3D Printed Wearables Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product Type (Prosthetics, Orthopedic Implants), By End-user (Hospital, Pharma & Biotech Companies), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030

Report Overview

The global 3D printed wearables market size was valued at USD 3.3 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.0% from 2022 to 2030. 3D printing technology involves the manufacturing of medical devices and other products layer by layer. The rising emphasis of market players on manufacturing 3D printed wearable products is estimated to boost the growth of this market. As recently established 3D printed wearables are anticipated to overcome the shortcomings of conventional products, 3D printed wearables sales are expected to rise shortly.

The COVID-19 pandemic had significantly affected the transportation and logistics of the raw materials of 3D printed wearable products. The global supply chain was disrupted during the first half of 2020 due to the lockdown and COVID-19 restrictions in various regions. As a result, market players have witnessed a decrease in the sale of 3D printed products. The FDA took flexible approaches to ensure the availability and resolve the critical supply chain shortage of 3D products such as 3D printed PPE suits for healthcare workers. By the end of the third quarter of 2020, the sale of 3D printed products started increasing as the need and demand for the products increase with an increase in the awareness regarding the product among the consumers.

The major factor driving the market for 3D printed wearables is the increasing demand for uniquely designed products. With the help of 3D printing, companies can design a device as per customers’ requirements. Additionally, the factors driving the market are the increasing focus on health by consumer technology companies and the general public. For instance, with the help of 3D printing technology, sports manufacturers have to produce shoe soles that increase diabetics' sensory perception. With the help of these shoes, diabetic patients can walk more comfortably and these shoes can also be custom designed for each patient.

The 3D printed wearable devices can collect information including the step count a person has walked in a day and the pulse rate. The research within the technology is presently intensive on sensors and flexible materials and their ability to be both bendy and pliable. These properties are perfect for wearables, particularly in products such as small discrete sensors and smartwatches. Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, is regarded as the next industrial revolution in manufacturing, with a high potential to provide cost-effective methods to achieve complex and customized medical components and parts, such as organs, orthopedic and cranial implants, tissues, and dental prosthetics. 

Product Type Insights

The prosthetics segment accounted for the largest revenue share of over 35.0% in 2021. The large share of this segment is attributed to the rising prevalence of chronic diseases and the increasing demand for prosthetics implants in developing countries. An increasing number of amputation cases globally and a rise in limb amputation due to cardiovascular disease are other factors likely to fuel segment growth during the forecast period.

In 2019, it was estimated that over 6,00,000 implants had been produced with 3D printing. The increasing awareness regarding this technologically advanced product is likely to expand the market. The growing usage of connectivity technologies such as microprocessor controllers, Bluetooth, and myoelectric technology has resulted in the growing demand for such devices. The orthopedic implants segment is expected to register a growth rate of 10.2% over the forecast period as these implants provide various advantages such as extra comfort, efficiency, relative abundance, and long shelf life.

End-user Insights

The hospitals segment accounted for the largest revenue share of over 35.0% in 2021. This is due to the rapidly increasing patient admissions, rising cases of chronic disorders, and increasing investment in the R&D of 3D printed wearable devices. The requirement of these devices is in large quantities in each room of the hospital such as nurse’s station, operation theater, emergency room, outpatient clinics, and in the hospital’s ambulatory services.

The wireless 3D printed devices are likely to help in maintaining the patient records in a more systematic manner. Increasing focus on 3D printed wearables and growing R&D spending are major factors responsible for the growth of this segment. The pharma and biotech companies are expected to witness the highest growth over the forecast period as 3D printing offers many benefits to both clinical practice and the pharma and biotech industry such as decreased overall cost and expedited development time for manufacturing drugs.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the market and accounted for a revenue share of over 40.0% in 2021. The region is anticipated to maintain its dominance over the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to a rapid increase in the development of 3D printed wearables to meet the growing demand for efficient healthcare in the country and strong R&D and promotion of new therapies. In addition, North America is the top manufacturing hub for highly reliable, complex, and high-end 3D printed wearable and medical devices. This, in turn, is anticipated to propel the growth of the market for 3D printed wearables.

Rapid technological advancements and growing demand for 3D printed wearable devices are factors expected to drive the market in the region. Moreover, various medical device manufacturing companies are focusing on the market due to the booming healthcare industry in the region. Increasing investments in 3D printing and rising R&D spending are also contributing to the growth of the market in the region.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Key companies are engaging in partnerships and mergers and acquisitions, aiming to strengthen their product portfolio, expand their manufacturing capacities, and provide competitive differentiation. For instance, in January 2021, Stratasys Ltd. announced the acquisition of Origin. The acquisition is likely to be the key contributor to the company’s growth. The acquisition adds the company’s software-centric additive manufacturing solution that offers printing technology based on digital light processing. Some prominent players in the global 3D printed wearables market include:

• 3D Systems Corporation

• EnvisionTEC

• Stratasys Ltd.

• Arcam AB

• Cyfuse Biomedical

• Koninklijke Philips N.V.

• Zephyr Technology Corporation

• Omron Corporation

• Everist Health

• LifeWatch AG 

3D Printed Wearables Market Report Scope 

Global 3D Printed Wearables Market Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global 3D printed wearables market report based on product type, end-user, and region:

• Product Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Prosthetics

  • Orthopedic Implants

  • Surgical Instruments

  • Smart Watches

  • Fitness Trackers

• End-user Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Hospital

  • Pharma & Biotech Companies

  • Academic Institutes

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

  • Asia Pacific

    • Japan

    • China

    • India

    • Australia

    • South Korea

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

  • MEA

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE