3D Printing Market Share by Application 2030

3D Printing Market Growth & Trends

The global 3D printing market size is expected to reach USD 88.28 billion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 23.3% from 2023 to 2030. 3D Printing (3DP) is also referred to as Additive Manufacturing (AM) as it involves successive addition of layers of materials in various 2D shapes using an additive process. These layered 2D shapes build upon one another to form a three-dimensional object. The process is different from the subtractive method of production, which begins with a block of material and the unnecessary material is ground out to obtain the desired object.

3D Printing Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global 3D printing market based on component, printer type, technology, software, application, vertical, material, and region:

Based on the Component Insights, the market is segmented into Hardware, Software, Services.

• The hardware segment led the market and accounted for more than 64.01% share of the global revenue in 2022. The hardware segment has benefitted significantly from the growing necessity of rapid prototyping and advanced manufacturing practices. The growth of the hardware segment is primarily attributed to various factors such as rapid industrialization, increasing penetration of consumer electronic products, developing civil infrastructure, rapid urbanization, and optimized labor costs.
• The software segment is further categorized by printer type and software type. The services segment is segregated only by the printer type. The software component segment is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period.

Based on the Printer Type Insights, the market is segmented into Desktop 3D Printer and Industrial 3D Printer.

• The industrial printer segment led the market and accounted for more than 76.0% share of the global revenue in 2022. Based on the printer type, the industry has been further segmented into industrial and desktop 3D printers. The large share of the industrial 3D printers can be attributed to the extensive adoption of industrial printers in heavy industries, such as automotive, electronics, aerospace and defense, and healthcare. Prototyping, designing, and tooling are some of the most common industrial applications across these industry verticals.
• Extensive adoption of 3D printing for prototyping, designing, and tooling is contributing to the growing demand from the industrial sector. Hence, the industrial printers segment is expected to continue dominating during the forecast period. The adoption of desktop 3-dimensional printers was initially limited to hobbyists and small enterprises. However, they are being increasingly used for household and domestic purposes nowadays. The education sector, which comprises schools, educational institutes, and universities, is also deploying desktop printers for technical training and research purposes.

Based on the Technology Insights, the market is segmented into Stereolithography, Fuse Deposition Modelling, Selective Laser Sintering, Direct Metal Laser Sintering, Polyjet Printing, Inkjet printing, Electron Beam Melting, Laser Metal Deposition, Digital Light Processing, Laminated Object Manufacturing, Others.

• The stereolithography segment led the market and accounted for more than an 10.0% share of the global revenue in 2022. Based on technology, segmentation has been divided into stereolithography, fuse deposition modeling (FDM), direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), selective laser sintering (SLS), inkjet, polyjet, laser metal deposition, electron beam melting (EBM), digital light processing, laminated object manufacturing, and others.
• Stereolithography technology is one of the oldest and most conventional printing technologies. Although the advantages and ease of operations associated with the stereolithography technology are encouraging the adoption of this technology, advances in technology and aggressive research and development activities undertaken by the industry experts and researchers are opening opportunities for several other efficient and reliable technologies.
• Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) accounted for a considerable revenue share in 2022 owing to the extensive adoption of the technology across various 3DP processes. The DLP, EBM, inkjet printing and DMLS segments are expected to witness a growing adoption during the forecast period as these technologies are applicable in specialized additive manufacturing processes. The growing demand from aerospace and defense, healthcare, and automotive verticals would open opportunities for the adoption of these technologies.

Based on the Software Insights, the market is segmented into Design Software, Inspection Software, Printer Software, Scanning Software.

• The design software segment led the market and accounted for more than 36.70% share of the global revenue in 2022. It is expected to continue dominating the market during the forecast period. 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 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 3-dimensional printing of these objects whenever necessary is expected to drive the scanning software segment during the forecast period.

Based on the Application Insights, the market is segmented into Prototyping, Tooling, Functional Parts.

• The prototyping segment led the market and accounted for more than 54.0% share of the global revenue in 2022. Prototyping segment accounted for the largest share in 2022 owing to an 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.
• 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. The functional parts segment is expected to expand at a significant CAGR of 24.0% from 2023 to 2030 in line with the increasing demand for designing and building functional parts.

Based on the Vertical Insights, the market is segmented into Industrial 3D Printing and Desktop 3D Printing.

• The automotive segment led the market and accounted for more than 23.0% share of the global revenue in 2022. The verticals considered for desktop 3DP comprise educational purposes, fashion and jewelry, objects, dental, food, and others. The verticals considered for industrial 3DP comprise automotive, aerospace and defense, healthcare, consumer electronics, industrial, power and energy, and others.
• The aerospace and defense, healthcare, and automotive verticals are anticipated to contribute significantly to the growth of industrial additive manufacturing during the forecast period owing to the active adoption of technology in various production processes associated with these verticals. In the healthcare sector, AM 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 3DP across the healthcare vertical and contribute significantly to the growth of the industrial segment.
• The dental, fashion and jewelry, and food verticals are anticipated to contribute significantly to the growth of the desktop 3DP segment during the forecast period. The dental vertical dominated the market in 2022 and it is expected to continue dominating the market during the forecast period. The adoption of 3D printing in manufacturing imitation jewelry, miniatures, art and craft, and clothing and apparel is also gaining traction.

Based on the Material Insights, the market is segmented into Polymer, Metal, Ceramic.

• The metal segment led the market for 3D printing and accounted for more than 52.0% share of the global revenue in 2022. Moreover, the metal segment is anticipated to maintain its lead during the forecast period and is expected to expand at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
• The polymer segment accounted for the second-largest revenue share in 2022. However, the metal segment is anticipated to keep dominating over the forecast period. The metal segment is also expected to grow at a highest CAGR of above 28.2% over the forecast years. Considering the additive manufacturing using ceramic material is fairly new, the increasing R&D for 3DP technologies such as FDM and inkjet printing has led to rising demand for ceramic AM. The segment is expected to grow at a high CAGR of more than 25% over the forecast period.

3D Printing Regional Outlook

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Key Companies Profile & Market Share Insights

Market players in the market are improvising the 3D printing technology continuously in response to the growing demand for 3D printing applications from the automotive, healthcare, and aerospace and defense verticals for manufacturing purposes. The key players are identifying potential for business transformation by adopting additive manufacturing into new product development processes.

Some of the prominent players operating in the global 3D printing market include,

• Stratasys, Ltd.
• Materialise
• EnvisionTec, Inc.
• 3D Systems, Inc.
• GE Additive
• Autodesk Inc.
• Made In Space
• Canon Inc.
• Voxeljet AG

Order a free sample PDF of the 3D Printing Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.