3D Printing Construction Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Construction Method (Extrusion, Powder Bonding), By Material Type, By End User (Building, Infrastructure), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028

Report Overview

The global 3D printing construction market size was valued at USD 7,081.7 thousand in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 91.5% from 2021 to 2028. The increasing use of 3D printing in the construction industry is driving the market growth. 3D printing is being widely used for constructing complex building structures using modeling software programs. The implementation of 3D printing technology offers high accuracy, improved efficiency, reduced labor cost, and greater speed of construction. The growing adoption of 3D printers for prototyping and designing in the construction sector, coupled with accuracy achieved in the end product and reduced manufacturing expenditure, is driving the market growth.

The rise in the adoption of green construction projects is one of the major factors fueling the market growth. Building construction businesses are increasingly adopting 3D printing and green construction methods to reduce construction costs and build energy-efficient buildings. Green construction refers to the practice of using sustainable construction processes and building materials to create buildings posing a negligible environmental impact. According to the World Green Building Trends Survey 2018, around 47% of the surveyed businesses planned that they would build about 60% of their construction projects using green technology by 2021.

The market is projected to register growth owing to the rising adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM). The BIM provides a knowledge resource and collaborative platform for engineers, construction professionals, architects, and other stakeholders for efficient execution in designing, planning, and managing various construction decisions. Furthermore, the growing construction sector in emerging countries, increasing emphasis on eco-friendly construction practices, and the need for affordable housing solutions are expected to drive the market growth over the forecast period.

Governments of different countries and regional authorities and organizations are encouraging innovation in top sectors through initiatives such as National Icons Competition, Innovation Expo, National Science Agenda, Innovation Attaché Network, and smart industrialization. These initiatives aim to strengthen industries by promoting the application and usage of cutting-edge technologies such as 3D printing, nanotechnology, and robots. Additionally, governments are also encouraging innovation through developments across public infrastructure and legislation, which can facilitate the increased adoption of 3D printing. Thus, the growing government efforts to promote 3D printing are accentuating the market growth.

However, the high capital investment associated with 3D printing construction is expected to hinder the market growth. The materials used in commercial and industrial 3D printers are expensive compared to those used in traditional construction processes. Additionally, factors such as material constraints, limitations of the machinery, and concerns related to intellectual property rights also hinder market growth to a certain extent. The lack of skilled labor is also a key factor challenging the growth prospects of the market.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to adversely impact market growth. Several construction projects across the world are stalled as the outbreak of the pandemic has disrupted the supply of the raw materials used in construction projects. The global market players experienced plummeting revenues in 2020. However, the extent of the decline would largely depend on the severity of the measures market players would initiate to offset the adverse impact of the pandemic.

Construction Method Insights

The extrusion segment dominated the market and accounted for more than 61.0% share of the global revenue in 2020. Extrusion 3D printing is also known as Fused Deposition Modeling, which is one of the additive manufacturing techniques used for prototyping, modeling, and production applications. The extrusion-based method is majorly used for on-site construction. It allows the usage of traditional construction materials such as geopolymer, concrete, cement, clay, and plaster.

The powder bonding segment is anticipated to register significant growth over the forecast period. The increasing use of powder bonding 3D printing technology in the construction industry for constructing complex formworks is driving segment growth in recent days. The demand for this method is high as it is faster, simpler, and accurate to produce a complex formwork. Additionally, this method is less labor-intensive and time-consuming compared to traditional methods used in making formworks.

Material Type Insights

The concrete segment dominated the market and accounted for more than 32.0% share of the global revenue in 2020. 3D concrete printing is increasingly being used as an alternative to conventional concrete construction owing to its potential to reduce cost, labor, and time and increase the productivity of the construction industry. According to the study conducted by AM and BigRep, the conventional concrete formwork requires highly skilled workers, which drives the process pricing up to 60% of the building's total budget. However, with the use of 3D printed concrete formworks, it is possible to create double-curved surfaces and organic geometry, among others, at a fraction of the cost. Owing to these benefits, constructors are focused on developing 3D printed concrete formwork.

