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Markets For Automated 3d Printing: 2016 To 2027: An Opportunity Analysis And Ten-year Forecast

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Published on Oct 13, 2017 SKU SMP-AM-MA3DP-1017 Category Tags , ,

Automation of 3D printing is very likely to become one of the most important revenue segments for AM within the next decade. This means that the medium and long-term potential for adoption of automation in 3D printing is something that both 3D printer manufacturers and manufacturing companies need to take into consideration. As industrial 3D printers go from stand-alone systems, used mostly for prototyping, tooling and single part production to becoming the core systems within integrated digital mass production lines, a number of opportunities are expected to emerge in the transformation of the factory of tomorrow.

Over the past two years, as 3D printing began to shift from a process used for prototyping and small batch technology to a large batch and mass customization production technology, all major industrial 3D printer OEM’s have begun to pay closer attention to integrating their systems both within 3D printer networks (or “farms”) and within automated production lines. SmarTech Publishing expects that over the next ten years the majority of industrial 3D printers will be production-ready and will integrate native or add-on automation capabilities, thus presenting a very significant revenue opportunity for all parties involved in building the infrastructure to the digital, additive, automated factory of tomorrow.

SmarTech’s leading market forecasts for defining and quantifying the market for automation of 3D printing in this report include:

  • Ten-year market forecasts for revenues generated by the sale of automation systems to support end-to-end 3D printing production, including automated and automation-ready hardware and software.
  • Ongoing estimates of overall yearly sales for systems associated with integration of 3D printing in the automated Industry 4.0 end-to-end production cycle, including 3D printers and other workflow stations, robotic systems, electronic components and software.
  • Pricing trends for hardware, robotics, electronics and software supporting 3D printing, automation

This report monitors and provides insight on ongoing trends in the market for end-to-end automation of 3D printing intended as a batch and mass production technology, including key areas which are creating the current market scenario, such as:

  • The drive from leading 3D printer providers and 3D printing adopters worldwide to integrate more advanced automated 3D printing workflow and automated manufacturing-related functionalities resulting from increased demand to support AM initiatives from global manufacturers
  • Efforts to produce a continuum of software-enabled quality assurance solutions for additive manufacturing, beginning with AM process simulation, and ultimately following through with in-situ process monitoring, (Additive) Manufacturing Execution Software (MES), post printed 3D inspection tools and automated post processing systems.
  • Strategic complications arising from the significantly differentiated workflows between prototyping and manufacturing applications for AM, and the resulting efforts by the broader community to address the robotic, electronic and IT/IIoT needs of customers leveraging printers for Industry 4.0 applications.

This report remains the only study in the history of the industry to tackle the complex topic of 3D printing automation and its evolving opportunities, and should be considered critical for industry stakeholders developing printing hardware, robotics for Industry 4.0 automation and new software tools.

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