Metal 3D Printing Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Component (Hardware, Software, Services), By Technology, By Software, By Application, By Printer Type, By Vertical, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030

Report Overview

The global metal 3D printing market was valued at USD 6.36 billion in 2022 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.2% from 2023 to 2030. Metal 3D printing is one such market that has benefitted significantly from the growing necessity of rapid prototyping and advanced manufacturing practices. The industry is poised to witness unprecedented growth over the forecast period owing to the rising application of additive manufacturing in various industry verticals. The global market is increasingly advancing towards consolidation to stay ahead of the competition. A substantial growth factor for this market is increasing innovation, which is leading to several benefits through the adoption of metal 3D printing across heavy industry applications.

Increasing adoption of metal 3D printers for designing and prototyping products and objects coupled with the reduced manufacturing expenditure and accuracy in the end-product is a key growth proliferating factor. The market is poised to witness high demand arising prominently from the healthcare, automotive, and aerospace & defense sectors. The growing advancements in the healthcare sector to curb physical disabilities and ensure healthy living are influencing the sector to flourish and adopt new innovative methodologies, such as 3D printing.

Additionally, the automotive and aerospace sectors, where prototyping and designing play a vital role in research & development to achieve perfection in their production are leading towards greater opportunities and increasing adoption of the 3D printing process.

However, the prevailing misconceptions concerning the prototyping processes held by small and medium-scale manufacturers are hindering the adoption of additive manufacturing. Companies involved in designing, particularly small-scale and medium-scale enterprises are deliberating before considering investments in prototyping as accountable investments rather than trying to understand the advantages and benefits of prototyping.

The general notion prevailing among these enterprises is that prototyping is merely an expensive phase before manufacturing. Such perceptions regarding prototyping, coupled with the lack of technical knowledge and a looming lack of standard process controls, are expected to hinder the market’s growth.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the overall global economy and, subsequently, the 3D printing industry. Initially, Europe and Asia Pacific were one of the worst affected regions in terms of the number of COVID-19 patients across the globe. Further, the situation worsened in the U.S. as well. Due to the rapid spread of the virus, the governments issued an order for the complete lockdown of some key cities.

The complete lockdown affected the production of 3D printing manufacturers. This is attributed to the labor shortage and the complete disruption of logistics and supply chains in the country. The halt in the production of 3D printing adversely impacted the overall market growth in the first and second quarters of 2020.

Technology Insights

Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technology led the market and accounted for a 23.77% share of the global revenue in 2022. Although the advantages and ease of operations associated with the SLM technology are encouraging the adoption of this technology, advances in technology and aggressive research and development activities undertaken by industry experts and researchers are opening opportunities for several other efficient and reliable technologies.

Other technologies used for metal 3D printing include Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), Inkjet printing, Electron Beam Melting (EBM), Laser Metal Deposition (LMD), Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM), and Electron-beam Freeform Fabrication (EBF3).

EBM also accounted for a considerable revenue share in 2022, owing to the extensive adoption of the technology across various metal 3DP processes. The DMLS, EBF3, and SLS are also expected to witness high adoption over the forecast period as these technologies are applicable in specialized additive manufacturing processes. Growing demand from aerospace and defense, healthcare, and automotive verticals would open opportunities for the adoption of these technologies.

Software Insights

Design software led the market and accounted for a 36.71% share of the global revenue in 2022. Design software is used for constructing the designs of the object to be printed, particularly in automotive, aerospace and defense, and construction and engineering verticals. Design software acts as a bridge between the objects to be printed and the printer’s hardware.

The scanners software segment is expected to witness rapid growth and generate considerable revenues over the forecast period in line with the growing adoption of scanners. The market size of the segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR of 23.3% from 2023 to 2030.

Demand for scanning software is estimated to grow on account of the growing trend of scanning objects and storing scanned documents. This ability to store the scanned images of the objects irrespective of their size or dimensions for the 3-dimensional printing of these objects whenever necessary is expected to fuel the growth of the scanner software segment over the forecast period.

