3D Printing Tendencies for 2024 – Business Professional Evaluation on what to look at this 12 months

For consumer-based machines I see us pushing ever nearer to the unbox, click on, print. However on the identical time, the problem of knowledge safety will probably be ever mounting as shoppers might turn into conscious of the information they’re sharing with producers. RepRap because it as soon as was will proceed to fade for first-time shoppers because the package builders of the world embrace a lot of what it has to supply. 

On the professional aspect, with HP’s new MJF printer, and metallic being launched in 2023 the continuation of polyamide polymer AM will doubtless develop with metals being proper on the tail. The adoption of AM into companies will hopefully develop, however many are more likely to make the error of adoption earlier than schooling, leaving them with a capital expenditure with out ROI on it. 

The {industry} as a complete must push for higher schooling. It’s the largest issue within the sluggish adoption that we see within the communities proper now.

Fabio Sant´Ana, Director, Farcco Tecnologia

The metallic additive manufacturing attain its maturity degree. New developments are within the automation of the manufacturing processes, growth within the feedstock availability and the true insertion of additive in the entire manufacturing facility course of by not contemplating it as a segregated a part of the chain.

Gareth Neal, Enterprise Growth Supervisor EMEA + Israel, 3D & Superior Purposes, Xaar

2024 will see a continued give attention to sustainability and efficiencies within the 3D printing {industry} as companies goal expensive waste by leveraging expertise to ship dependable manufacturing processes. Xaar’s inkjet applied sciences allow excessive viscosity fluids to be dealt with which is able to assist ship each better sustainability and cost-savings. For instance, in binder jetting the flexibility to utilise stronger binders imply fewer elements will break and that bigger elements might be made with growing reliability with out harm, creating much less waste, and providing larger yields – saving money and time. 

Reliability and sturdiness in inkjet printing will turn into the norm, pushed by Xaar with its Extremely Excessive Viscosity Know-how, making it the environment friendly and sustainable manufacturing technique of selection for therefore many Additive Manufacturing functions.

Chris Connery, International VP of Evaluation, CONTEXT

A difficult 2023 has set the stage for a rebound and 3D printer shipments look to speed up within the years to come back. Presently, it seems that international rates of interest will stay elevated by way of at the very least the primary half of 2024, nonetheless, this might imply Industrial system shipments stay stagnant within the close to time period. Fears of regional recessions have largely abated and the elemental worth of additive manufacturing is properly acknowledged throughout industries, clearing the way in which towards accelerated progress as soon as the price of capital lowers within the second half of the 12 months and on into 2025.

Though the market might seem to have settled after the very public failed mergers of 2023, many firms have brazenly said that they’re extra privately investigating strategic alternate options, which means that gross sales, mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures might but lie forward.  Certainly, as 2023 closed, Nano Dimension renewed its provide to take over Stratasys with different firms — like BigRep — additionally individually introduced plans to go public within the 12 months.  An extra space ripe for funding is the Entry-level class as increasingly more firms have come to recognise this not too long ago ignored class.

Ye Liu, Co founder, Shenzhen Uprise 3D Know-how Co., Ltd

The primary development, whether or not it’s shopper or industrial grade 3D printing is sustaining steady progress, and the three-year epidemic has not pressed the pause button on the 3D printing {industry}. In 2023, the shipments of consumer-grade 3D printing tools reached 3.4 million items, which is predicted to extend by greater than 80% in comparison with 2022, and the variety of industrial 3D printing put in machines can also be steadily growing, amongst which oblique 3D printing expertise can also be receiving increasingly more consideration. Uprise 3D because the chief of oblique 3D printing expertise in China. Prior to now 2023, the shoppers we serve have regularly tilted from scientific analysis to industrial functions, indicating that the 3D printing {industry} has shifted from highlighting technological growth to in-depth industrial functions. With the continual growth of 3D printing expertise, extra progressive applied sciences are more likely to emerge.

The second development is the robust hyperlink between 3D printing and conventional manufacturing.With the development of 3D printing expertise, the {industry} has begun to interrupt free from the limitation of solely having the ability to “modeling”, and has turn into an necessary course of in trendy manufacturing, identical to conventional processing methods, immediately producing terminal elements. In industries reminiscent of aerospace, medical, automotive, and mould manufacturing, as prices lower and effectivity improves, they are going to be built-in with conventional manufacturing applied sciences to offer new options for industrial upgrading and part design and manufacturing. Uprise 3D develops oblique 3D printing expertise mixed with conventional powder metallurgy processes to shorten the analysis and growth cycle, cut back manufacturing prices, increase printing supplies, and meet the wants of large-scale manufacturing.

The third development is the competitors amongst numerous 3D printing applied sciences, with totally different applied sciences concentrating on totally different software situations. In 2023, with Apple, Huawei, and Xiaomi beginning to apply SLM to take part within the design and manufacturing of key elements, it is a landmark occasion for 3D printing expertise coming into the buyer market. In 2024, there will probably be a requirement for extra industrial software situations, and totally different 3D printing processes and supplies will precisely goal segmented markets. Extra {industry} software options will regularly emerge. 2024 is a breakout 12 months for the 3D printing {industry}. Uprise 3D may also dig deep within the area of particular ceramics and refractory metals and different {industry} functions to increase market area.

Ian Falconer, Founder, Fishy Filaments

Rising industrial acceptance of enormous format polymer fusion particularly in mixed additive/subtractive options. Actual-world uptake of low-volume manufacturing enabled by high-speed FDM +/- mass customisation.

Elevated utilisation of high-quality recycled supplies inside round manufacturing and ‘proper to restore’ enterprise and product fashions.

