The additive manufacturing industry grew by 7.5% in 2020 despite the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the latest report from US consultancy Wohlers Associates.
The Wohlers Report 2021 discusses the impact of COVID-19 on the additive manufacturing (AM) industry. Even with the pandemic, Wohlers Associates found that the industry expanded by 7.5% to nearly $12.8bn in 2020. However, growth was down considerably compared to average growth of 27.4% over the previous 10 years.
Most established manufacturers of AM systems saw a decline in equipment sales, but many less-established companies grew in 2020. An increase in business by AM service providers supported industrywide growth. Independent service providers worldwide recorded 7.1% growth, resulting in nearly $5.3bn of revenue from this group.
The Wohlers Report 2021 marks the 26th year of publication of the industry-leading annual report on additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing. The study provides trends, perspectives, and forecasts as a tool for decision-making, education, and knowledge acceleration. The report gives readers new to AM a comprehensive understanding of the technology and industry. Veterans of the technology benefit from up-to-date information on growth, recent trends, and important developments worldwide.
The Wohlers Report 2021 includes a number of new features, such as:
- 3D printing of food, medicine, and electronics.
- Pricing of metals and polymers and the hidden costs of AM.
- Methods of AM part inspection.
- The pandemic’s impact on the AM industry.
- Compilation of expert reports from 34 countries.
- Tables of AM systems, software tools, service providers, and third-party materials.
The 375-page report includes commentary on 74 early-stage investments and 35 acquisitions and public offerings. AM startups and established companies have received substantial funding in the recent past. One example is Desktop Metal, which received $575m as part of a merger with a special acquisitions company. After going public in December 2020, Desktop Metal’s market capitalisation exceeded $7.5bn in February 2021.
The Wohlers Report 2021 was created with the support of 124 service providers, 113 manufacturers of AM machines, and 24 producers of third-party materials. Eighty-eight co-authors and contributors from 34 countries provided expert views and perspectives. This input, coupled with the experience and data from Wohlers Associates, resulted in a highly detailed and comprehensive body of work on AM.
More information on the new report is available here: