Analysis

Automotive 3D printing market is on the rise

1st September 2016
Nat Bowers
0

A new report published by Allied Market Research, World Automotive 3D Printing Market, forecasts that the world automotive 3D printing market would garner revenue of $2.4bn by 2022, registering a CAGR of 21.8% between 2016 and 2022. Europe would emerge as the leading market over the forecast period, followed by Asia-Pacific and North America. Automotive companies worldwide would adopt 3D printing technology, primarily for prototyping and tooling applications.

Automotive industry, one of the biggest industries across the world, is witnessing tough competition among the operating players. The players are consolidating all their efforts into minimising the material usage and reducing manufacturing lead time & associated costs. Therefore, 3D printing technology is exhibiting widespread applications within the automotive sector for prototyping and tooling, R&D and product innovation applications. However, the lack of skilled labour and high cost of 3D technology are the key restraining factors, limiting the market growth to a considerable extent.

Different technologies such as stereolithography, fused deposition modelling, selective laser sintering, laminated object manufacturing and electron beam melting are used in automotive sector for 3D printing. Stereolithography is the most commonly used technology, as it facilitates faster production of complex parts. Among the other aforementioned technologies, fused deposition modelling and selective laser sintering, would emerge as the popular technologies adopted for 3D printing in the automotive industry.

Prototyping & tooling, would be the primary application segment, since it reduces the product manufacturing time and additional costs associated with outsourcing tasks. Apart from prototyping and tooling, 3D printing also finds major application in manufacturing of complex parts. It helps in reducing the manufacturing time and material wastage by manufacturing the parts with minimal defects. Materials such as polymers, metal & alloys, are commonly used for 3D printing. Nowadays, polymers are the most prominently used materials to manufacture automotive parts using 3D printing.

North America presently constitutes the highest market share across the world for 3D printing technology, owing to early adoption and awareness of the aforementioned technology. Growing automotive production in Europe and Asia-Pacific would result in the increasing adoption of 3D printing in these regions over the forecast period. The declining prices of the technology would facilitate the market growth in major automotive production countries such as China, Japan and Brazil.

Key findings of the study include:

  • Automotive 3D printing market is expected to exhibit a remarkable growth during the forecast period, attributed to the increasing automotive demand;
  • Stereolithography would continue to maintain its leading position as a widely used technology during the forecast period;
  • Prototyping & tooling application constituted nearly four-fifths of the market share in 2015 and would continue to maintain its leading position till 2022;
  • Europe and Asia-Pacific regions would exhibit promising growth owing to increasing awareness and adoption of the technology, and declining prices;
  • Industry participants would focus on introducing new products with innovations and partnerships to improve their market share; and
  • Automotive 3D printing market comprises dominant players such as 3D Systems, Inc., Stratsys Ltd., Optomec Inc. and others. These market players are primarily focusing on development of new technology, launching novel products with innovative variations and adopting partnership and collaboration as key strategies to establish their position in the market.

See more details of the report, here.

Product Spotlight

Upcoming Events

View all events
Newsletter
Latest global electronics news
© Copyright 2024 Electronic Specifier