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Wohlers Report 2010

Trends... Analysis... Commentary. Commentary. Additive Manufacturing and 3d Printing State of the Industry Year 2010 Annual Worldwide Progress Report

28

Charts

55

Tables

181

Photographs and Illustrations

Wohlers Report 2010, available as a PDF, provides an in-depth analysis of the additive manufacturing (AM) industry worldwide. AM is the process of joining materials to make objects from 3D model data, usually layer upon layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing methodologies.

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250-page color PDF includes:

  • Industry growth estimates.
  • New developments and business opportunities.
  • Emerging applications.
  • Research and development.
  • What the future holds

New:

  • Section on open-source 3D printers
  • State of business among service providers

ISBN 0-9754429-6-1

Wohlers Report 2010, available as a PDF, provides an in-depth analysis of the additive manufacturing (AM) industry worldwide. AM is the process of joining materials to make objects from 3D model data, usually layer upon layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing methodologies. It is used to build physical models, prototypes, patterns, tooling components, and production parts in plastic, metal, ceramic, and composite materials.

The report was written for product development and manufacturing professionals and organizations worldwide. Among the groups that have found it useful in the past are company owners, executive management, engineering managers, prototyping supervisors, service providers, system manufacturers, researchers, educators, the investment community, analysts, and the media. This edition marks the 15th consecutive year of its publication.

The report was developed with support from 54 co-authors, 64 service providers, 33 system manufacturers, and many others worldwide. To support the review and analysis, the publication includes 28 charts and graphs, 55 tables, 181 photographs and illustrations, and eight appendices. This study, published for 15 consecutive years, has established a tradition of covering all facets of additive manufacturing, including business, product, market, technology, research, and application.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
About the author
Focus of this report
Introduction to additive fabrication

PART 1: BACKGROUND

  • History of additive manufacturing
    • The past 12 months
  • Industries and regions benefiting from the technology
    • How companies are applying AM processes
    • Installations by country
  • Applications
    • Custom manufacturing
    • Communication
    • Engineering changes
    • Powerful ideas and proposals
    • Concept models
    • Verifying CAD databases
    • Styling and ergonomics
    • Fit and functional testing
    • Prototyping
    • Metal castings
    • equests for quotes
    • Tooling
    • Biomanufacturing
    • Unlimited potential

PART 2: INDUSTRY GROWTH

  • Revenue growth and forecasts
    • Products and services
    • Annual revenue growth percentages
    • Material sales
    • Revenue from service providers
    • Secondary market
    • Revenue from other services
  • Unit sales growth and forecasts
    • Long-range forecast
    • Unit sales growth percentages
    • Market shares
    • Systems sold by region
    • Market shares by manufacturer
    • Unit sales by manufacturer and year
    • 3D printer sales
    • 3D printers are dominating
  • Service providers
    • Measuring growth trends
    • Difficult economy
    • Remarks on the recent state of business
    • The future

PART 3: SYSTEM MANUFACTURERS

  • Arcam
  • Bits From Bytes
  • Concept Laser
  • Create It Real
  • DWS
  • EasyCLAD Systems
  • Envisiontec
  • EOS
    • Part Property Profiles
    • New materials
    • DMLS mold inserts
    • Other developments
  • Ex One
  • Fab@Home
  • Hewlett-Packard
  • Honeywell
  • Huntsman
  • MakerBot Industries
  • Mcor
  • MTT
    • SLM 125 and SLM 250
    • Selective laser printing
  • Objet Geometries
    • Connex350
    • New materials
    • Other developments
  • Optomec
  • Phenix Systems
  • POM
  • ReaLizer
  • Sintermask
  • Solidica
  • Solido
  • Solidscape
  • Stratasys
    • Agreement with HP
    • uPrint
    • Other developments
  • 3D Systems
    • Flurry of acquisitions
    • SL and LS
    • 3D printers
  • Voxeljet
  • Z Corp.
    • ZPrinter 350
    • Newest material
    • Other developments
  • Investor update
    • Revenues and earnings
    • Outlook

PART 4: ASIA AND EUROPE

  • Asia/Pacific
    • China
    • Major technology players
    • Chinese machines
    • Taiwanese machine
    • Korean machines
    • India
  • Japan
    • Stereolithography
    • FDM
    • Laser sintering
    • Service providers
    • The future
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • United Kingdom
    • Italy
    • France
    • Spain
    • Sweden
    • The Netherlands
    • Denmark
    • Finland
    • Belgium
    • Portugal
    • Slovenia
  • Other regions
    • South Africa
    • Groups and associations