Application Insights

The prototyping segment led the market and accounted for a 54.93% share of the global revenue in 2022 to extensive adoption of the prototyping process across several industry verticals. The automotive and aerospace and defense verticals particularly use prototyping to design and develop parts, components, and complex systems precisely. Prototyping allows manufacturers to achieve higher accuracy and develop reliable end products. Hence, the prototyping segment is expected to continue dominating the market over the forecast period.

Functional parts include smaller joints and other metallic hardware connecting components. The accuracy and precise sizing of these functional parts are of paramount importance while developing machinery and systems.

Component Insights

The hardware segment led the market and accounted for a 64.01% share of the global revenue in 2022. The hardware segment is anticipated to maintain its lead over the forecast period. The metal 3D printing hardware component segment is bifurcated by technology and application. Similarly, the software segment is further categorized by design software, inspection software, printer software, and scanning software.

The services segment is expected to expand at a significant CAGR of 26.2% from 2023 to 2030. With the adoption of methodology, metal 3D printing services help manufacturers to produce complicated and delicate functional parts with greater ease and accuracy. Moreover, production expenditures are being reduced significantly owing to the enhanced prototyping and benefits offered by the technology. As such, the benefits and advantages of 3D printing are gaining greater attention from the players of various industry verticals.

Printer Type Insights

The industrial printer type led the market and accounted for 76.34% share of the market revenue in 2022. The major factor contributing to growth has been the ability of industrial metal 3D printers to produce parts with complex geometries and structures that would be difficult to create.

This has enabled manufacturers to design and produce components that are lighter, stronger, and more efficient than their traditional counterparts. Industrial printers use a variety of metal 3D printing technologies, including powder bed fusion, directed energy deposition, and binder jetting, and they can produce large, complex parts with high levels of detail and accuracy.

The desktop printer type is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 24.3% over the forecast period. One of the key factors driving this growth is the increasing accessibility of desktop 3D printers to consumers and small businesses. Desktop 3D printers are smaller and less expensive than industrial 3D printers and are designed for use in the home or office settings.

Vertical Insights

Based on vertical, the industry has been segmented into desktop and industrial metal 3D printing. The verticals considered for desktop metal 3D printing comprises educational purposes, fashion & jewelry, objects, dental, food, and others. The verticals considered for industrial metal 3D printing comprise automotive, aerospace and defense, healthcare, consumer electronics, industrial, power and energy, and others.

Desktop Metal 3D Printing Vertical

The dental segment accounted for the largest revenue share of 22.85% in 2022. Other verticals include education, fashion and jewelry, objects, food, and among others. The use of 3D printing in dentistry has been rapidly growing in recent years, as it provides a convenient and cost-effective way to produce customized dental restorations, orthodontic appliances, and surgical guides. The education, objects, and food verticals are anticipated to contribute significantly toward the growth of metal 3D printing over the forecast period owing to the ability to create highly detailed and intricate designs that would be difficult or impossible to achieve using traditional cooking methods.

The fashion and jewelry segment is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR of 25.3% from 2023 to 2030. Desktop 3D printing has enabled designers and entrepreneurs to create intricate and customizable pieces quickly and affordably, allowing for greater innovation and creativity in the fashion and jewelry industries. With 3D printing, designers can create complex geometries and patterns that are difficult to achieve using traditional manufacturing methods. This allows for unique and personalized designs that can be tailored to individual customers' preferences. In the fashion industry, 3D printing has been used to create custom clothing, footwear, and accessories. 3D printing has also been used to create intricate patterns and designs on textiles, adding a new level of texture and detail to fabrics.

