Report sees strong growth in polymer extrusion 3D printing driven by low-cost systems

The market for polymer-based extrusion processes in 3D printing is increasingly developing under the influence of low-cost systems. This is the conclusion of a new report by Additive Manufacturing Research, which puts the market volume for 2025 at around USD 2.2 billion and forecasts growth to approximately USD 6.1 billion by 2034. The analysis covers both technical and economic factors across materials, applications, and regional markets.

The focus is on the growing use of inexpensive material extrusion systems beyond traditional consumer applications. According to the study, this segment has exceeded professional extrusion manufacturing in commercial use scenarios for several years. From around 2020 onward in particular, the balance shifted significantly as low-priced machines have increasingly been used in development departments, workshops, and small-series production. Technically, these systems benefit from improvements originally developed for the consumer market, for example in control electronics, sensors, and process stability.

According to AM Research, a key driver is the materials market. Polymer filaments and fiber-reinforced compounds are recording high growth rates in non-consumer-oriented environments. The increasing utilization of low-cost printers means that materials revenues are growing faster than the hardware base. At the same time, the range of processable thermoplastics is expanding, facilitating use in functional applications. The report also points to security- and defense-related fields of application, such as unmanned systems or auxiliary structures in rocket technology, where flexible and decentralized manufacturing plays a role.

In addition to market data, the study also examines technological and regulatory aspects. Patent situations, segmentation between desktop and large-format systems, and potential consolidation are cited as influencing factors. Manufacturers such as Prusa Research, Bambu Lab, or Stratasys are cited as representative of different market segments.

You can find the full report here.