The leading authority on the global 3D printing industry, Wohlers Associates, shows that the industry is picking up after the pandemic. Wohlers’ annual 3D print report, Wohlers Report, shows that the additive manufacturing industry grew 19.5% last year. If we compare with numbers from 2020, 7.5%, it is a move in the right direction. However, it is still far from the average the last decade, which has been approximately 25% annually.
“As expected, the industry has returned to a period of advancement and investment,” said Terry Wohlers, head of advisory services and market intelligence at Wohlers Associates. “This expansion cuts across aerospace, healthcare, automotive, consumer products, energy, and other sectors.”
Another big find in the 3D print report are that polymer powders for 3D printing grew by 43.3% last year.
Among the new and expanded features of Wohlers Report 2022:
- Scaling AM into production
- Workforce development and sustainability
- Women in 3D Printing
- Ground-breaking R&D programs
- Reports from industry experts in 34 countries
- The future of AM
What is Wohlers Report?
The Wohlers Report offers insights, trends, and forecasts related to 3D printing. It is a decision-making tool for business leaders. The report details progress related to the production, sale, and pricing of systems, software and consumables. The study also provides information on patents, startups and research.
This year’s version of the report has 425 pages and includes commentary on 147 early-stage and corporate investments, as well as 75 mergers, acquisitions, and initial public offerings.
More companies are using 3D printing for series production, says the report. Historically, additive manufacturing’s primary application has been prototyping. More information on Wohlers Report 2022 can be found here.
Learn more about the top 3D printing trends in 2022 in this article
