Wohlers Associates Publishes 2013 Report on Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing, Reveals Trends

U.S. leads the world with the largest installed base of additive manufacturing users, international competition gaining

FORT COLLINS, COLORADO, USA, May 21, 2013—Wohlers Associates, Inc. today announced the release of the Wohlers Report 2013, the company’s annual in-depth analysis of additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing worldwide. The report reveals trends that suggest the U.S. may be losing its competitive advantage in the AM industry.

Wohlers Report 2013 covers all aspects of additive manufacturing, including its history, applications, processes, manufacturers, and materials. It documents important developments from the past 18 months, covers R&D and collaboration activities in government, academia, and industry, and summarizes the state of the industry in countries around the world. This edition marks the report’s 18th consecutive year of publication.

According to the new report, 38% of all industrial AM installations are in the U.S. Japan is second with 9.7%, followed by Germany with 9.4%, and China with 8.7%. Sixteen companies in Europe, seven in China, five in the U.S., and two in Japan now manufacture and sell professional-grade, industrial additive manufacturing systems. “This is a dramatic change from a decade ago, when the mix was ten in the U.S., seven in Europe, seven in Japan, and three in China,” said Tim Caffrey, a principal author of the new report and associate consultant at Wohlers Associates.

To maintain a competitive advantage, the White House launched the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute (NAMII) last year with the support of several agencies, including the Department of Defense. This initiative seeks to accelerate the position of the U.S. in the development and use of AM technology. “It will not be easy, given what organizations in China and other regions of the world have planned,” explained Terry Wohlers, a principal author of the report and president of Wohlers Associates. China, Singapore, South Africa, and many countries in Europe have committed hundreds of millions of dollars in AM development and commercialization over the next few years.

Wohlers Associates’ advice to key leaders in the U.S. is to focus on the big picture with big goals, such as the development of metal-based powder bed fusion systems and other advanced AM system technology. Market forces and competitive pressures will take care of the smaller challenges and incremental technology improvements.

According to Wohlers Report 2013, revenues from all additive manufacturing products and services worldwide were $2.204 billion in 2012. This is up 28.6% (CAGR) from 2011. An estimated 28.3% of the $2.204 billion is tied to the production of parts for final products, rather than models, prototypes, patterns, and other types of parts.

About Wohlers Associates: Wohlers Associates is an independent consulting firm that provides technical, marketing, and strategic advice on the new developments and trends in rapid product development and additive manufacturing. For more information, visit wohlersassociates.com.

About Wohlers Report 2013: The 297-page annual study is packed with up-to-date and practical information. It includes 35 charts and graphs, 55 tables, and more than 200 photographs and illustrations. The report, which sells for US$495, was created with support from 74 service providers, 31 system manufacturers, and the valuable contributions of 70 co-authors from around the world. 
                                            

Report Development Team
The following individuals and organizations contributed to Wohlers Report 2013
and served as important sources for information.