According to the recently published Wohlers Report 2024, additive manufacturing of metal components recorded growth of 24.4% last year. An estimated 3,793 metal systems were shipped in total, compared to 3,049 units in 2022.
The data collected by Wohlers Associates shows the continued upward trend in industrial 3D printing. For the first time, the entire AM industry has exceeded the 20 billion US dollar mark with sales of 20.035 billion US dollars – an increase of 11.1 percent compared to the previous year.
“Investors, governments and user companies want to know what will drive future growth,” explains Terry Wohlers, head of the analyst team at Wohlers Associates. “New application areas and the increasing demand for end products from 3D printers are crucial. To achieve this, the systems must be faster and the unit costs must continue to fall – through higher speeds, but also cheaper materials due to increasing competition.”
The Wohlers Report 2024 looks in detail at factors such as new materials, qualification processes and industry standards that will drive growth, particularly in sectors such as aerospace, defense, medical technology and energy. The analyst team also expects more robust AM solutions through improvements in machine accuracy and post-processing. Cost thresholds at which additive manufacturing becomes cheaper than conventional manufacturing could then shift from thousands to hundreds of thousands or even millions of units.
Over 100 experts from 35 countries contributed to the 29th edition of the Wohlers Report. The volume of data from 245 manufacturers, service providers and material producers makes the study one of the most comprehensive assessments of the situation in the AM industry. The complete report can be purchased from 825 US dollars.
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