The results of the 2025 spring survey conducted by the Additive Manufacturing Working Group within the VDMA reveal an overall stable sentiment among member companies. Despite economic uncertainties and increasing international competitive pressure, confidence within the industry remains high.
“Our member companies continue to demonstrate remarkable stability and adaptability in a changing market environment,” explains Dr. Markus Heering, Managing Director of the VDMA Additive Manufacturing Working Group.
While 34 percent of companies reported declining revenues year-over-year, this figure dropped to 20 percent over the past six months. At the same time, the sector saw a slight increase in positive business developments compared to the fall 2024 survey. For the next two years, 77 percent of respondents expect growth in domestic business, and 64 percent anticipate increasing exports—particularly to the EU-27, the USA, and other non-EU European markets.
Competition from China and the United States is being increasingly felt by many companies. Nearly half of the surveyed firms cite Chinese suppliers as direct competitors. This competitive pressure is also reflected in investment plans: 40 percent of companies intend to increase their investments in the coming year. Technological advancements, new application areas, and target markets are considered the key drivers of growth.
“We require process stability and reproducibility and have to work on these topics. We also need focus on the cost level to increase the competitiveness of additive manufacturing. Furthermore, it is important to develop new technologies with a focus on series production. Finding new industrial applications will help us to increase market acceptance,” summarizes Dr. Heering.
“Our members regularly discuss topics along the entire additive process chain and share their perspectives and experiences. This improves our understanding of current tasks and challenges, which gives us a clearer picture of development needs along the value chain and, as an industry, advances the industrialization of additive manufacturing,” explains the managing director of the working group.
The ongoing exchange within the VDMA network promotes practical discussions on process chains, materials, and software solutions. It supports the targeted advancement of the entire value chain and provides valuable impulses for the continued industrialization of additive manufacturing in Germany and beyond.
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