Byron Kennedy, CEO and Co-Founder, SPEE3D

In 2024, we’re seeing an actual shift within the 3D printing panorama. With the present geo-political panorama, there’s a robust pull in the direction of supporting protection wants. And, let’s face it, the world’s obtained some provide chain hiccups. I believe additive manufacturing has an enormous half to play within the answer – we should be faster on our toes and make actual, robust elements, quick. We’re speaking fast prototyping and making essential alternative elements on the spot, which generally is a game-changer on the entrance line. At SPEE3D, we’re specializing in being the go-to answer when the same old chains get tangled. We’re all about resilience, making what’s wanted proper when it’s wanted.

I believe governments are getting it now too. We’ve obtained companions just like the Australian, US, UK, and Japanese governments backing us up, and there’s a motion in the direction of governments investing and supporting 3D printing in an enormous means. It’s a game-changer, and we’re thrilled to be within the thick of it.

I additionally predict that this widespread adoption by protection will instill much-needed confidence in different industrial industries, like mining and heavy industrial manufacturing. The expertise has confirmed its solidity and demonstrated monumental advantages within the protection sector, and we imagine it’s poised to revolutionize different sectors as properly.

Dan Barousse, CEO & Co-founder, Slice Engineering

We are going to begin to see the transfer towards fast, disruptive advances in AI/Machine Studying in our {industry} in 2024. For modeling functions, these capabilities are being plugged into CAD software program – each CAD supplier and numerous startups are engaged on it. The top end result within the coming years, with vital steps ahead in 2024, will probably be exponential will increase in entry to modeling and the creation of merchandise of all types through generative design with machine studying and AI algorithms. Entry gained’t be restricted as it’s in the present day, just for engineers and people who can afford costly licensing. A much wider vary of people and firms will profit, doubtless spurring enterprise progress. For example, these advances will enable way more environment friendly creation of constructions, mimicking nature in a extra natural means. This design might entail denoting a set level or one thing to be connected to a product and delineating the place the forces are coming from in a extremely environment friendly method. The ensuing form will optimize pressure switch by way of the construction in a means that reduces the quantity of fabric used, making it lighter weight, if wanted, and more cost effective. I additionally anticipate that it’ll cut back waste and hopefully reduce related environmental impacts.

The advances wanted to succeed in these targets are already occurring throughout a number of CAD packages. There are numerous firms working to combine generative design performance into CAD fashions. This can mirror what we’re seeing with ChatGPT by way of fast advances within the final 12-14 months. Logistically, this may finally enable typing or a voice immediate into CAD reminiscent of, “make me a ship that floats.” An environment friendly, fast design will observe. AI and ML will accomplish that inside CAD software program, producing a 3D mannequin. In 2024, we’ll doubtless see early iterations of this generative design obtainable to create primary merchandise from a immediate. An necessary a part of this progress will probably be enabling somebody with no CAD data to expertise ease of use and a versatile, cheap value construction, reminiscent of a ‘pay as you go’ mannequin. AI will do for modeling and 3D printing what it’s executed for different areas, reminiscent of programming and advertising and marketing content material creation. Finally, this could spur financial exercise and the inventive product growth course of throughout many industries, and 2024 will probably be a milestone 12 months for progress towards these targets.”

Stefanie Brickwede, Managing Director, Mobility goes Additive e.V.

Within the close to time period, the 3D printing {industry} is predicted to bear a number of shifts. Applied sciences and supplies tailor-made for particular niches will turn into extra prevalent, increasing the functions of 3D printing throughout various sectors. The pricing of prosumer-grade 3D printers is anticipated to evolve, doubtlessly making superior expertise extra accessible to particular person customers. Particularly within the FDM printing sector heated chambers in addition to AI detection of printing failures are two developments now obtainable to the buyer, which was in earlier years solely present in {industry} grade printers.

Granulates are projected to switch filaments on industrial machines with giant print rooms, facilitating the manufacturing of bigger prints. Chinese language 3D printer producers are poised to seize a bigger market share as a result of their aggressive pricing, doubtlessly reshaping the worldwide panorama of the {industry}.

Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) is probably going to get replaced by Directed Power Deposition (DED) applied sciences, promising enhancements in precision, velocity, and general effectivity as a result of a decrease enter of warmth into the deposited materials. 

An extra rise of automation is ready to play a vital function in 3D print farms and post-processing phases, contributing to larger effectivity and lowered labor prices.

Certification of vital elements in 3D printing is predicted to turn into extra prevalent as licensed elements play more and more integral roles in numerous industries. As well as, the flexibility to provide licensed elements will probably be a key differentiator between firms.

Whereas digital printing is predicted to start its rise, it would doubtless stay a distinct segment market. The importance of photopolymers is predicted to develop as a result of specialised chemical substances used, the place an eye fixed should be taken on the impact of regulatory frameworks like REACH with new stricter laws.

Bradley Rothenberg, CEO and Founder, nTop

Interoperability is ready to revolutionize the 3D printing {industry} this 12 months. We’re witnessing quite a few necessary integrations between software program and {hardware} producers, pushed by the demand for higher, extra environment friendly workflows. Within the subsequent few years, we anticipate to see extra integrations between AM software program and {hardware} producers, enabling seamless communication and knowledge change alongside your entire digital thread. This interoperability will enable the software program to deal with implicit fashions, eliminating the necessity for file conversions and making certain design accuracy all through manufacturing. At nTop, we’re working with companions alongside the digital thread to combine our implicit expertise into CAD, AM, PLM, and CAE methods. Count on to see extra of this from all the most important software program gamers this 12 months. 

Integrating 3D printing with conventional manufacturing processes will turn into extra prevalent in 2024. Hybrid manufacturing approaches, reminiscent of combining additive manufacturing with casting, CNC machining, and injection molding, will produce complicated elements with improved effectivity and cost-effectiveness.

