Powder Bed Fusion 3D printers accounted for 40% of the global revenues from Industrial/Professional 3D Printer shipments in 1H’16, and are set to rise further, according to data released today by CONTEXT, the IT market research company.
The growing interest around Powder Bed Fusion exists since this technology segment represents the two hottest trends in 3D Printing: (1) Metal 3D Printing and (2) Plastic 3D Printing for short/mid-run production from exiting players as well as from new IT stalwarts HP and Ricoh.
Metal remained one of the fastest areas of growth in the 3D Printing market with powder bed fusion solutions representing 90% of that metal market. The Metal market alone again witnessed growth above market totals, up 29% in Q1’16, with the Metal space already turning the corner into finished good part production for small and mid-run manufacturing. This trend in metal is fully recognized by many of the world’s leading manufacturing companies, best exemplified by GE’s announcement this week that they will acquire two leading Metal 3D Printer companies (SLM and Arcam, #2 and #4 in global metal 3D Printer hardware revenues) to create a new Additive Manufacturing Business to continue to realize their goal of becoming the preeminent digital industrial company. No fewer than ten global brands offered metal PBF 3D Printers to the market in Q1’16, led by EOS, Concept Laser and SLM Solutions with more coming to market every period.
With the rise of new plastic based Powder Bed Fusion solutions (typically using nylon) from HP, Ricoh and others, together with the continued growth in the Metals space, CONTEXT is reporting that additive manufacturing machines based on powder are poised to grow at a 63% 5-Year CAGR to a unit share of 26% by 2020.
Source: Context
