Home Industry Weakening market for industrial 3D printers – hope for recovery in 2025

Weakening market for industrial 3D printers – hope for recovery in 2025

The year 2024 ended on a turbulent note for the global 3D printing market. Weak financial results, redundancies and management changes weighed on the industry. The industrial 3D printer segment (over USD 100,000) was particularly affected, with shipments falling by 24% in the third quarter compared to the previous year. Mid-range systems (USD 20,000-100,000) also recorded significant declines of 8%. According to CONTEXT, a market research company, high interest rates and reduced investment spending had a significant impact on this development.

In the industrial segment, both metal and polymer printers were affected. Deliveries of metal 3D printers fell by 24% worldwide, while polymer printers recorded similar losses with a decline of 25%. Technologies such as vat photopolymerization were hit particularly hard, with shipments falling by 30%. UnionTech and 3D Systems, two leading suppliers in this area, blamed the decline on falling demand in the dental market.

Despite the challenges, there were rays of hope. Eplus3D, a Chinese manufacturer, recorded growth of 41% in the third quarter and established itself as the market leader in terms of unit sales. Nikon SLM Solutions also benefited from rising demand for large-format metal printers in the NXG series. These developments show that specialized solutions can hold their own in a difficult environment.

In the lower price segment, entry-level printers (under USD 2,500) continued their growth trajectory. Deliveries increased by 28% in the third quarter compared to the previous year. Manufacturers such as Bambu Lab and Flashforge were able to gain market share, while established providers such as Creality recorded slower growth.

The forecasts for 2025 are more optimistic. Deliveries of industrial printers are expected to increase by 14% and growth of 12% in the mid-range segment. The professional printer sector (USD 2,500-20,000) could grow by 6%. In the long term, experts anticipate a stable, double-digit growth rate over the next five years, supported by falling interest rates and rising capital expenditure.


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