The upcoming expiration of selective laser sintering (SLS) patents is believed to be one of the main impetuses for growth, the MarketsandMarkets report suggest.
As of 2013, the America holds the largest revenue share followed by Europe in 3D printer machines, materials, and related services. However, Europe is also expected to surpass America in terms of the 3D printing market revenue by 2020, due to new and improved 3D printing technologies, a wider range of materials (polymers, metals/alloys, sand, ceramics, living tissue), government funding, broad application scope, and increased awareness regarding the benefits of 3D printing over traditional techniques (injection moulding and CNC machining).
However, APAC is the fastest growing and most promising market for 3D printing due to high industrial growth, technological awareness, supportive government policies, and financial investment by the governments in R&D. The major companies operating in this market are 3D Systems (US), Stratasys (US), Arcam AB (Sweden), Exone (US), and others.
Different technologies
In the report, entitled 3D Printing Market by Technology (SLA, SLS, EBM, FDM, EBM, LOM, 3DP), Materials (Polymers, Metal), Application (Aerospace, Automotive, Consumer, Healthcare, Government & Defense) & Geography (Americas, Europe, APAC & ROW) (2013-2020), different technologies such as stereolithography, laser sintering, electron beam melting, fused disposition modelling, and laminated object modelling are discussed.
