The most recent version of the Wohlers Report, a closely-watched and comprehensive account of the global 3D printing industry, has found overall growth was 25.9 per cent in 2015, bringing the market’s value to $US 5.165 billion.
Wohlers Report 2016, the 21st consecutive edition, was released this week and found that the rate of expansion for all additive manufacturing products and services slowed slightly in 2015.
The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) was 33.8 per cent for the previous three years, and 26.2 per cent for the last 27 years, according to the Report. GAGR was 35.2 per cent in 2014.
A statement from Wohlers Associates reads that “despite challenges, growth continued in many segments of the diverse industry, particularly in metal AM and the desktop 3D printer segments.”
The first edition calculated the global market’s value for additive manufacturing products and services to be worth $US 295 million.
The 2016 version of the report featured input from 51 industrial systems manufacturers, 98 service providers, 15 third party material producers, and an unspecified, large number of desktop machine producers.
The three principal authors of the report are all from Wohlers Associates.
To read a Manufacturers’ Monthly interview from last year with Terry Wohlers, principal consultant and president of Wohlers Associates, click here.