Best business prospects for additive technologies

Additive manufacturing (AM) processes, of which 3D printing is one, are finding increasing application in industrial production and thus continue to gain in importance.

“Four-fifths of our member companies have recorded increasing sales in the past twelve months. According to our latest spring survey, one in two saw growth rates in the double-digit percentage range,” reports Dr. Markus Heering, Managing Director of the VDMA’s Additive Manufacturing Working Group.

For the next 24 months, the outlook is positive: 87% of respondents expect increasing sales in the German market, while 12% expect the business climate to remain unchanged. Similar trends can be seen in exports: Almost two-thirds expect growth, while a further third anticipate export levels to remain constant. Only 4% expect a decline in foreign business over the next two years.

Around 200 companies and research institutions are represented in the VDMA Additive Manufacturing Working Group. The members are driving forward the industrialization of this technology.

For 78 percent, the most important export markets are in the EU. The USA and China, Asia and other countries are relevant target markets for 20% of the respondents. 55% of member companies feel international competition, especially from the USA, China, France and the UK.

Additively manufactured components are becoming more common: 38% of applications are for prototyping, while 44% are for volume components, tooling and spare parts. Nearly two-thirds of companies plan to expand their product range and expect a positive impact on their business development.

“Our spring survey confirms that the AM industry is on the right track,” explains Heering. The most relevant topics for further market development are expanding the range of applications, increasing series production, technology development and cost issues. Issues around AM processes – reproducibility, stability, speed, quality assurance and standardization – are relevant to more than a third of respondents. “We interpret this as a clear indication that we still have to solve many a challenge on the way to becoming an industrial standard process,” says Heering.

Find out more about VDMA at vdma.org.