Computational design has reached a brand new degree of sophistication as a result of integration of generative design and implicit modeling. This 12 months, we’ll see extra engineering groups totally capitalizing on the superior geometries that AM allows. Implicit modeling simplifies complicated geometries whereas sustaining precision. When used immediately along side generative design, engineers can discover an enormous design area sooner and finally land on better-performing elements. In software program like nTop, customers may even optimize designs primarily based on a number of goals — reminiscent of weight discount, sturdiness, and efficiency — to design elements, reaching a completely new realm of efficiency. This 12 months, we’re going to see some game-changing high-performance designs that had been beforehand unattainable throughout industries, like large-scale aerospace warmth exchangers certified for flight — all due to the ability of computational design.

Avi Reichental, Co-Founder and Chairman, Nexa3D

Clearly {industry} consolidation and profitability as a job. And a laser-sharp give attention to democratizing entry and accelerating adoption by simplifying and automating workflows and doubling down on first-time and each time print success and decrease TCO.

Shai Terem, CEO, Markforged

The intersection of producing and the sharing economic system is poised to redefine conventional manufacturing fashions and reshape the commercial panorama as a peer-to-peer mannequin. Amenities with elements in stock are supreme assets for different OEMs to make use of. Holding an intensive bodily stock ties up capital in elements that will go untouched for years. The flexibility to rework elements into collaborative manufacturing hubs will pave the way in which for the way forward for distributed manufacturing. This includes integrating 3D printing with a digitized platform, permitting elements to be uploaded and printed on the time and level of want with out the should be manufactured upfront, shipped, and saved till wanted. 

The end result will probably be a transfer away from mass manufacturing in the direction of extra customized, on-demand manufacturing and ship end-to-end course of management. The way forward for manufacturing within the sharing economic system market will create a extra sustainable and related ecosystem after years of producers feeling divided by the pandemic and provide chain disruptions.

Jakub Rozpendowski, CEO, 3D LAB

My main predictions for this 12 months embody the event of recent 3D printing supplies (high-performance alloys, eco-friendly and biodegradable polymers), a focus on sustainability, rising use of AI and ML instruments, and elevated course of automation.

Vincenzo Belletti, Director of EU Public Affairs, CECIMO – European Manufacturing Affiliation

The AM sector in Europe has proven promising indicators of innovation progress. A number of European international locations have been actively investing in analysis & growth and supporting the adoption of AM applied sciences by together with them within the assist schemes or tax credit for Business 4.0 applied sciences. When it comes to innovation, Europe stays among the many main markets. Nonetheless if we evaluate the information of the European Patent Workplace from 2020 to 2023, Europe has handed from the primary place (in 2020, European international locations accounted for 47% of all patent functions in AM applied sciences) to second finest (in 2023, the US have 39.8% whereas the EU accounts for a 32.9%).

funding dimension, nationwide methods, and patent developments, the EU and US will proceed to develop and consolidate their management in AM innovation. Among the many upcoming improvements in 2024, wanting on the Superior Supplies Integration will probably be necessary. AM can allow a brand new period of supplies innovation and utilization. By leveraging the expertise advantages (e.g., developing intricate, custom-designed elements layer by layer) it empowers engineers and designers to discover and make use of a large spectrum of superior supplies with unprecedented flexibility. This affords the liberty to experiment with and combine supplies that had been beforehand troublesome to work with, pushing the boundaries in several functions reminiscent of super-strong aerospace alloys, high-performance polymers, biocompatible supplies for medical functions, and even good supplies embedded with sensors and actuators.

Edward Feng, Founder and International CEO, Raise3D

2024 will doubtless be one other 12 months within the transition from an exploratory use of 3D Printing to changing into really built-in into manufacturing processes. This transition is seen principally within the skilled section, the place we observe a decrease variety of offers however a rise within the dimension of every deal.

The change within the deal dimension is having an affect on clients’ wants, who now require a gross sales course of with extra worth added. This poses a problem to the quite a few small resellers all over the world who could also be too small to supply consultative gross sales with the perfect answer being outlined and optimized for every buyer. Because of this, some consolidation might occur at a resellers’ degree, in order that extra of them can attain a scale that’s sufficiently big to effectively present value-added gross sales.

When it comes to fundamentals, the market evolution might be going to be influenced by the interval of excessive political instability, which ends up in the adoption of AM to keep away from the drawbacks of lengthy and inflexible provide chains. In the identical vein, the financial stagnation/recession most related economies are going by way of is one other issue for bigger firms to think about taking one other step into AM and profit not solely from the extra flexibility, but additionally from the discount of shares and stuck property.

In parallel with the financial and political context, the market dimension might begin rising once more, pushed by the latest new wave of shopper adoption which is predicted to later generate further gross sales in larger market segments.

Roger Uceda, Know-how Switch Director, CIM UPC

Within the first place, there’s a widespread notion that metallic 3D printing applied sciences reminiscent of Direct Power Deposition, have gotten extra prevalent. That is as a result of remaining value of printed elements being 5 to 10 occasions decrease than that achieved with Powder Mattress Fusion applied sciences. In Spain, we’ve noticed the adoption of Meltio’s tools by dozens of entities, not solely in analysis facilities but additionally in industrial enterprises.

Secondly, utilizing robots for pellet printing can also be gaining elevated prominence. This technique allows the manufacturing of large-volume elements or the recycling of supplies at considerably lowered prices.

Lastly, the standard achieved by house FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) printers, with the emergence of Bambu Lab, just isn’t solely posing a risk to firms like Prusa or UltiMaker however can also be impacting your entire market. Producers reminiscent of BCN3D or Raise3D are shifting in the direction of extra industrial markets, difficult even established gamers like Stratasys with tools able to printing technical supplies that had been unthinkable only a few years in the past.

Danniel Jow, Chief perception Director, Shining3D

Excessive-performance supplies will quickly emerge, composite 3D printers will probably be additional tailored to the usage of multi-color and multi-material varieties within the scene, in addition to the mixing of back and front processes, and so on., and the applying of multi-sensor expertise to make additive manufacturing smarter.

Steve Deak, Principal Engineer-Additive Manufacturing, Retired

Supplies growth because it pertains to printed knowledge that end-users can leverage for design functions. 

Additive designs rely closely on mechanical property knowledge, knowledge that can be utilized to drive expanded functions.

Henrik Lund-Nielsen, Founder & Normal Supervisor, COBOD Worldwide A/S

3D printing expertise affords some great benefits of making building cheaper utilizing far much less labor, sooner, and extra sustainable. The largest development for utilizing 3D printers for building functions, which will probably be way more seen within the near-term future, is the dimensions of tasks being executed with the expertise, each by way of the scale of every mission and the scale of every building made. 

Thus, in 2024 and onwards, we’ll begin to see the conclusion of tasks with 10, 20, 100, and even a number of hundred buildings being 3D printed on the identical web site. The times when small one-off buildings had been simply printed are about to be over. As well as, every of the 3D printed buildings will turn into a lot bigger, with bigger scale workplaces, warehouses, museums, inns, and so forth approaching stream in 2024 and onwards. Till 2023, the most important 3D printed constructing was made in Florida, by Printed Farms utilizing our BOD2 printer for making a luxurious horse barn measuring nearly 1.000 m2 on one ground. This file is about to be damaged in 2024, the place 3D printed buildings will turn into even greater and contain extra flooring. In truth, throughout the subsequent couple of years, we might see a lot bigger buildings, not simply greater, however with a peak above the current 10m file, buildings as much as 15m and even 20m. 

A second development that we’ll see within the years to come back is that a variety of different constructions, than simply buildings, will probably be 3d printed. COBOD already printed windmill towers, however as well as, we’ll see water tanks, caissons, seawalls, manholes, drawpits, bridges and different concrete building being 3D printed. A 3rd development that can turn into extra seen is the velocity of execution, which our expertise affords the development {industry}. Particularly, this will probably be noticeable within the giant multi-building unit tasks that had been described beforehand. 

Lastly, at COBOD, we’ll proceed our work on turning our 3D printers into multi-functional 3D building printers. We already delivered a printer to GE able to printing and reinforcing routinely concurrently by utilizing two x-axes in parallel, and we’ll certainly see different examples of multi-functional printers within the years to come back.

Amos Breyfogle, Founder, Pivot Innovation

It’s clear to see that we’re heading right into a season of heavy consolidation within the {industry}. This can largely occur with closely funded firms working out of cash and needing one other enhance to maintain shifting. Whereas prior to now, 3D printing has been an attractive time period for traders hoping for fast progress and large payoffs, the reality is that a lot of the fast progress is round tremendous low-cost printers which additionally carry low-profit margins. This race to the underside by way of costs will break most of the funded firms’ backs. Those that’ve developed hard-to-copy use instances protected by {industry} certifications (or these with sufficient {dollars} and sense to purchase them) would be the winners within the consolidation phases.

Alvaro Goyanes, Co-founder and Director, FABRX

Within the realm of 3D-printed prescription drugs, firms will not be simply crafting medicines; we’re crafting options that adapt to the nuances of every affected person, a paradigm shift in the direction of healthcare personalization. With the fast evolution of 3D printing in customized drugs, we anticipate the daybreak of a brand new regulatory panorama. As pioneers on this area, we’re dedicated to navigating these uncharted waters, making certain that innovation harmonizes seamlessly with stringent laws, ushering in a future the place customized healthcare isn’t just a promise however a responsibly ruled actuality.

Giles Gaskell, Additive Business Specialist, Pinnacle X-Ray Options LLC

There must be extra give attention to half high quality to provide patrons peace of thoughts.

Max Funkner, Founder, 3DWithUs 

Within the private desktop 3D printer market, robust competitors will proceed to maintain the machines inexpensive, benefiting shoppers. As extra folks function multi-material prints on social media, we will anticipate a rise in curiosity on this space. It’s extremely doubtless that a number of manufacturers will launch their variations of multi-material methods, responding to this rising demand.

The mixing of AI into 3D printing processes is one other development to look at, starting from course of optimization to the 3D design of {custom} fashions. AI functions that generate 3D fashions will turn into necessary instruments for designers and engineers. Total, AI integration will drive effectivity in 3D printing, permitting for sooner growth cycles.

As consciousness of 3D printing continues to develop, there will probably be extra room for 3D printing companies to increase, because it turns into a handy and go-to possibility for manufacturing prototypes, tooling, and small batch elements manufacturing.

Wilderich Heising, Associate & Affiliate Director, Boston Consulting Group (BCG)

The additive manufacturing (AM) market has skilled fierce competitors over the previous few years amid slower-than-expected progress. Corporations harnessing 3D-printing applied sciences and supplies for fast prototyping and manufacturing are rising from a supercharged interval during which small gamers entered the market, hoping to disrupt current conventional processes and go public. In the meantime, giant company gamers staked out aggressive aggressive positions by way of M&A, solely to regularly lose curiosity, promote AM items, and put growth on maintain.

The {industry} is now present process a brand new section of consolidation and regular progress. Whereas progress for a lot of gamers isn’t as quick because the 30% to 50% growth of earlier years, many firms in the present day are nonetheless seeing progress. Corporations that need to succeed on this area should perceive the place they match right into a modified AM panorama and chart a sustainable path. The winners will probably be people who differentiate their choices, meet stringent {industry} necessities, facilitate automation throughout processes, and associate with clients to satisfy their wants and ship worth.

After a interval of quickly rising valuations following the IPOs of Desktop Steel and Velo3D, as two examples, valuations have come again all the way down to earth. Valuation-to-sales ratios of kit suppliers that typically exceeded 10 to 1 in 2021, with a mean of 5 to 1, have as soon as once more stabilized to extra practical ranges, with a mean ratio of about 2 to 1 in 2022-2023.

The AM market faces headwinds, nonetheless. Corporations have seen a strong development towards consolidation round just a few tools producers. Gamers that make supplies within the chemical substances {industry} are regularly shifting out of the market, given excessive prices and lower-than-expected progress, after coming into a a lot smaller area as a hedge in opposition to disruption. Just a few specialists stay.

Corporations that face mounting value pressures have been reluctant to stay available in the market over the long run. Xerox offered its AM unit to AddiTec in August 2023 after reporting a 65% decline in AM revenues from 2013 to 2022. The high-stakes, billion-dollar makes an attempt all through 2023 to craft a takeover or merger deal of Stratasys with Nano Dimensions, Desktop Steel, or 3D Programs, even because the offers had been finally known as off, present simply how fierce the battle for management has turn into amongst a few of the main gamers in a consolidating market.

So, what to anticipate in 2024? Whereas it’s troublesome to foretell the way forward for any {industry} primarily based on the latest previous, we see a continued development of massive, extremely built-in gamers creating broad choices that includes expertise, supplies, and companies. Nonetheless, a quickly consolidating {industry} will make life troublesome for a lot of subscale startups which have appeared on the scene. Smaller start-ups experiencing funding difficulties within the present monetary local weather will discover it extremely difficult to compete in such a aggressive AM market. Corporations partnering within the area should place their bets correctly on the gamers which are most probably to outlive the shakeout.

Smaller gamers might want to differentiate. Both they’ll turn into extremely specialised firms with a singular worth proposition, or they’ll discover a approach to go public, merge, or be acquired. The larger gamers might want to exhibit top-line progress in a market that’s increasing extra slowly than they’d initially anticipated. They may also must seize alternatives from the smaller gamers which are pushed out.

Every participant should ask a sequence of strategic questions with a view to survive, together with:

• What’s the way forward for our market section?

• What’s our distinctive worth proposition?

• How can we innovate to gasoline natural progress?

• Do alternatives exist to focus on a distinct segment market?

• Which markets ought to we enter, and exit?

• Are mergers and acquisitions an possibility? 

• How vital are the results of scale, and due to this fact the necessity to develop by way of M&A?

Duann Scott, Government Director, 3MF Consortium

Because the functions mature, so does the complexity of the designs, usually with a corresponding improve in complexity of the geometry and manufacturing knowledge to speak the design intent. There’s a vital shift away from BREP and mesh representations, in the direction of graph primarily based, volumetric and implicit codecs that may convey not solely these complicated geometries, but additionally machine and materials data by way of 3MF, with little or no lack of decision.

Dr.-Ing. Sascha Schwarz, Managing Director, TUM Enterprise Lab Additive Manufacturing

Particularly within the start-up world, AM is more and more adopted to speed up hardware-based innovation cycles and manufacture the ultimate product. Nonetheless, we see a substantial hole in totally enabling the engineers in DfAM and are satisfied that we’ll see extra instruments and choices in physics-informed generative design!

Kris Binon, Managing Director, AMIS

As predicted by many, I believe we’ll see extra mergers, acquisitions, and consolidation, most likely involving giant industrial firms. It’ll harm some however profit much more – and the {industry} as a complete. The obtainable experience must be consolidated into viable entities. 

We must also watch – and advocate for – how far governments are supporting AM schooling – on all ranges. Nonetheless, it is a prerequisite for the long-term progress of our {industry}. In any case, a machine purchased by a well-informed buyer is price greater than 5 dust-gathering printers within the nook of a shopfloor.

Nick Allen, CEO, 3DPRINTUK

Eco warpath – numerous OEMs are pushing focus onto extra sustainable practices – this was clear at Formnext and different occasions. There’s additionally demand from our buyer base for a better give attention to a extra environmentally pleasant manufacturing course of, so it’s coming from either side and might solely be seen as a profit for a greener future.

AI is an enormous buzzword in the mean time. It’s troublesome to say precisely how a lot affect it would have and when the affect arrives, however it’s coming, and it’ll come from all angles – half design, manufacturing processes, energy administration, advertising and marketing and gross sales, you identify it.

Craig Monk, Proprietor & Founder, CRM CAD Ltd, 3D Print Monkey, Liquid Fashions 3D

Extra selections with high-performance materials within the SLA/Resin markets.

Martin Jewell, R&D Director, Evo 3D & Fast Fusion

In 2024, we’re protecting a detailed eye on the 3D printing {industry}’s near-term developments. We’re notably excited in regards to the integration of post-processing methods, reminiscent of CNC, immediately into the 3D printing workflow. This progressive strategy permits us to take a shortcut within the time-quality-cost triangle, particularly for big format and high-value elements. By streamlining post-processing throughout the 3D printing course of, we intention to scale back manufacturing time, improve high quality, and decrease prices, all whereas making certain environment friendly manufacturing of complicated and priceless elements.

Scott Volk, President, Superior Additive Improvements Inc.

Now that so many 3D printing applied sciences have superior to the extent of being manufacturing viable, the subsequent development would be the continuation of advancing the supplies that may be printed. The supplies have come thus far already however we’ll see main developments on this space.

William Glodek, President, BreakPoint Labs

BreakPoint Labs’ analysis has decided that near-term threats to additive manufacturing ecosystems from a cybersecurity perspective are ransomware and mental property theft.  Long term threats, or art-of-the-possible, embody cyber-induced bodily sabotage (Dr0wnded examine) and attacking methods with emergent properties by misusing built-in capabilities to disrupt manufacturing processes or destroy tools/environments. BISON has been developed to detect & reply to those threats. 

Kwang-Min Lee, Vice President, CARIMA Co., Ltd.

