected to have a positive impact on the demand over the next nine years.

High speed of manufacturing and geometrical accuracy of the 3D printing technology is expected to have a positive impact on the demand over the forecast period. Increasing use of the technology in other fields such as construction, jewelry, industrial spare parts etc. is expected to fuel the development.

Form Insights

3D printing metals are typically utilized in two forms such as filaments and powders. Filaments accounted for a share of 7.5% of the market in 2015. These materials are a mix of metal and polymer, wherein the metal is coated with a layer of material including PLA and ABS. The manufacturers have been making efforts to develop low cost technologies for printing with filament as compared to selective laser melting with metal powders. This is likely to augment the demand for filaments over the forecast period.

Filaments are typically segmented into metal powder infused filaments and metal colored filaments. Metal powder infused filaments can be utilized when high metal content products are required. However, metal colored filaments are considered advantageous as compared to metal powder filaments in terms of quality and affordability.

Powders accounted for the largest share of the market in 2015 and are expected to display sustainable growth over the forecast period. These are pure metals which make them viable to be utilized in sectors such as aerospace & defense and automotive. The industry needs significant development in the field of combining different materials including metals & plastics in one single process.

Efforts are being made by institutions including Metalbot and OpenSLS in order to develop less expensive desktop metal printers, which is likely to fuel the industry over the coming years. Increasing range of metals powders that are feasible for 3D printing is expected to further drive the market.

Application Insights

Aerospace & defense industry dominated the market and is anticipated to register a CAGR of over 30% from 2016 to 2025. Ability of aerospace & defense industry to bear high initial costs and adapt to new technologies is anticipated to propel the development. Innovative aerospace approach aided by necessity of complex geometric structures is expected to drive the 3D printing technology, thereby supporting the growth of 3D printing metals.

The major factor which is expected to drive the aerospace industry towards the adoption of 3D printing technology and metals include the requirement of new components to carry out R&D and development of innovative products. The tools required to address repairs need to be changed with evolving technology in terms of structure design & sizes.

Medical & dental industry is expected to display considerable growth in the market. Increasing health awareness and consumer willingness to pay are the factors driving the medical & dental industry, thereby fueling the global market of 3D printing metals. However, relatively smaller players in the industry have not been able to adopt 3D printing technology due to cost restraint which is anticipated to hinder the market development over the coming years.

In the automotive industry, manufacturing of parts and components traditionally happen through selective laser melting aided by 3D CAD data. However, the introduction of 3D printing technology to the industry is expected to display many benefits such as producing hollow components, comparatively thinner walls, and mixing various raw materials while manufacturing a component. Significant benefits provided by the technology to the industry is expected to drive the global market of 3D printing metals.

Product Insights

Titanium accounted for the largest share in the 3D printing metals market and is expected to maintain the same over the forecast period. Use of titanium by the aerospace industry to print 3D equipment is anticipated to be major factor facilitating the growth. Ability of the product to meet requirements of the industry in terms of weight, strength, and corrosive properties is likely to have a positive impact on the development.

Emerging interests in healthcare industry towards titanium based implants is likely to support the growth of the market. Companies including Novax DMA, CEIT Biomedical Engineering are ventured into manufacturing of titanium based medical implants to address caused or inherited deformations in parts like skull, bones and vertebrae’s etc.

3D printing metals market volume, by product, 2015 (%)

Steel is considered to be the cheapest form of metal for 3D printing. It can also be utilized in mixture with other metals like bronze. The low cost and easy availability of the product is likely to increase its utilization in printing of large products including machines, car frames and transport equipment over the coming years. Other applications of steel include spare parts, fully functional components, and jewelry.

Nickel is expected to witness a CAGR of over 30%, in terms of revenue, from 2016 to 2025 in terms of revenue. It is broadly utilized in aerospace & defense sector in the form of alloys such as inconel. High strength of the metal enables printing of thin layered strong components making the product lighter. It is also utilized to print power generation and industrial spare components.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the market share and is expected to display CAGR over 30% in terms of revenue. The presence of bigger companies that can afford 3D printing technology and early adoption of the technology are expected to propel the growth of the 3D printing metals market across the region.

Recent changes in the policies across the U.S. is expected to be favorable for 3D printable material growth. Policies to increase investment in defense and manufacturing sector are likely to fuel the demand of the market. Increase of R&D in the market across the region is further expected to drive the product development.

Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness significant growth, driven by rapidly growing manufacturing sector and high economic development in China, India, and South East Asian countries. However, high initial capital to adopt the technology is likely to restrain demand for 3D printing metal markets.

China is expected to record high growth in utilizing the technology in the automotive industry. The economy being one of the largest manufacturers of automotive is likely to support the development of the product. Favorable government regulations are expected to bolster the market further across the economy.

Competitive Insights

Key industry participants include Arcam AB, ExOne GMBH, 3D Systems Corporation, Materialise NV, Renishaw PLC, Hoganas AB, Voxeljet AG, Carpenter Technology Corporation, Equispheres, GKN PLC, Sandvik AB, PLW Technology Ltd, Optomec Inc, Eos GmbH Electro Optical Systems, and Concept Laser GmbH.

3D printing metal manufacturers have been involved in mergers & acquisitions and the opening of new offices in order increase business operations in terms of production, distribution, and sales. Voxeljet AG has approached Suzhou Meimai Fast Manufacturing Technology Co for a joint venture enabling the company to enter Chinese markets.

Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue and volume growth at global, regional & country levels and provides an analysis of the industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2014 to 2025. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the 3D printing metals market on the basis of application, form, product and region:

• Application Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • Aerospace & Defense

  • Automotive

  • Medical & Dental

  • Others

• Form Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • Powder

  • Filament

• Product Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • Titanium

  • Nickel

  • Steel

  • Aluminum

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • North America

    • U.S.

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • UK

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • Japan

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

  • Middle East & Africa