3D printer
3D printing is expected to boost the international plastics industry by $1.4 billion (€1 billion, £0.8 billion) by 2019.
This is according to a new report from industry analyst SmarTech Markets Publishing entitled 'Plastics in 3D printing markets: A 10-year opportunity forecast', which states the market for polymers used for additive manufacturing is already worth $310 million and will balloon to $1.4 billion in the next five years.
SmarTech believes the increasing popularity of 3D printing in both the consumer and professional marketplaces means value-added plastic materials for 3D printing represent a high-margin opportunity for materials producers, equipment manufacturers and other related businesses in the additive manufacturing supply chain.
Value and volume forecasts
In addition to looking at key players in the 3D-printed polymer space - including such major influencers and innovators as 3D Systems, Stratasys, Formlabs, EnvisionTEC, EOS, Beijing Tiertime, DuPont, Lockheed Martin, MakerBot, Bayer and BAFS - the report analyses key opportunities for plastic materials in and how this will change. The document looks into the application of ABS, PLA, PC, PP resins, PS, Acrylate resins, nylon and thermoplastics. Each material has been investigated and given a 10-year forecast in terms of value and volume.
Industrial, professional and consumer-grade machines have also been covered in the report and forecast for the next decade.
SmarTech reports that personal 3D printing offers the biggest opportunity for growth in the ABS and PLA print material arena for hobbyists and off-time engineers, while more durable polymers such as polycarbonates, TPU and nylon will continue to gain market share. Meanwhile, polymer powders for laser sintering technologies represent the overall largest opportunity for growth in plastic materials.
In terms of weight, ABS, PLA and nylon will continue account for the biggest piece of the 3D printing materials pie, accounting for more than 13,000 tonnes in 2019.
Victory for small batches
New plastic materials for professional 3D printing will continue to gain market share as discerning users justify additional costs with end results. In particular, materials that offer lighter and better-performing components for aerospace, customisable medical implants and dental solutions, and materials that reduce sub-assemblies will provide added value to the relevant markets.
Equipment manufacturers will continue to control the supply chain for 3D printed materials and this has reduced opportunities for large materials companies. Nevertheless some material companies are partnering with smaller equipment manufacturers and have been developing their own 3D printing equipment, with companies like CRP Technologies and DSM Somos finding business by developing specialised materials for automotive and dental applications.
Despite the growth in 3D printing, material demand will not soar to the degree needed to drive major economies of scale through larger batch sizes. This dynamic will champion materials that can be produced economically in smaller batches, such as resins.