3D printing expertise is constantly gaining adoption and utilization in numerous industries, with annual progress anticipated to speed up quickly, together with a major surge anticipated this 12 months.

Particularly, 3D printing affords vital benefits as a novel manufacturing expertise. It permits the creation of a number of elements as a single piece and allows customization by way of “bespoke design” by both light-weighting or reinforcing weaker sections with further materials.

In industries reminiscent of dentistry, healthcare, wearable robotics, in addition to shopper items like eye-wear and sneakers, the place conventional manufacturing strategies confronted limitations, 3D printing expertise is utilized for customized product manufacturing and small-batch manufacturing to satisfy particular person calls for.

Nonetheless, challenges stay, together with progressive materials growth enchancment in printing velocity and effectivity.

In response, quite a few 3D printer and materials manufacturing firms are anticipated to launch superior merchandise that incorporate biodegradable supplies, high-performance polymers, and supplies that increase the applying vary of 3D printing whereas enhancing the effectivity of manufacturing and post-processing processes.

In keeping with this development, CARIMA can also be actively engaged within the impartial growth of high-performance, progressive supplies and collaborates intently with a number of international chemical firms.

Furthermore, this 12 months, CARIMA has additionally developed the ‘ CARIMA X1,’ an ultra-fast 3D printer for mass manufacturing able to stacking layers as skinny as 1cm in a second. Moreover, they’ve achieved a considerable discount in manufacturing time, roughly 4 to five occasions sooner than standard strategies, by introducing a three-stage post-processing automation gadget (separation of printed materials + washing + UV curing).

Len Pannett, Founder and CEO, Supercharg3d Administration Providers Ltd

Elevated curiosity in its software, notably within the Defence sector, pushed by the necessity for shorter lead occasions and overcoming points with obsolescence.

Dr. Max Siebert, CEO and Co-Founder, Replique

With the rising vary of supplies and the event of value and time-efficient processes, 3D printing is more and more discovering its means into sequence manufacturing. With a purpose to streamline processes and cut back prices in sequence manufacturing, it’s vital to attach all gamers available on the market, from supplies to post-processing, software program, and {hardware}, which many are doing by way of end-to-end platforms. Final 12 months witnessed outstanding developments within the 3D printing and additive manufacturing (AM) {industry}, notably within the realms of printing velocity, precision, and the event of superior supplies. We see that the scope of 3D printing functions has broadened throughout various industries. 

As we look forward to 2024, the 3D printing {industry} is poised for progress and maturation. At Replique, we’re observing a rising consciousness amongst firms concerning the importance of 3D printing, and it’s about time for its seamless integration as one of many main manufacturing strategies for small to mid-volume sequence, beginning proper from the preliminary design section. For sequence manufacturing to achieve success, reliability and repeatability of manufacturing should be ensured, and industrial processes and sturdy {hardware} should be established. Printer producers’ service ranges should attain these of conventional manufacturing methods, and digitized high quality management will play a vital function. Massive industrial firms throughout the 3D printing {industry} will lead this growth by way of their expertise with conventional high quality assurance.

Notably, a development in the direction of market consolidation is obvious among the many current service suppliers. Centralized platforms are anticipated to play a key function, providing firms a unified interface for numerous companies—addressing the {industry}’s problem of fragmentation. This transfer in the direction of decentralization goals for scalability and a extra collaborative, clear, and environment friendly provide chain.

Joseph Crabtree, CEO & Founder, AMT (Additive Manufacturing Applied sciences)

As we enterprise into 2024, the 3D printing {industry} is present process vital transformations. Rising cost-effective and succesful powder mattress printing applied sciences are difficult conventional industrial gamers, resulting in a slowdown in industrial 3D printer gross sales. Nonetheless, there’s a contrasting improve in shopper and prosumer printer gross sales, indicating a pivotal shift available in the market.

This shift is contributing to a broader democratization of 3D printing expertise. Now, greater than ever, hobbyists, small companies, and academic sectors are discovering these applied sciences accessible. The affordability and enhanced capabilities of the brand new powder mattress printing applied sciences provide high-quality outputs at decrease prices, thus widening the person base.

On this evolving panorama, profitability has emerged as a key focus. The “default lifeless” or “default alive” idea, coined by Paul Graham, is especially related. Corporations that fail to prioritize monetary well being in these altering occasions threat changing into “default lifeless,” doubtlessly resulting in their downfall.

At AMT, we’re conscious about these {industry} shifts and are adapting our technique to deal with these adjustments and thrive amidst them.

Embracing the Default Alive Philosophy: In keeping with the present {industry} state of affairs, AMT is targeted on being “default alive.” This implies prioritizing sustainable progress and profitability, which is particularly essential in a market the place capital entry is tougher as a result of high-interest charges.

Adapting to Market Shifts with SFX Know-how: To mitigate the affect of the slowdown in industrial gross sales, AMT has expanded its expertise base by introducing the SFX line. This diversification permits us to cater to the rising shopper and prosumer markets, thereby capturing a broader market section.

Continued Funding in Innovation: Recognizing the vital function of innovation, AMT continues to speculate closely in analysis and growth. This funding isn’t just in advancing our post-processing applied sciences but additionally in creating options tailor-made to the evolving wants of our various buyer base.

Forging Strategic Partnerships: In a quickly evolving {industry}, forming strategic partnerships is vital. At AMT, we’re actively looking for collaborations that improve our technological capabilities and increase our market attain. These partnerships are very important for staying forward of the curve and making certain our long-term relevance and competitiveness.

The 12 months 2024 marks a major period for the 3D printing {industry}. It’s a time of technological developments, market shifts, and a heightened want for monetary viability. At AMT, we’re strategically navigating these adjustments.

Davide Ardizzoia, COO, 3ntr

True industrial efficiency.

