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The new age of 3d printing

Additive manufacturing has moved into full-scale production. With the global market set to surpass $88 billion by 2030, this layer-by-layer method reshapes how engineers build everything from aerospace parts to medical devices. Advanced materials, faster print speeds and new design capabilities enable lighter, smarter, more efficient systems.

Metal machine part

Metals used for strength-critical applications that require heat resistance, durability, and precision.

Material

Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) and Electron Beam Melting (EBM) are commonly used to process these metals. These technologies build up parts layer-by-layer from fine metal powders using a high-energy laser or electron beam.

Application

Aerospace

These are ideal for aerospace applications where reducing weight and consolidating parts is crucial. Designs can be streamlined enabling complex geometries that improve thermal management and reduce assembly steps, ultimately improving performance and fuel efficiency.

Polymer set of teeth

Polymers used for lightweight, chemically resistant parts with good mechanical strength and thermal stability.

Material

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) are most commonly used. FDM extrudes thermoplastic filaments layer-by-layer, while SLS uses a laser to fuse powdered polymers without support structures, allowing more complex geometries to be printed.

Application

Automotive & Medical

Carbon-reinforced nylon is widely used for under-the-hood brackets and cable mounts that require strength and heat resistance. In the medical field, biocompatible SLA or DLP-printed polymers are used to create anatomical models, surgical guides, and dental prosthetics.

Ceramic structure

Ceramics used for high-temperature, electrically insulating, and wear-resistance.

Material

Stereolithography with ceramic-loaded resins and binder jetting are used for producing green parts that are later sintered into ceramic components. These technologies allow the production of complex ceramic geometries with high dimensional accuracy.

Application

Electronics & Energy

Printed ceramic parts are used for thermal insulation in power electronics, fuel cell components, and heat exchangers in high-temperature environments. The ability to print intricate designs improves heat dissipation and reduces assembly complexity.

Composite drone

Composites used for structural parts that require high stiffness-to-weight ratios and environmental resistance.

Material

Composite robotic printing and Continuous Filament Fabrication (CFF) integrate long-strand fiber reinforcements during the additive process. These techniques align fibers along stress paths, creating strong and lightweight parts.

Application

Aerospace &
Industrial Robotics

Applications include drone chassis, UAV airframes, and robotic arms. These parts often replace aluminum structures, lowering their weight while maintaining strength and increasing flight time, payload capacity, and motion efficiency.

Product made with functional inks

Functional inks used to print electronics, circuits, sensors, or even energy storage directly onto or within parts.

Material

Material Jetting (MJ) and Aerosol Jet Printing (AJP) precisely deposit conductive or active inks layer-by-layer, often on curved or flexible surfaces.

Application

Wearables & Embedded Systems

Functional inks are used to embed capacitive touch sensors, antennas, or RFID tags into wearable devices and smart packages. This enables flexible form factors and eliminates the need for separate circuit boards and streamlines production.

Metals used for strength-critical applications that require heat resistance, durability, and precision.

Metal machine part

Material

Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) and Electron Beam Melting (EBM) are commonly used to process these metals. These technologies build up parts layer-by-layer from fine metal powders using a high-energy laser or electron beam.

Application: Aerospace

These are ideal for aerospace applications where reducing weight and consolidating parts is crucial. Designs can be streamlined enabling complex geometries that improve thermal management and reduce assembly steps, ultimately improving performance and fuel efficiency.

Polymers used for lightweight, chemically resistant parts with good mechanical strength and thermal stability.

Polymer set of teeth

Material

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) are most commonly used. FDM extrudes thermoplastic filaments layer-by-layer, while SLS uses a laser to fuse powdered polymers without support structures, allowing more complex geometries tobe printed.

Application: Automotive & Medical

Carbon-reinforced nylon is widely used for under-the-hood brackets and cable mounts that require strength and heat resistance. In the medical field, biocompatible SLA or DLP-printed polymers are used to create anatomical models, surgical guides, and dental prosthetics.

Ceramics used for high-temperature, electrically insulating, and wear-resistance.

Ceramic structure

Material

Stereolithography with ceramic-loaded resins and binder jetting are used for producing green parts that are later sintered into ceramic components. These technologies allow the production of complex ceramic geometries with high dimensional accuracy.

Application: Electronics & Energy

Printed ceramic parts are used for thermal insulation in power electronics, fuel cell components, and heat exchangers in high-temperature environments. The ability to print intricate designs improves heat dissipation and reduces assembly complexity.

Composites used for structural parts that require high stiffness-to-weight ratios and environmental resistance.

Composite drone

Material

Composite robotic printing and Continuous Filament Fabrication (CFF) integrate long-strand fiber reinforcements during the additive process. These techniques align fibers along stress paths, creating strong and lightweight parts.

Application: Aerospace & Industrial Robotics

Applications include drone chassis, UAV airframes, and robotic arms. These parts often replace aluminum structures, lowering their weight while maintaining strength and increasing flight time, payload capacity, and motion efficiency.

Functional inks used to print electronics, circuits, sensors, or even energy storage directly onto or within parts.

Product made with functional inks

Material

Material Jetting (MJ) and Aerosol Jet Printing (AJP) precisely deposit conductive or active inks layer-by-layer, often on curved or flexible surfaces.

Application: Wearables & Embedded Systems

Functional inks are used to embed capacitive touch sensors, antennas, or RFID tags into wearable devices and smart packages. This enables flexible form factors and eliminates the need for separate circuit boards and streamlines production.

From lab to launch

By enabling complex geometries, cutting waste, and removing the need for tooling or warehousing, Additive manufacturing empowers engineers to act faster, optimize performance, and solve persistent challenges such as part obsolescence and supply chain disruption, by enabling complex warehousing. It's a smarter, more sustainable path to engineering innovation.

2030

$88.4B

The industry is projected to grow from $20.4B in 2023 to $88.4B worldwide

2030

$43.2B

The industrial sector is projected to accelerate from $9.7B in 2023 to $43.2B by 2030 with China leading global growth

CAGR

28.2%

Metal-based additive manufacturing materials are projected to grow at a rate double that of polymers

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