Healthcare Additive Manufacturing Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Technology (Laser Sintering, Deposition Modeling), By Application (Medical Implants, Wearable Devices), By Material, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028

Report Overview

The global healthcare additive manufacturing market size was valued at USD 1.34 billion in 2020 and is estimated to register a rapid compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.8%. The increasing need for customized medical products, such as implants, and the introduction of advanced technologies to make various products of simple as well as complex designs are driving the market growth. Additive manufacturing is regarded as the next industrial revolution in manufacturing, with high potential to provide cost-effective methods to achieve complex and customized medical parts & components, such as tissues, organs, orthopedic & cranial implants, dental prosthetics, and others. High demand & unmet needs identified in the healthcare sector due to a rise in the number of surgeries and increasing prevalence of chronic disorders are anticipated to aid growth over the forecast period.

Additive Manufacturing (AM) allows the manufacturing of more complex designs that are too difficult or expensive to make using traditional machinery, milling, molds, and dies. It also excels at rapid prototyping. It offers a more dynamic and design-driven process. Additive manufacturing is ideal for making prototypes quickly using 3D CAD and eliminates the lengthy process and high costs associated with the same.

Expiring patents have released the monopolistic control of original pioneers of the AM industry. For instance, in 2009, the patent for the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printing technique expired. The patent expiration caused a huge price drop in FDM printers, and companies, such as Ultimaker and MakerBot, came up with consumer-friendly 3D printers. With the expiration of patents, a rise in the number of companies in the AM market was observed. In 2020, the market was moderately consolidated with a few large-scale global players and several small-scale regional players.

The emerging players are creating varied applications of the same technology at a much affordable price. The top three technologies that were affected by this are liquid-based (liquid-based stereolithography), powder-based (selective laser sintering - 2014), and material-based (direct metal laser sintering & selective laser melting - 2016). Hence, patent expirations are expected to boost market growth.

Also, the U.S. FDA has reviewed more than 100 devices manufactured using 3D printers, which are now available in the market. These include customized patient-matched devices to fit a patient’s anatomy including cranial implants and knee replacements. The U.S. FDA has been actively involved in understanding the technology to provide a broader regulatory pathway that keeps pace with technology advancements and aids efficient access to safe & effective innovations enabled by AM.

The supply chain of various products in the healthcare industry was disrupted owing to the coronavirus pandemic. The shortage of medical supplies was recompensated to a great extent through additive manufacturing. For instance, in 2020, Isinnova introduced the Charlotte valve that is a 3D-printable mask connector design intended to fit and connect Decathlon’s Easybreath snorkeling masks to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. Such innovations will drive the growth of the overall market over the forecast period.

Technology Insights

Laser sintering led the market in 2020 and accounted for the largest revenue share of 31%. The Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) method can produce several pieces at one time. Besides, it does not require any support to build objects.

The deposition modeling segment is estimated to register the fastest CAGR from 2021 to 2028. Stereolithography (SLA) followed laser sintering, in terms of market share. This is because it enables the manufacturing of accurate prototypes and complex forms from photosensitive resins. Stereolithography is perfect for making orthodontic and prosthetics parts as it gives precise models, encompassing fine details as well as smooth surface aspect.

Application Insights

The medical implant segment was the largest segment in 2020 and accounted for 32% of the overall market share. The segment will retain its dominant position during the forecast period due to the high adoption of orthopedic implants. An increasing geriatric population has led to a growing demand for orthopedic procedures, such as knee & hip replacements. The demand for trauma-associated devices, such as spinal implants, is also increasing.

Additive manufacturing is also increasingly used in the dental industry. Scans of the patient’s mouth are used to make accurate and customized solutions to fix problems associated with dental care. Examples include crown and bridges, and aligners. It is a growing technology in this industry and there are many machines and materials built particularly for the dental market.

