Healthcare Additive Manufacturing Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Technology (Laser Sintering, Stereolithography), By Application (Medical Implants, Prosthetics), By Material, And Segment Forecasts, 2019 - 2026

Report Overview

The global healthcare additive manufacturing market size was estimated at USD 951.2 million in 2018 and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 20.8% during the forecast period. The increasing need for customized medical products such as implants coupled with the introduction of advanced technologies to produce simple as well as complex designs is driving the growth. Additive Manufacturing (AM) allows manufacturing complex designs that are too difficult or expensive to produce using traditional machining, milling, molds, and dies. It also excels at rapid prototyping and offers a more dynamic and design-driven process. AM is ideal for making prototypes quickly using 3D CAD and eliminates the extensive process and high cost associated with it.

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 and components, such as tissues, organs, orthopedic and cranial implants, dental prosthetics, and others. High demand and unmet needs identified in the healthcare sector due to a rise in the number of surgeries and the prevalence of chronic disorders are anticipated to fuel the market growth soon.

Expiring patents have released the monopolistic control of original pioneers of the additive manufacturing industry. For instance, the patent for the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printing technique expired in 2009. 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, the rise in the number of market players has been observed.

The emerging-market players are providing varied applications of the same technology at a much affordable price. The top three technologies 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 the market growth.

Also, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reviewed more than 100 devices manufactured using 3D printers that are present in the market. This comprises 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 the technological advancements and aids efficient access to safe and effective innovations enabled by additive manufacturing.

Technology Insights

Based on technology, the healthcare additive manufacturing market is segmented into stereolithography, deposition modeling, electron beam melting, laser sintering, jetting technology, laminated object manufacturing, and others. Laser Sintering held the leading market share of 32.3% in 2018. The Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) method can produce many pieces at a time. Moreover, it does not require any support to build the objects, which is anticipated to drive the demand for this technology in near future.

Stereolithography held around 26.8% market share in 2018, due to the ability of this technology to manufacture accurate prototypes and complex forms from photosensitive resins. SLA 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 was identified as the largest segment in 2018, accounting for 32.2% of the market share. This can be attributed to the increasing adoption of orthopedic implants. An increasing geriatric population has led to a growing demand for orthopedic procedures, such as knee and hip replacements. The demand is also increasing for trauma-associated devices like spinal implants.

Additive manufacturing is increasingly being used in the dental industry. Oral scans are used to make accurate and customized solutions such as aligners and crowns and bridges to fix dental problems. It is an evolving technology and many machines and materials particularly being developed for the dental industry.

Material Insights

Polymers' material segment was the largest in 2018. The material is extensively used in the healthcare industry for creating medical instruments as well as prosthetic limbs and related accessories. Synthetic versatility and 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 and preoperative planning. Models of organs or specific body parts can be developed for practice purposes to demonstrate various sensitive surgical procedures such as osteotomies.

Metals and alloys emerged as the second-largest segment in 2018. This is due to their increasing usage of surgical implants. Metals and 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 from the metal powder of cobalt chrome has high biocompatibility and is hard, which is necessary for long-term performance.

Regional Insights

North America was the largest market for healthcare additive manufacturing in 2018 and is anticipated to remain dominant over the forecast period. This is owing to the presence of major players such as GE Additive; 3D Systems, Inc.; and Stratasys Ltd. among others along with the robust distribution network. The regulatory framework in the U.S. is also projected to continue 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 and clinical groups, covered a wide range of applications and helped to expand the impact of additive manufacturing in medicine.

Asia Pacific is anticipated to expand at the fastest CAGR over the forecast period due to factors such as economic development, and the high unmet medical needs of a large population pool in China and India. There is a significant demand for dental 3D printing due to the increasing number of people undergoing tooth replacement surgeries. Also, the growing use of implants in orthopedic procedures, coupled with the rising prevalence of arthritis, and rapidly improving healthcare infrastructure are supporting the regional market growth.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The global market is highly competitive. Some of the key market players 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.

Most companies focus on various strategic initiatives to gain a competitive advantage and to 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 the NextDent 5100 3D dental printer of 3D Systems.

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 2015 to 2026. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global healthcare additive manufacturing market report based on technology, application, material, and region:

• Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2026)

  • Stereolithography

  • Deposition Modeling

  • Electron Beam Melting

  • Laser Sintering

  • Jetting Technology

  • Laminated Object Manufacturing

  • Others

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2026)

  • Medical Implants

  • Prosthetics

  • Wearable Devices

  • Tissue Engineering

  • Others

• Material Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2026)

  • Metals and Alloys

  • Polymers

  • Biological Cells

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2026)

  • North America

    • The U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • U.K.

    • Germany

    • France

    • Spain

    • Italy

  • Asia Pacific

    • India

    • Japan

    • China

    • Australia

    • South Korea

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

    • Colombia

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE