Skip to main content

July 31, 2014 

 

According to "Plastics In 3D Printing Markets: A Ten-Year Opportunity  Forecast," a new report from the industry analysts SmarTech Markets  Publishing, the market for polymers used in 3D printing has already reached $310  million and will grow to $1.4 billion by 2019. With a rapidly growing user base  in the consumer and professional market, SmarTech believes that high value-added  plastic materials used by 3D printers represent a high-margin opportunity for  materials companies, equipment manufacturers and others in the 3D printing  supply chain.

For more details of this report, see:

 

http://smartechpublishing.com/...opportunity-forecast.

About the Report

 

This report analyzes key opportunities in for plastic materials used in 3D  printing and how they are likely to change. Among the materials covered in this  report are ABS, PLA, PC, PP resins, PS, nylon, acrylate resins, nylon and  thermo-plastics. Ten-year forecasts are provided for each of these materials  both in value and volume terms. Also, the report covers plastic materials for  industrial, professional and consumer grade machines and these are also forecast  separately.  SmarTech's reality-based forecasts utilize the most up-to-date  information available, and this is gathered first and foremost from primary  sources in 3D printing and materials sector.

This report also looks at the key players in the 3D-printed polymers space  including major materials firms, equipment suppliers and independent materials  suppliers. Among the firms discussed in this report are:  3D Systems, Arkema,  BASF, Bayer, Beijing TierTime, Chi Mei, CRP Technologies, Cytec, DSM Somos,  DuPont, EnvisionTEC, EOS, Evonik, ExcelTec, Fenner Drives, Formlabs, GE,  Hitachi, Hunan Farsoon, Huntsman, KDI Polymer, Lehman & Voss, LG Chem,  Lockheed Martin, MakerBot, Mango Materials, Materialise, mCor, Mitsui, Nike,  Oxford Performance Materials, PURAC Biomaterials, Rhodia, SABIC, Sartomer, SK  Chemicals, Solid Concepts, Solvay, Stratasys, Thyssen Krupp, Toray, Teijin, and  Victrex.

 

From the report:

In personal 3D printing, SmarTech sees the biggest opportunities in  developing more robust ABS and PLA print materials for the serious hobbyist and  off-time engineer class. More durable polymers like TPU, polycarbonate, and  nylon will also win market share over the next ten years. Meanwhile, polymer  powders for laser sintering may represent the overall largest opportunity in  plastic materials.

 

Meanwhile, new materials that help professionals achieve distinct performance  benefits with 3D-printed parts can be used to justify higher materials prices.  Specifically, materials that offer lighter and better performing aerospace  components, reduce sub-assemblies, or enable customized medical implants and  dental solutions will provide a lot of value to the relevant market  segments.

 

However, in weight terms, three types of plastics -- ABS, PLA and nylon --  will continue to account for the biggest share of the 3D-printed materials  market throughout the forecasting period covered by the report Together these  plastics will account for more than 13,000 metric tons in 2019.

For now, equipment manufacturers control the supply chain for 3D printed  materials and this has reduced the opportunities for large materials companies.  Nonetheless, some material companies are partnering with smaller equipment  manufacturers or even developing their own 3D printing equipment. And some  companies like CRP Technologies and DSM Somos are finding business by developing  specialized materials for the automotive and dental applications.

 

Despite the growth in 3D printing, material demand will not increase to the  degree needed to drive major economies of scale through larger batch sizes.   This dynamic will champion materials that can be produced economically in  smaller batches, such as resins.  One solution to this problem has been taken by  Evonik with its nylon 12 powders; to produce the powder in large batches and  store the powder in inventory until it is used up. However the inefficiencies in  this method are clear; large inventories eat up working capital.

 

About SmarTech:

SmarTech offers the best in industry analysis and forecasting for the 3D  printing/ additive manufacturing sector. Our published reports and customized  consulting work provide clients with guidance on the direction that 3D printing  is taking and how to capitalize on available opportunities.

See http://www.smartechpublishing.com for more detail on our  reports and other services.

 

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/...08/prweb12062638.htm

 

If you like something I've posted please feel free to click the "like" button!

Original Post

Add Reply

Post
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×