Wohlers Associates Publishes Report on Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing

By DE Editors

Wohlers Associates has released the Wohlers Report 2012, an in-depth analysis of additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing worldwide.

The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of additive manufacturing was 29.4 percent in 2011, according to the new report. The CAGR for the industrys 24-year history is 26.4 percent. The AM industry is expected to continue strong double-digit growth over the next several years. By 2015, Wohlers believes that the sale of AM products and services will reach $3.7 billion worldwide, and by 2019, surpass the $6.5 billion mark.

Wohlers Report 2012 covers all aspects of additive manufacturing, including its history, applications, processes, manufacturers, and materials. It documents pertinent developments in the past year, covers R&D and collaboration activities in government, academia, and industry, and summarizes the state of the industry in countries around the world. It also tracks the growth of personal 3D printers "machines priced under $5,000, with the majority in the $1,000 to $2,000 range.

Major new sections on applications, materials and processes, and front- and back-end considerations were added to the report. The final part of the report concludes with 19 trends that are expected to shape the future of the technology and industry.

For more information, visit Wohlers Associates.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.