The metal segment is expected to register significant growth over the forecast period. Metal 3D printing offers opportunities to create internal stiffening, non-prismatic sections, openings, and functionally graded elements, among others, through controlled heating and cooling. Metal 3D printing in construction is mainly used for designing facade nodes and other connections. Metal 3D printing is also being used for constructing bridges. In 2018, MX3D, a software company in Amsterdam, developed a 3D printed steel bridge, which is expected to be installed across the canal of Amsterdam in near future. Currently, the bridge is under testing and in 2019, passed the testing phase of 20 tons.

End-user Insights

The building segment dominated the 3D printing construction market and accounted for more than 73.0% share of the global revenue in 2020. The building segment comprises commercial, residential, and industrial construction. Various construction companies are entering into partnerships with 3D printer providers for constructing homes using 3D printing technology. For instance, in March 2021, 3Strands, a Kansa City developer, announced its partnership with ICON, a construction technology company. Through this partnership, the former company planned to leverage the 3D printing technology of ICON to develop two- to four-bedroom homes in Texas, one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S.

The infrastructure segment is expected to register the fastest growth over the forecast period. The increasing use of 3D printing technology to construct furniture, bridges, and infrastructures using materials such as metals, plastic, and composite is driving the segment growth. Various initiatives undertaken by the companies to build 3D printed bridges across the world are expected to drive the segment growth. For instance, in April 2021, Weber Beamix and BAM construction firms started constructing a 3D printed concrete bridge for pedestrians in the Netherlands. This concrete structure will be 29.5 m in length. In addition to this, Weber Beamix plans to construct four more 3D-printed bridges across the Netherlands.

Regional Insights

The Asia Pacific region dominated the market for 3D printing construction and accounted for more than 38.0% share of the global revenue in 2020. This large market share and regional growth can be accredited to the lucrative opportunities in the construction sector in the region. As the region is establishing itself to become a global manufacturing hub, the technology is anticipated to gain significant traction over the forecast period. China and Japan are prominent countries with the potential to offer extensive opportunities for emerging and matured technologies such as 3D printing construction. The presence of numerous manufacturing industries is contributing to the region’s overall economic development.

Europe is expected to witness steady growth over the forecast period. The 3D printing construction companies in European countries such as the U.K. are increasingly investing in 3D printing for constructions, thus propelling the regional market growth. For instance, in May 2020, Skanska, a construction engineering company, announced its collaboration with Loughborough University of the U.K. This collaboration was aimed to accelerate the use of 3D printing technology in the country's construction sector.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The key players operating in the 3D printing construction are increasing their footprints across different geographies and entering new untapped marketplaces in emerging countries to expand their customer base and strengthen their geographic presence. The companies are focusing on innovative product development to cater to the growing demand. For instance, in December 2017, Yingchuang Building Technique completed a 3D printed bus stop, the first of its kind, in Jinshan Garden, China. The bus stop was made using recycled waste material.

The vendors are also entering into partnerships to strengthen their market position and offerings. For instance, in November 2020, CyBe Construction announced its partnership with QOROX, a construction company from New Zealand, to 3D print concrete elements in the North Island city of Hamilton. The company made complex construction processes more sustainable through this partnership and provided 3D concrete printed park benches with unique technology. Some of the prominent players operating in the global 3D printing construction market are:

• COBOD International A/S

• Yingchuang Building Technique (Shanghai) Co.Ltd.(Winsun)

• XtreeE

• Apis Cor

• WASP S.r.I

• CyBe Construction

• Sika AG

• MX3D

• Contour Crafting Corporation

• ICON Technology, Inc.

• Constructions -3D

3D Printing Construction Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2016 to 2028. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global 3D printing construction market report based on the construction method, material type, end user, and region:

• Construction Method Outlook (Revenue, USD Thousand, 2016 - 2028)

  • Extrusion

  • Powder Bonding

  • Others

• Material Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Thousand, 2016 - 2028)

  • Concrete

  • Metal

  • Composite

  • Others

• End-user Method Outlook (Revenue, USD Thousand, 2016 - 2028)

  • Building

  • Infrastructure

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Thousand, 2016 - 2028)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • U.K.

    • Germany

    • France

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • Japan

    • South Korea

  • South America

    • Brazil

  • Middle East & Africa

    • Saudi Arabia/KSA