Kristin Mulherin, Director, Additive Manufacturing Know-how (Hubbell) / President (Ladies in 3D Printing)

We’re coming into 2024 with much more upheaval within the {industry} than in recent times. Between firms doubtlessly being delisted, to failed mergers, there’s a chance for the small-to-mid-sized machine OEMs and contract producers to make a transfer. Till now, many end-users have been reluctant to speculate time or cash in a few of the smaller gamers since their future was perceived as much less steady. Nonetheless, the taking part in area has leveled with the large gamers additionally coming into an period of the unknown. This provides a window of alternative for small, new, and progressive firms to make their transfer. Whereas the {industry} will doubtless proceed to be unstable as a complete by way of at the very least the start of 2024, this doesn’t imply that end-users will deescalate their efforts. It’s only a matter of which machine OEMs and contract producers can carry their applied sciences to the floor and poke their heads above the noise.

Erica Vlahinos, Vice President of Additive Manufacturing, Authentise

Strategic Consolidation: Because the {industry} responds to financial adjustments, I anticipate to see M&A exercise resulting in consolidation.

Concentrate on Monetary Sustainability: As budgets tighten, AM might want to defend its place amongst conventional strategies, shifting the main focus from innovation in any respect prices to clarification of monetary profit. 

Materials Developments: We anticipate to see new powders and materials varieties emerge (together with biodegradable choices) together with the continued growth of multi-material printers.

Stefan Ritt, Proprietor and founder, AM/3D printing market integration

After just a few landmarks throughout this 12 months from Chinese language producers of metallic AM machines with a number of lasers and big construct frames, in addition to Japanese huge firms growing their affect within the AM world (DMGMORI, NIKON SLM), we’ll most likely see a fast-growing dominance of growth steps from Asia if the political restrictions will ease up a bit.

Navy and protection use of AM tools will turn into extra dominant as a use case as a result of current international state of affairs and can assist to refurbish the previous tools, which many armed forces are combating in an on-demand restore initiative.

Within the area of plastic-AM, the “environmentally pleasant” strategy will show to not be fairly true within the huge image as Western governments should transfer from the inexperienced politics strategy to extra practical {industry} assist to keep away from relocation of serious companies in the direction of the brand new world, and due to this fact the inexperienced deal won’t be a prime precedence anymore.

AI will uncover AM as properly, and with its fast progress velocity, there would be the first makes an attempt to remove human designers and engineers by AI for 3D printed elements. This can open a “Pandoras field” in a variety of totally different facets, and our {industry} must be ready and watch that very intently to react quick if wanted!

With the normal huge gamers in our {industry}, we’ll see an thrilling 12 months forward with a variety of consolidation, prime administration adjustments, and technology handovers. This can result in many vital new focus repositionings of the corresponding companies. Thrilling occasions forward.

Dayton T. Horvath, Director of Rising Know-how and Investments, AMT-The Affiliation For Manufacturing Know-how

Additive manufacturing developments to look at for in 2024, in no specific order, embody vital will increase in protection spending and a spotlight paid to AM as a result of continued geopolitical uncertainty; venture-backed firms will proceed to battle with fundraising as a result of present macroeconomic atmosphere and more and more face the draw back of beforehand established larger valuations from 2020-2022; step-changes in AM course of advances and materials advances will probably be much less frequent as firms and capital give attention to product-market slot in functions; the strains between conventional manufacturing expertise suppliers and additive manufacturing firms will proceed to blur by way of strategic partnerships and M&A exercise.

Ryohei Yuasa, Venture Senior Assistant Professor, Keio College

The variety of instances during which 3D printing expertise is utilized to merchandise will improve. Instances are starting to be reported during which the issues of value and manufacturing capability are being solved by growing the velocity of modeling and the variety of manufacturing machines by bettering the efficiency of the manufacturing machines. Look high quality points are being resolved by way of post-processing to complete the product.

The day will quickly come when being 3D printed will not be a differentiating issue by way of performance or advertising and marketing.When 3D printed merchandise compete with one another, the higher product will probably be chosen.

3D printed merchandise within the fields of furnishings, inside design, each day requirements, and structure apart from practical elements might appeal to extra consideration by way of aesthetics.

Prior to now few years, there have been instances the place complicated shapes that may solely be created by 3D printing have attracted consideration, however the Japanese product design {industry} has begun to draw back from overly natural shapes that seem by way of generative design and topology optimization by way of product look.

Even when it’s a 3D printed product, it’s essential to create merchandise with a full understanding of the shapes, floor finishes, affordances, and so on. that people innately discover stunning and straightforward to make use of.

Will probably be necessary to construct a staff the place not solely 3D printing engineers but additionally product designers and designers who totally perceive 3D printing expertise can take part within the mission.

Dave Prezzano, International Head of Go-to-Market, HP Personalization and 3D Printing, HP

Lingering headwinds from the COVID-19 pandemic haven’t subsided. Neither has their affect on enterprise, the place equilibrium is being established in a brand new regular outlined by damaged provide chains, labor and stock challenges, and rising prices.

With new circumstances comes new methods of working, prompting firms throughout industries to reassess find out how to design, manufacture, and mass produce items utilizing progressive 3D printing software program and {hardware} together with different superior digital instruments and processes. 

Within the 12 months forward, we’re wanting to see the broader ecosystem of service bureaus, {industry} companions, and companies improve their inside processes and leverage rising expertise and experience to scale up 3D printing for manufacturing and finally improve adoption.

Stephen Crownshaw, Head of AM Gross sales, Renishaw

Since we’ve seen a number of latest examples within the 3D printing {industry}, the subsequent 12 months seem like a 12 months of consolidation and mergers. Progress in machine gross sales continues to be a good distance off projected numbers, however we see particular person firms rising with a rise within the variety of methods owned and operated.  These companies have seen a market the place demand for merchandise might be elevated, thus requiring extra capability. We can also see further companies exterior {hardware}, reminiscent of supplies, software program and post-processing develop at a bigger fee as a result of buyer calls for.  