PART 5: METAL PARTS AND TOOLING

  • Direct metal parts
    • Laser-based, powder-bed systems
    • Powder deposition systems
    • Other approaches
    • Materials testing and international standards
  • Cast metal parts
    • Investment casting
    • Sand, V-Process, and plaster mold casting
    • Systems that create molds and cores directly
    • Die casting
  • Tooling solutions
  • High-performance tooling
  • Direct tooling approaches
    • DMLS
    • Laser consolidation
    • FDM tooling
  • Indirect tooling approaches
    • Silicone rubber tooling
    • Reconfigurable Tooling Systems
    • Other options
  • Alternatives
    • CNC-machined tooling
    • Hybrid tooling

PART 6: DIRECT PART PRODUCTION

  • Changing the way you manufacture
  • Why use AM for production?
    • Reduction of tooling
    • Part consolidation
    • Part quality
    • ASTM F42 Committee
  • Cost analysis and economics
    • Production implications
    • Strategic implications
  • Economic and environmental considerations
    • Displacing energy intensive processes
    • Raw material consumption and waste
    • Optimized and efficient shapes
    • Reducing supply chain transportation
    • Producing lightweight parts
  • Applications and industries
    • Aerospace
    • Military and marine
    • Automotive
    • Machinery
    • Medical and dental
    • Consumer products
    • Games and entertainment
    • Furniture and home accessories
    • Art and jewelry
    • Gifts, awards, and trophies
    • Museum displays
  • Challenges and required research
    • AM processes
    • AM materials and related considerations
    • Organization, management, and supply chain issues
    • Future growth potential

PART 7: OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

  • CAD solid modeling
    • Interoperability matures, sustainability on hold
    • CAD/PLM revenue woes
    • Seat count estimates more difficult
  • Materials
    • LS powders
    • PolyJet resins
    • SL resin
    • Plastic filaments
    • Coatings and other treatments
  • Medical applications
    • Anatomical and surgical models
    • Medical imaging options
    • Medical imaging-processing software
    • Materials for medical modeling
    • Additive methods for medical modeling
    • Personalized metal implant production
    • Acetabular cups
    • DMLS for surgical implants
  • 3D scanning and reverse engineering
    • 3D-scanning applications
    • 3D-scanning hardware
    • Hardware limitations
    • Processing software

PART 8: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Patents
  • Technology development
    • Metallic materials
    • Ceramic materials
    • Biomanufacturing
  • Open-source systems
    • RepRap
    • Fab@Home
    • Development direction
  • Nanomanufacturing
    • Examples
    • Liquid glass nanospray
    • World’s smallest radio
  • U.S. government-sponsored R&D
    • National Science Foundation
    • Meso, micro, and nanoscale technology
    • Applications of existing AM technology
    • Education
    • National Institutes of Health
    • Department of Defense
  • College and university education and research
    • Educational activities in additive manufacturing
    • Research and teaching
    • Institutions with AM capabilities
    • Future trends and contributions

PART 9: WHERE IT’S ALL HEADED

  • Professional markets
    • Orthopedics
    • Dentistry
    • Aerospace
    • New kinds of products
  • Consumer markets
    • Video games
    • 3D imaging
  • Opportunities for entrepreneurs
    • Neighborhood manufacturing
    • 21st century ThingMaker
  • Challenges
    • Material choice and cost
    • Old design habits
    • Processing orders
    • The future
    • Where to learn more

APPENDICES

  • Appendix A: Glossary of terms
  • Appendix B: System and material manufacturers
    • Canada
    • China
    • England
    • France
    • Germany
    • Ireland
    • Israel
    • Italy
    • Japan
    • Korea
    • Sweden
    • Switzerland
    • Taiwan
    • United States
  • Appendix C: U.S. system specifications
  • Appendix D: Systems manufactured outside the U.S.
  • Appendix E: Material properties
  • Appendix F: Metal fabrication comparison matrix
  • Appendix G: 3D scanning systems
  • Appendix H: 3D scan processing software

Development Team

The following 54 individuals and organizations contributed to Wohlers Report 2010 and served as important sources for information.

Mukesh Agarwala 3D Product Development (India)
Nadra Angerman Angerman Communications Group
Seiji Hayano Aspect (Japan)
Paulo Jorge Bártolo Institute Polytechnic of Leiria (Portugal)
Joseph Beaman University of Texas at Austin
William Beaver York Technical College
Alain Bernard Ecole Centrale de Nantes (France)
David Bourell University of Texas at Austin
Tim Caffrey Seventh Son Creative Services
Ian Campbell Loughborough University (England)
Andy Christensen Medical Modeling Inc.
Adam Clare University of Nottingham (England)
Rob Connelly FineLine Prototyping
Deon de Beer Vaal University of Technology (South Africa)
Igor Drstvenšek University of Maribor (Slovenia)
Ismail Fidan Tennessee Tech University
Joe Frascati Prototype Productions, Inc.
Boris Fritz Northrop Grumman
Ping Fu Geomagic, Inc.
Michael Gayk York Technical College
Ian Gibson National University of Singapore (Singapore)
Tim Gornet University of Louisville
Andrzej Grzesiak FhG Institute for Mfg. Eng. & Automation (Germany)
Joan Guasch ASCAMM (Spain)
Tsuneo Hagiwara CMET Inc. (Japan)
Richard Hague Loughborough University (England)
Ola Harrysson North Carolina State University
Forrest Higgs Brosis Innovations, Inc
Berndt Holmer IVF Industrial Research and Development Corp. (Sweden)
Neil Hopkinson Loughborough University (England)
Luca Iuliano Politecnico di Torino (Italy)
Olivier Jay Danish Technological Institute (Denmark)
Troy Jensen Piper Jaffray
Jason Jones De Montfort University (England)
Rik Knoppers Promolding (The Netherlands)
Toshihiko Maeda NTT Data Engineering Systems Corp. (Japan)
Frank Medina University of Texas at El Paso
Jorge Mireles University of Texas at El Paso
Greg Morris Morris Technologies
Tom Mueller Express Pattern
Randall Newton VEKTORRUM
John Obielodan Utah State University
Phil Reeves Econolyst (England)
Pete Sayki SICAM
Joel Segal University of Nottingham (England)
Michael Siemer Mydea Technologies
Brent Stucker Utah State University
Gordon Styles Star Prototype (China)
James Tobin York Technical College
Chris Tuck Loughborough University (England)
Jukka Tuomi Helsinki University of Technology (Finland)
Jonas Van Vaerenbergh LayerWise (Belgium)
Ryan Wicker University of Texas at El Paso
David Wimpenny De Montfort University (England)

What Others are Saying

“I received your report this week and I am completely impressed with the depth, variety, and detail. It will be an invaluable reference for the classes and presentations that I am currently developing for our division. It’s just MAGNIFICENT really!”
Jim Horton, CAD/CAM Systems Specialist, Central Piedmont Community College

“I love it. There is no other way to get such in-depth, relevant information that is also up to date. I have read through most of the 2010 report and it’s great work, Terry.”
Rob Connelly, President, FineLine Prototyping, Inc.

“The 2010 report is amazing.”
Michael Raphael, President, Direct Dimensions, Inc.

“It has become the bible in additive manufacturing.”
Mario Fleurinck, CEO, Melotte (Belgium)

“I can’t believe how much information from around the world you absorb and then present in such easy-to-understand terms year after year.”
Bene Padovani, Brazil

“Wow, you have really created a massive resource over the years. The contributions from the industry specialists have helped produce an industry encyclopedia.”
Randall Newton, Editor-in-Chief, CADCAMnet, and Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, AECnews

“The amount of information in the report is almost overwhelming. I am awed by its depth and breadth. What’s more, the information is not available anywhere else. For example, we hear how China is changing, but few people fully understand the transformation that’s underway. The report gives insight and clarification on China and it covers the rest of the world with the same careful analysis. It also provides insight into new products and applications that you normally would not hear about, such as light-weight structures, nanomanufacturing, growing organs, gaming, and new types of protective gear. One of the secrets of your success is the extensive travel worldwide, coupled with the information you seek from experts globally. Thank you for making something so remarkable available each year.”
Boris Fritz, Northrop Grumman

“It is taking some time to get through your report because I’m underlining all the useful information and using it in my company’s internal reports. Thanks, … it is really a fantastic job.”
Dr. Livia Cevolini, CRP Technology (Italy)

“The 2006 report is a real mine of information. It is impressive how you manage to collate all this information.”
Dr. Mike Shellabear, EOS (Germany)

“Terry Wohlers is the spokesperson for the overall rapid prototyping industry. Every year, he publishes the Wohlers Report, a comprehensive rundown of advances. He represents better than anyone else the mainstream prototyping industry.”
Dr. Preston Smith, Lead Co-author of Developing Products in Half the Time

