World demand for 3D printers and related materials and software is projected to rise 21 percent per year to $5.0 billion in 2017. While professional uses such as prototyping will continue to account for the majority of demand, the more rapid growth will be seen in production and consumer applications. 3D printers will increasingly be used to manufacture direct production parts and finished goods in a wide variety of applications. Freedonia analyst Pauline Tung expects “greater adoption of additive manufacturing technologies as 3D printing speeds and material quality improves.”

Robust growth will be seen in demand for printing materials, as the rapidly expanding installed base of 3D printers fuels related materials consumption. Plastics will continue to account for the majority of materials demand, but faster growth is projected for metals, based on their greater strength and resistance, as well as rapid gains in markets such as aerospace. Demand for software and other 3D printing products such as 3D scanners will grow in line with the overall average, supported by the ongoing need for technological updates and upgrades. Learn more about 3D Printing

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