At Renishaw, we all know a steady course of and a extra productive system is a requirement for current customers to take up will increase with out the expense of recent methods. With the latest launch of Renishaw’s TEMPUS expertise, a retrofittable productiveness improve for the RenAM 500 sequence of metallic AM methods, we now have numerous clients with a number of machines the place an improve does make an enormous distinction in capability.

Rob Lent, Vice President, Imaginative and prescient Miner

For 2024, we’re seeing the significance of software program – from superior slicers to AI & Machine Studying applied sciences and superior sensors within the printing course of – all this collectively goes to permit computer systems to be taught and subsequently predict the habits of superior, particularly high-temp supplies, like PEEK, PEKK, and ULTEM. I see synthetic intelligence actually making an affect on machine operators — the expertise required for superior high-temp elements will come down dramatically, making manufacturing way more accessible by non-experts with open-material methods.

Eliza Duan, Head of Abroad Enterprise, Shiny Laser Applied sciences-BLT

In 2024, key developments within the additive manufacturing {industry} contain organizations more and more incorporating additive manufacturing into manufacturing operations to mitigate provide chain dangers, improve product design flexibility, and cut back manufacturing prices. BLT affords complete turnkey options, encompassing powder growth, manufacturing, a various vary of printing methods, in-house software program, and technical session. 

Our purpose is to decrease the obstacles to adopting this expertise, making metallic additive manufacturing accessible to tens of millions of factories and selling {industry} progress. Shifting ahead in 2024, BLT will proceed advancing the analysis and software of vertical functions, overcoming the restrictions of conventional manufacturing and increasing its affect into well-established verticals.

Towards the backdrop of latest provide chain disruptions, an growing variety of firms are poised to undertake additive manufacturing expertise. This strategic shift goals to leverage the inherent flexibility of additive manufacturing, reinforcing provide chains, lowering reliance on handbook labor, and providing large-scale customization companies. Aligned with market developments, BLT offers a spread of kit with numerous construct dimensions. 

Moreover, the market is poised for a major shift in the direction of mass manufacturing within the realm of 3D printing, underscoring the vital significance of manufacturing line administration.

David Maass, President, Flightware

Reaching sustainable, rising income and profitability is the important thing for a lot of AM gamers in in the present day’s market atmosphere. Meaning specializing in functions and applied sciences with a robust enterprise case in the present day (i.e., the place Customers see enticing ROI’s at present volumes). Traders not have the persistence to fund tomorrow’s projections, which have too usually proved to be an phantasm.

Alex Gao, Advertising and marketing Specialist, Farsoon Know-how

As globalization recedes and the world economic system slowly rebounds, there will probably be a resurgence in localized manufacturing, notably within the US. Industrial additive manufacturing will play a priceless function in fueling sooner provide chains, leaner logistics, and on-demand customization throughout numerous industries like medical, aerospace, and automotive. The resurgence will drive an elevated demand for bigger, faster, and more cost effective machines, together with an growing want for various materials assist. Concurrently, all of this will probably be boosted by the latest developments in machine studying, we’ll see new and improved instruments for generative 3D fashions, suggesting design tweaks for optimum energy and weight, and enhancing printing effectivity.

Tim Ruffner, Enterprise Growth Director, Caracol

I imagine that something with reference to robotics goes to be one thing to be careful for in 2024 and onwards.

Maxence Bourjol, Gross sales Supervisor, 3DCeram

In 2023, for quite a few 3D printing firms, the 12 months proved to be difficult, prompting some to face potential setbacks. The {industry} as a complete encountered headwinds that, with utmost diplomacy, could possibly be described as much less favorable. Amidst these broader dynamics, notably throughout the area of interest market of ceramic 3D printing, a section that isn’t proof against the prevailing circumstances, the demand for experience has turn into paramount. On this context, it’s noteworthy that 3DCeram stands out, possessing over 20 years of expertise in serving the technical ceramic sector. Purchasers on this specialised market are actively looking for the sort of data and proficiency that 3DCeram has persistently demonstrated, positioning the corporate as a dependable and seasoned participant within the evolving panorama of 3D ceramic printing.

In 2024, near-term developments within the 3D printing {industry} emphasize the digital nature of this expertise, underscoring the significance of addressing various person wants. As 3D printing continues to achieve traction throughout industries, it’s crucial to supply machines that cater to a spectrum of customers. At 3DCeram, we acknowledge this by offering options starting from a user-friendly “click on & print” strategy to extra superior choices tailor-made for intricate developments. Assembly the calls for of commercial shoppers is essential on this context, as they more and more search streamlined processes. The pivotal shift towards industrializing 3D printing processes necessitates automation, a problem not universally possible throughout all 3D printing applied sciences. Furthermore, incorporating synthetic intelligence is changing into indispensable to satisfy high quality requirements, guarantee repeatability, and fulfill numerous industrial necessities. As we navigate the 3D printing panorama, these developments mirror our dedication to delivering complete options that align with the evolving wants of the {industry}.

Brock Vasic, VP Digital Gross sales and Advertising and marketing, GoEngineer

2023 introduced a variety of consolidation by way of M&As. In 2024, these efforts will result in extra general stability for the {industry} and permit for better give attention to the flexibility to create end-use elements and create an entire course of lifecycle.

Doraiswamy Bharath Sunderraj, Program Supervisor- Superior Manufacturing and Automation, Frost & Sullivan

Enhance in laser expertise, Nano-additive manufacturing, sooner and environment friendly 3D bioprinting, scalability of the expertise for big quantity elements. 

Be aware: some responses have been edited for brevity and readability and to take away overt advertising and marketing.

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