Shipment of additive manufacturing (AM) systems for metal parts increased by 24.4 percent in 2023, according to Wohlers Associates latest report. Wohlers, backed by ASTM International, has been tracking this market segment for 21 years. An estimated 3,793 metal AM systems were sold in 2023, compared to 3,049 in 2022. The AM industry overall grew by 11.1 percent to $20.035 billion, an estimate based on hard data received from hundreds of companies worldwide. The report provides organizations worldwide with detailed guidance, perspective, and research results on the AM and 3D printing industry.

“Significant expansion will come from a much wider range of applications and demand for end-use parts. For this to occur, systems will become faster, reducing the production cost per part. A reduction in material pricing, due largely to competitive pressures, will lower costs further,” says Terry Wohlers, head of advisory services and market intelligence at Wohlers Associates.

Wohlers Report 2024 details how new materials and their qualification will contribute, especially to healthcare and other sectors such as aerospace, defense, and energy. The certification of new designs, coupled with industry standards, will also impact growth according to the new report. Wohlers notes that as AM machines and methods of post-processing improve, the industry will see new, robust solutions. These developments will change the equation when determining whether AM is a fit for a production application. Break-even points — the level at which AM becomes less expensive — will shift from thousands of parts to hundreds of thousands, and even millions for small parts.

The new report was supported by extensive contribution of information and data from 245 organizations, including service providers, manufacturers of additive manufacturing systems, and third-party material producers. More than 110 people, including 100 experts from 35 countries, contributed to the report. The report draws on three decades of data and market intelligence work around the world.

The Wohlers Report is designed to help companies make strategic decisions related to the investment, adoption, and application of AM. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the industry and technology. The report also serves as a barometer of the AM industry’s health and the challenges it faces.

Sherrie Trigg

Editor and Director of Medical Content

To order the full report, go here  .