Additive Technologies and 3D Printing Market: Current Landscape and Expert Forecasts
The global additive manufacturing market is expected to reach $19.7 billion in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate of 22.3%, according to Research and Markets. In 2028, the segment is expected to reach $41 billion.
Precedence Research data on the industrial 3D printing market states that in 2024 the volume was $3.5 billion, and this year it is expected to grow to $4.3 billion. The share of 3D services increased by more than 13% while equipment sales decreased.
Among the world's leading manufacturers of additive technologies are: 3D Systems (USA), EOS Gmbh (Germany), SLM Solutions (Germany), Stratasys (USA), Objet Geometries (USA-Israel), Envisiontec (USA-Germany), ExOne (USA), Voxeljet (Germany), Arcam AB (Sweden), and Shimoda Iron Works (Japan). The first three industry leaders successfully developed their business in the Russian Federation, but officially suspended cooperation with domestic market players after the events of 2022.
Key areas of application of AT:
One of the flagship industries where AT is in demand is mechanical engineering. Companies use additive technologies to manufacture prototypes, complex parts and products, adhering to high-quality standards. AT is no less in demand in medicine: to create prostheses, heart valves, artificial organs and other needs. The development of three-dimensional objects, parts and products by step-by-step building up of various materials, such as plastic, metal, and concrete, using 3D printers, is also actively integrated into the construction industry. Construction 3D printing technology is already used to erect buildings and structures, particularly in Russia.
Where is the domestic additive technology market heading?
The total volume of the additive technology market in the Russian Federation in 2023 was about 15 billion rubles, which is more than 60% higher than the volume in 2022. According to the Association for the Development of Additive Technologies (ARAT), under an optimistic scenario, the domestic market segment will reach 46 billion by 2027, and 34.7 billion with less positive dynamics. According to forecasts from the National Research University Higher School of Economics, by about this time, the entire Russian AT market will account for 0.8% of the global sales of 3D products. Today, by the way, Russia's share in the global additive technology market is less than 1%.
Until February 2022, Russia imported 58.5% of additive equipment, according to ARAT data. Imports came mostly from Germany (EOS, SLM Solutions, Concept Laser), the USA (3D Systems) and the UK.
Today, solutions are purchased mainly from China - the share of Chinese equipment imports has grown by 2.2 times and in 2024 occupied about 30% of the market in the Russian Federation against 18.9% (the figure before February 2022). Among the leading manufacturers in China, one can note the companies HBD, BLT, Farsoon, Kings3D and UnionTech.
The professional community considers the lack of uniform standards to be the main limiting factor in the development of the proprietary AT market in Russia – there are still no inter-industry GOSTs for materials that could serve as a guide for designers.
However, despite the slow pace of development of AT in Russia compared to the global trend, domestic manufacturers have increased their volumes, and a number of enterprises today independently use methods such as direct laser cladding and dynamic spraying.
SLM printing predominates among technologies, occupying about 65%, with 35% falling to direct laser deposition (DED). According to the management of the Association for the Development of Additive Technologies, in Russia, the key consumers of additive technologies are the aviation and space industries, the military-industrial complex, medicine and mechanical engineering. More than 30% of the Russian additive manufacturing market falls to the fuel and energy complex.
What will accelerate the growth of the additive technology market?
The drivers of growth in the AT sector include:
- Permanent increase in the number of parts manufactured using AT as final products.
- Mastering alternative processes (SLA, metal printing and others).
- Increasing the productivity of AT while maintaining the quality of the grown product, one of the options is direct laser growing technology.
- Reduction of production times and costs through the use of heterogeneous materials.
- Larger scale implementation of 3D printing technologies in the aviation, aerospace, automotive and healthcare industries.
- Implementation of 3D printing technologies for rapidly reconfigurable production.
- Consolidation of industry efforts through the formation of consortiums and the unification of former competitors.
- Reducing the cost of production by reducing the cost of equipment and increasing the availability of technologies.
- Using AI to improve 3D printing.
- Expanding the use of Russian additive technologies in the Middle East.
- Development in Russia of an educational standard for additive technologies and a systematic approach to personnel training.
It is worth highlighting the aspect of state support for the market separately . Participants in the welding industry using AT in production note the need to consolidate the efforts of the government, science and business to implement 3D printing in enterprises.
At present, state support is provided within the framework of the Strategy for the Development of Additive Technologies in Russia until 2030. It includes the development of scientific, technological and production competencies, work with personnel provision and regulatory framework. Also in 2023, the government approved a standardisation program (57 standards) for the industry.
Latest examples of the implementation of AT technologies in welding
The company "xWELD" has implemented a new process of surfacing with metal transfer. Using a filler material with a diameter of 1.2 mm - the ability to obtain walls 2 mm thick with a waviness of 0.1 mm, which means improving the process technology and expanding the range of materials used.
VIAM specialists have established serial production of powdered compounds for Russian motor-building enterprises. The technology has allowed not only to increase the accuracy of the process by 2.5 times, but also to reduce the cycle time several times.
- Rosatom enterprises took part in the development and testing of the ILIST-2XL system, the largest 3D printer in Russia for direct laser deposition, designed together with experts from the Institute of Laser and Welding Technologies of the St. Petersburg Marine Technical University.
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