Wohlers Associates helps organizations take advantage of technologies and strategies that enhance the rapid product development and manufacturing process.
Trends... Analysis... Commentary. Commentary. Rapid Prototyping & Tooling State of the Industry Year 2008 Annual Worldwide Progress Report
Charts
Tables
Photographs and Illustrations
Wohlers Report 2008, available as a PDF, provides quantitative and qualitative analysis of additive manufacturing (AM) worldwide. The technology encompasses a wide range of applications, including design review, concept modeling, prototyping, fit and function testing, pattern making, and tooling.
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240-page color PDF includes:
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ISBN 0-9754429-4-5
The technology encompasses a wide range of applications, including design review, concept modeling, prototyping, fit and function testing, pattern making, and tooling. A growing number of companies are using AM to manufacture products—or parts that going into products—that are difficult, impossible, or too expensive to produce any other way. The report covers the growing range of applications and technologies, as well as the challenges that organizations face when trying to understand and make use of this fast-developing technology.
The report was developed with support from 53 co-authors, 58 service providers, 26 system manufacturers, and many others worldwide. To support the review and analysis, the softbound publication includes 31 charts and graphs, 44 tables, 138 photographs and illustrations, and eight appendices. This study, published for 13 consecutive years, has established a tradition of covering all facets of additive manufacturing, including business, product, market, technology, research, and application.
Wohlers Report 2008 addresses many facets of additive manufacturing, including its history, the wide mix of applications, the industries embracing the technology, annual revenues from products and services, growth estimates, sales forecasts, and investor information. It also provides current information on service providers and system manufacturers, as well as cast metal parts, direct metal fabrication, advanced approaches to tooling, and exciting new applications of manufacturing.
The study reports on new developments in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world, documents the growth of CAD solid modeling, follows the advances in the materials used for additive processes, highlights opportunities in medical modeling, and lists applications and technologies for 3D scanning and reverse engineering.
The final parts of the report cover emerging technologies, government-sponsored research and development, and college and university education and research. Wohlers Report 2008 concludes with a discussion on the future of additive manufacturing—where it is headed and what to expect—to assist in strategic planning and investing.
Acknowledgments About the author Focus of this report Introduction to additive fabrication
The following 53 individuals and organizations contributed to Wohlers Report 2008 and served as important sources for information.
The report PDF is for a single user and cannot be placed on a server or any other multi-user device or system. You can order a print/bound copy of the report here. More information for libraries can be found here.
“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 Wohlers Report 2008 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.” 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, CEO, The Contex Group (Denmark)
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“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
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“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
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“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
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“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)
ASTM unites with the Wohlers brand to build on its market influence and access to top AM industry decision-makers worldwide.
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