Just a few years ago, it seemed that, in addition to rapid prototyping, the biggest opportunity for 3D printing technologies in the automotive sector would be the production of spare parts for cars long withdrawn from current production and the fabrication of individual details used in special vehicles. Meanwhile, the latest market reports indicate that car companies intend to enter 3D printing technology seriously, implementing 3D printers in the normal production processes of mass-produced cars!
According to the analytical company SmarTech Analysis, in 10 years the sum of all revenue streams in the area related to the use of additive technologies for automotive production will amount to nearly $ 10 billion a year. Importantly, this does not apply to rapid prototyping at all, where revenues will be calculated additionally. This amount will be generated for the purposes of creating parts for final use, i.e. both those physically assembled in cars and the tools used to manufacture them – casting molds, dies, and instruments and handles used in assembly.
As you can see in the chart below, the most revenue will be generated by purchasing 3D printers:
The above scenario is largely due to the growing competition among companies producing professional solutions for industry for several years. 3D Systems, Stratasys, EOS, SLM Solutions have to deal with the pressure of large corporations with HP and GE Additive on the one hand, and on the other hand smaller companies that have grown on the wave of popularity of desktop 3D printers such as Ultimaker, Zortrax, BCN3D, 3DGence, or Formlabs. If that was not enough, the young unicorns as Carbon and Desktop Metal are waiting for the slips of old timers of the 3D printing industry.
As a result, each of the companies goes to the top of their capabilities by presenting solutions that just a few years ago seemed to be difficult or even impossible to implement. 3D printing systems are increasingly “Industry 4.0 – friendly“, have better and more advanced software, allow to participate in planning comprehensive production processes etc.
There has been a lot of money in the industry recently from both investors and end clients investing in companies products, which stimulates the innovation. If this trend is maintained, in a dozen or so years it may actually turn out that 3D printers have become an integral part of the production halls, standing on a par with machines using traditional manufacturing techniques.
Source: www.3dprintingmedia.network