Industry Grew by $1+ Billion for the Second Consecutive Year

FORT COLLINS, COLORADO, USA, April 5, 2016—Wohlers Associates, Inc., recognized widely as the leading consulting firm and preeminent authority on additive manufacturing and 3D printing worldwide—terms that are used interchangeably—today announced the publication of the Wohlers Report 2016. The 2016 edition marks the 21st consecutive year of its availability.

Image courtesy of Wohlers Associates, Inc.

According to Wohlers Report 2016, the additive manufacturing (AM) industry, consisting of all AM products and services worldwide, grew 25.9% (CAGR) to $5.165 billion in 2015. The CAGR for the previous three years was 33.8%. Over the past 27 years, the CAGR for the industry is an impressive 26.2%.

The annual state-of-the-industry report is highly anticipated by industry insiders and knowledgeable observers because its analysis is based on more than 20 years of data from companies in the AM industry. For Wohlers Report 2016, input was collected from 51 industrial system manufacturers, 98 service providers, 15 third-party material producers, and many manufacturers of low-cost desktop 3D printers.

The effort also included contributions from 80 experts in 33 countries. No other published analysis of the AM industry is supported by two decades of hard data, or the knowledge gained from it, as the basis for computing growth, analyzing trends, and forecasting the future.

Wohlers Associates reports that, despite challenges, growth continued in many segments of the diverse industry, particularly in metal AM and the desktop 3D printer segments. In 2015, 62 manufacturers sold industrial-grade AM systems (valued at more than $5,000), compared to 49 in 2014, and twice as many as the 31 companies that sold industrial systems in 2011. All of these companies, and many others, are profiled in Wohlers Report 2016.
Wohlers Report 2016 is an excellent educational tool and a powerful reference. It provides an in-depth review and analysis of the industry worldwide. It includes growth, competitive products and services, and the future outlook for the industry. The report covers the technology’s history, applications, processes, materials, and equipment manufacturers. It thoroughly documents developments in R&D, investment and collaborative activities in government, academia, and industry. The report brings to light the rich range of technologies, markets, and business models that are emerging within the industry.

The principal authors of the report are Tim Caffrey, senior consultant, Ian Campbell, associate consultant, and Terry Wohlers, principal consultant and president—all of Wohlers Associates. The company is fortunate to have developed the largest network of colleagues and contacts in the industry. This access and trust has resulted in a report that offers an unparalleled window into AM and 3D printing.

The 335-page Wohlers Report 2016 includes 35 charts and graphs, 68 tables, and 322 photographs and illustrations. It also includes more than 160 pages of supplemental online information that is available to the buyers of the report.

Wohlers Associates is an independent consulting firm that provides technical, market, and strategic advice on the new developments and trends in additive manufacturing, 3D printing, and rapid product development. Wohlers Associates has completed consulting projects for more than 240 client organizations in 24 countries around the world. The company has also provided detailed advice to more than 150 companies in the investment community.

Source: Wohlers Associates, Inc.