Material Insights

The polymers material segment led the global market in 2020 and accounted for a share of over 54%. These materials are extensively used in the healthcare industry for creating medical instruments as well as prosthetic limbs and related accessories. Synthetic versatility & adaptability, along with numerous properties of polymer materials, have rendered polymers the most broadly employed class of material for AM techniques. Polymer-based models are also used for medical education purposes. Such models aid in the diagnosis, implant designing, and training & preoperative planning. Models of organs or specific body parts can be developed for practice purposes to demonstrate various sensitive surgical procedures, such as osteotomies. Besides polymers, other materials used for AM include metals and alloys, biological cells, and others, such as ceramics and composites.

Metals and alloys emerged as the second-largest segment in 2020. This is due to their use in surgical implants. Metals & alloys, such as titanium, stainless steel, and cobalt-based alloys, are extensively used in the healthcare industry due to their various features, such as high strength and resistance to corrosion as well as biocompatibility. Medical implants created using the metal powder of cobalt chrome have high biocompatibility and are hard, which is necessary for long-term performance.

Regional Insights

North America was the largest market for healthcare additive manufacturing in 2020 with a 35.5% share and is anticipated to remain dominant over the forecast period. This is owing to the presence of large players such as GE Additive, 3D Systems, Inc., Stratasys Ltd., and many more in this region along with the robust distribution network. The regulatory framework in the U.S. is also supporting the market growth. For instance, in December 2017, the U.S. FDA introduced guidance on 3D printed medical devices, making for a significant wave of novel technologies that are likely to transform medical practice. Activities from regulatory agencies, technology providers, and industry & clinical groups, covered a wide range of applications and helped to expand the impact of additive manufacturing in medicine.

Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest-growing regional market from 2021 to 2028 due to the factors such as economic development and high unmet medical needs of a large population pool, particularly in China and India. There is a significant demand for dental 3D printing due to the increasing number of people undergoing tooth replacement surgeries. In addition, the rising prevalence of arthritis and rapidly improving healthcare infrastructure are supporting the regional market.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The global healthcare additive manufacturing market is highly competitive. Most of the key players are based in the North American region. Some of the players operating in the global healthcare additive manufacturing market are GE Additive, 3D Systems, Inc., EnvisionTEC, RegenHU, Allevi, Inc., EOS GmbH, Materialise N.V., Stratasys Ltd., Nanoscribe GmbH, GPI Prototype and Manufacturing Services, LLC. Market players are undertaking various strategic initiatives to gain a competitive advantage and increase market share.

For instance, in October 2018, 3D Systems, Inc. collaborated with Amann Girrbach. This integration was aimed at expanding 3D Systems’ product portfolio, which is a combination of its dental-optimized 3D printing with CAD/CAM software, test equipment, and digital milling of Amann Girrbach. Ceramill digital dental workflow of Armann Girrbach now includes NextDent 5100 3D dental printer of 3D Systems. Some of the key companies in the global healthcare additive manufacturing market include:

• GE Additive (General Electric)

• 3D Systems, Inc.

• EnvisionTEC GmbH

• RegenHU

• Allevi, Inc.

• EOS GmbH (Electro Optical Systems)

• Materialise N.V.

• Stratasys Ltd.

• Nanoscribe GmbH

• GPI Prototype and Manufacturing Services, LLC

Healthcare Additive Manufacturing 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 the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global healthcare additive manufacturing market report on the basis of technology, application, material, and region:

• Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Stereolithography

  • Deposition Modeling

  • Electron Beam Melting

  • Laser Sintering

  • Jetting Technology

  • Laminated Object Manufacturing

  • Others

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Medical Implants

  • Prosthetics

  • Wearable Devices

  • Tissue Engineering

  • Others

• Material Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Metals & Alloys

  • Polymers

  • Biological Cells

  • Others

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

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • U.K.

    • Germany

    • Spain

    • France

    • Italy

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

    • Australia

    • South Korea

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

    • Colombia

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE