State of 3D Printing: Wohler’s Report 2013 Released

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a rapidly evolving industry. The past few years have seen a number of new developments, with AM becoming a cornerstone of diverse industries including dental, medical and architecture. Part of my job here at Rapid Ready is to keep you informed about current trends in AM, and I would be remiss not to announce the release of Wohler’s Report 2013.

The report, produced on an annual basis by Wohler’s Associates, tracks the 3D printing industry as a whole and offers analysis and company information pertaining to AM along with other useful information. If you happen to be unfamiliar with Wohler’s Associates, the company is run by Terry Wohlers, a recognized expert in AM. Last year I had a conversation with Wohlers about the industry, which you can find here.

Returning to the report, it weighs in at 297 pages and covers important developments in AM over the last 18 months. Along with industry information, the report also looks at the growth of hobbyist 3D printers, what the company refers to as “personal” systems. Interestingly, the hobbyist sales have slowed considerably, leaving me to wonder if all the Kickstarter and Indiegogo campaigns have resulted in something of a saturation of the market.

For some of the overall industry numbers reported, I’ll turn you over to a direct quote from the press release:

The market for 3D printing in 2012, consisting of all products and services worldwide, grew 28.6% (CAGR) to $2.204 billion. This is up from $1.714 billion in 2011, when it grew 29.4%. Growth was 24.1% in 2010. The average annual growth (CAGR) of the industry over the past 25 years is an impressive 25.4%. The CAGR is 27.4% over the past three years (2010–2012).

By 2017, Wohlers Associates believes that the sale of 3D-printing products and services will approach $6 billion worldwide. By 2021, Wohlers Associates forecasts the industry to reach $10.8 billion. It took the 3D printing industry 20 years to reach $1 billion in size. In five additional years, the industry generated its second $1 billion. It is expected to double again, to $4 billion, in 2015.

Interested parties can purchase a copy of Wohler’s Report 2013 for $495 from the company website. Below you’ll find a video interview with Terry Wohlers.

Source: Wohler’s Associates