Industrial Metal 3D Printing Vertical

The automotive segment led the market and accounted for more than 23.94% share of the global revenue in 2022. Other verticals include aerospace and defense, healthcare, consumer electronics, industrial, power, and energy, among others. The aerospace and defense, healthcare, and automotive verticals are anticipated to contribute significantly toward the growth of metal 3D printing over the forecast period owing to the active adoption of technology in various production processes associated with these verticals.

The healthcare segment is expected to expand at a significant CAGR of 24.5% from 2023 to 2030. In the healthcare sector, additive manufacturing helps in the development of artificial tissues and muscles, which replicate the natural human tissues and can be used in replacement surgeries. These capabilities are expected to help in driving the adoption of metal 3D printing across the healthcare vertical and contribute significantly towards the growth of the industrial segment.

Regional Insights

North America dominated with a revenue share of 34.33% in 2022 owing to the extensive adoption of additive manufacturing in the region. North American countries, such as the U.S. and Canada, have been some of the prominent and early adopters of these technologies in various manufacturing processes. The regional market is offering lucrative opportunities for metal 3D printing in different applications.

Europe happens to be the largest region in terms of its geographical footprint. It is home to several additive manufacturing industry players, which hold strong technical expertise in additive manufacturing processes. Hence, the European regional market happens to be the second largest.

Asia Pacific is projected to witness remarkable growth, expanding at the highest CAGR over the forecast period. This rapid adoption of metal 3D printing can be attributed to the developments and upgrades across the manufacturing industry within the region. The region is also emerging as a manufacturing hub for the automotive and healthcare industries. A stronghold on the production of consumer electronics, coupled with rapid urbanization, is also contributing to the rising demand for three-dimensional printing in the region.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Market players are improvising the technology continuously in response to the growing demand for metal 3D printing applications from the automotive, healthcare, and aerospace & defense verticals for manufacturing purposes. Materialise NV; 3D Systems, Inc.; GE Additive; Autodesk Inc.; and Optomec, Inc. are some of the eminent players active in the market.

Several key players are increasingly undergoing mergers and acquisitions along with the new industry entrants to expand their geographic presence and capture the escalating market potential. For instance, in October 2021, 3D Systems announced the acquisition of Volumetric Biotechnologies. Volumetric Biotechnologies is a Huston-based biotech company. The acquisition will help 3D Systems to develop manufacturing capabilities for fully bio-compatible human organs using Additive Manufacturing (AM). Some prominent players in the global metal 3D printing market include:

• 3D Systems, Inc.

• Arcam AB

• Autodesk Inc.

• EOS (Electro Optical Systems) GmbH

• ExOne

• GE Additive

• Materialise NV

• Matsuura Machinery USA Inc.

• Optomec, Inc.

• Renishaw plc.

• SLM Solutions

Metal 3D Printing Market Report Scope

Global Metal 3D Printing Market Report Segmentation

The report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2017 to 2030. Additionally, the report covers shipment estimates and forecasts as well as ASP qualitative analysis from 2017 to 2028. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global metal 3D printing market report based on component, technology, software, application, printer type, vertical, and region:

• Component Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Hardware

  • Software

  • Services

• Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Selective Laser Sintering

  • Direct Metal Laser Sintering

  • Inkjet printing

  • Electron Beam Melting

  • Laser Metal Deposition

  • Laminated Object Manufacturing

  • Electron beam freeform fabrication

  • Selective Laser Melting

• Software Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Design Software

  • Inspection Software

  • Printer Software

  • Scanning Software

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Prototyping

  • Tooling

  • Functional Parts

• Printer Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Desktop Metal 3D Printer

  • Industrial Metal 3D Printer

• Vertical Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Desktop Vertical

    • Education

    • Fashion & Jewelry

    • Objects

    • Dental

    • Food

    • Others

  • Industrial Vertical

    • Automotive

    • Aerospace & Defense

    • Healthcare

    • Consumer Electronics

    • Power & Energy

    • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • U.K.

    • Germany

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • Japan

    • India

    • South Korea

    • Singapore

  • South America

    • Brazil

  • Middle East & Africa