BCC Research reveals in its new report, Advanced Materials for 3d Printing: Technologies and Global Markets, the global market for advanced printing materials is expected to grow to $650 million by 2019, with a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.9%. The thermoplastics category is anticipated to be the fastest-growing segment overall with a significant 20% CAGR.
Three-dimensional (3D) printing uses additives such as photopolymers and thermoplastics to form solid 3D objects of virtually any shape from a digital model. After a period of slow growth in the 1980s due to high costs and limited applications, recent technological advances such as the introduction of 3D inkjet printers have brought costs down low enough to position the 3D market for rapid growth across a range of industries.
The photopolymers category is the largest segment of this market and is expected to reach $380 million in 2019 to register a CAGR of 15%. Advanced photopolymers, generally used in 3D printing, include simulated polypropylene, simulated ABS, transparent photopolymers, rubber-like photopolymers, and medical and dental photopolymers.
Meanwhile, the thermoplastics category, which utilizes advanced polymers such as ABS, PLA, soft PLA, PVA, PC, and polyamides, was valued at just $64.5 million in 2013 and is expected to jump to $192.6 million by 2019.
"The automotive sector was the largest end-user of 3D printing materials in 2013, accounting for over 26% of total global consumption," said BCC Research advanced materials analyst Andrew McWilliams. "However, automotive applications have the lowest projected growth rate (12.3%) of any major end-user segment. As a result they are expected to fall to third place by 2019, behind the medical/dental products and consumer products category, which are expected to claim 25% and 22% of the market, respectively."
The cost of 3D printers has been decreasing, with prices averaging $20,000 just three years ago, versus less than $1,000 in the current market. Some printers are even being developed for under $500, making the technology increasingly available to the average consumer.