“If you need to know anything about where this technology is today or where it is going tomorrow, Wohlers Report 2007 is your guide.”
Anthony J. Lockwood, former editorial director, Desktop Engineering

“Your report was very highly valued as we conducted our due diligence prior to acquiring Z Corp. It is highly professional and understandable, even to those new to this industry.”
Steen Borg, former CEO, The Contex Group (Denmark)

“I have purchased market reports in other industries for $30,000 that do not contain as much information. The purchase of the Wohlers Report every year is a no-brainer.”
Gilles Desharnais, Axis Prototypes Inc.

“The Wohlers Report is the world’s best compilation of activity in the field.”
Dr. David Bourell, University of Texas at Austin

“The wealth of information is astounding, but not as astounding as the amount of research that must be performed each year to put it together.”
Al Dean, Prototype Magazine (England)

“I found it extremely useful in the preparation of a presentation to upper management. Also, the report has caught the interest of many of my colleagues in R&D.”
Patrick Roth, Elkay Manufacturing Company

“His extremely comprehensive annual report is considered the definitive analysis of the rapid prototyping world and is highly recommended.”
David Cohn, Engineering Automation Report

“Nothing comes close to the authoritative and comprehensive nature of this annually-updated report. It has something for everybody and I highly recommend it.”
Jeffrey Rowe, MCADCafe.com

“The report was priceless in developing our business plan.”
Jason Epstein, Ionic Models

“I use it as a reference for any and all rapid prototyping questions I get that I cannot answer on my own. It is the most resourceful and complete publication we had ever seen.”
Kristopher Matson, St. Louis Community College

“I was in the market for a new machine for rapid prototyping and bought the report as an insurance policy. It definitely paid off.”
Kurt Blankemeyer, GTO

“The report offers the most up-to-date information that is available to us and it continues to improve each year.”
Ranji Vaidyanathan, Advanced Ceramics Research, Inc.

“It’s a great, concise report that covers the globe. I don’t know of any other document that is as complete.”
Tom Greaves, New Directions Consulting

“You are providing a valuable service to the industry.”
Brent Ragsdale, Hallmark

“As always, you have done a spectacular job collecting information from around the world on our ever-changing industry. I commend you on the depth and breadth of your labors.”
Marina Hatsopoulos, founder of Z Corp.

“Very easy to read. It gave me just what I was looking for.”
Douglas Freitag, Bayside Materials Technology

“Whether one is thinking of purchasing a prototyping device, checking into the sales of a particular company for investment purposes, or just desiring more information, Wohlers’ report delivers at every level.”
Joe Greco, Desktop Engineering Magazine

“It is comprehensive, well organized, and well written. We will be pouring over the details for some time to come.”
Mike Rynerson, Ex One Corp.

“The report gave me the best and most concise view of the industry.”
Reagan Hogerty, Jordan Industries, Inc.

“The report has helped our company immensely in selling rapid prototyping and tooling internally to our design, manufacturing, and management staff.”
Glenn Anderson, Southco Inc.

“The section on rapid tooling is particularly interesting. Wohlers systematically looks at all the competing technologies on the market today and provides detailed information on how to best apply each of them.”
Engineering Automation Report

“I wonder if the industry knows how fortunate it is to have this mirror? Few industries of this size and complexity have access to this level of data.”
Ed Grenda, Castle Island Company

“The report has become a virtual “Bible” of rapid prototyping … comprehensive and well organized … and is highly recommended.”
David Cohn, Engineering Automation Report

“I’ve just finished reading through the report and I have to say I’m impressed with the shear quantity of information it contains. It has become the bible to those looking at rapid prototyping and related technologies.”
Al Dean, MCAD Magazine and the CADserver (England)

Learn more about ASTM and AM CoE

ASTM unites with the Wohlers brand to build on its market influence and access to top AM industry decision-makers worldwide.

  • Establish standards, certification, and qualification for repeatable, consistent parts and processes
  • Prevent gaps and duplication of work in a dynamic, fast-paced technology space
  • Identify challenges that can be solved with technological improvement

Research and Development

Under the leadership of the R&D team, the AM CoE partners plan and conduct coordinated R&D projects, prioritized annually and targeted to expedite...

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Education and Workforce Development

Provide a comprehensive program that educates and trains the additive manufacturing workforce at all levels, while continually incorporating new advances...

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