BOSTON, July 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 3D printing of
fiber-reinforced polymers is rapidly approaching a commercial
tipping point. This is quickly becoming one of the most exciting
and impactful areas of 3D printing; over the next decade the market
will grow to $2 billion, the
installed base and applications will expand, and technology will
continue to mature. This growth will not be without challenges;
there are barriers to adoption to be overcome in multiple sectors,
supply chains & digital infrastructures to be established, and
an inevitable consolidation in the number of manufacturers.
The reason for the interest in this sector is easily apparent.
3D printing of polymer materials can have mechanical limitations
that benefit from fiber reinforcement (or other functionalities),
and composite manufacturing is known to be costly, and challenging
this can benefit from the moldless, rapid prototyping, and
automated approach that additive manufacturing enables.
In their latest market report "3D Printing Composites 2021-2031:
Technology and Market Analysis", IDTechEx provides a comprehensive
view of the 3D printing market for composite material including
granular 10-year forecasts, material and printer benchmarking
studies, application case studies, and interview-based company
profiles.
There are numerous approaches to 3D printing composite material,
with key considerations around the material (continuous fiber vs
chopped fibers; thermoplastic vs thermoset) and the printer
properties that make it appropriate for an industrial organization
or a desktop device for prosumers or hobbyists. The most mature
technology is 3D printing of thermoplastic composites using
variations on fused filament fabrication (FFF). There are numerous
emerging technology developments, from those achieving chopped
fiber alignments in a photopolymer, high-throughput, multi-axis
printers, larger scales, increasing the fiber content, thermoset
dispensing, multi-material capabilities, and more. These
developments are detailed throughout the market report.
This must also be compared against the incumbent technology and
broader developments taking place in the automated manufacturing of
composite materials. From AFP & ATL processes through to
pick-and-place robots for organosheets, there is much to be aware
of to understand the role that 3D printing can play within this
industry.
Polymer composites overview. Source: IDTechEx report "3D
Printing Composites 2021-2031: Technology and Market
Analysis"
Central to this industry are the materials that are used. These
materials are what dictates the part properties and printer
requirements; they are also a key part of the competitive business
models that are being employed. This market
report provides a comprehensive assessment of the material
providers and a price and properties benchmarking study. Continuous
fiber composites are for many the end goal, with significant value,
but there is a large opportunity in their short counterparts and a
range of thermoplastics and thermoset resins being deployed.
Numerous strategic partnerships are being established between
emerging hardware manufacturers and major chemical companies as
well as activity between these chemical companies, the most notable
being the acquisition of Owens Corning business line by BASF in
2020. There are also companies directly entering this field
launching filaments or other composite material; a prime example is
Braskem's entry into this field with their recycled carbon fiber
reinforced PP.
What are the latest developments?
There are countless news stories over the past few years with
product launches, partnerships, and new companies. Perhaps the most
significant surround the market leaders, Markforged; since late
2020 the company has announced new materials, printers, and
distribution partners, they are planning to go public which will
release considerable funds to facilitate growth and M&A
activity, and are subject of a lawsuit filed by Continuous
Composites for patent infringement. The company has a
well-documented complex history with Desktop Metal who launched its
first entry into 3D printing composites in late 2019 with its Fiber
product.
Most of the activity in this field is centralized in the US, but
it is not exclusively there; in "3D Printing Composites 2021-2031:
Technology and Market Analysis", IDTechEx tracks the technology and
market technology globally with key emerging players emerging
across Europe and Asia in an increasingly competitive
market.
The classic hardware selling model is not the only one being
pursued. Many have developed proprietary technology but instead of
selling equipment, they look to use it in-house and act as a
service provider, contract manufacturer, or even selling products
directly to consumers.
Where are the applications?
The permanent question around any new hardware or material
coming is finding the industry pain points and the applications
where there is a clear value-add. Additive manufacturing is known
to have key advantages but is traditionally held back in factors
such as production rate, available materials portfolio, training
& know-how requirements, scale, and more. In many cases this
has capped the applications to the likes of prototypes and
tooling.
The story for composite printers is not overly different. There
are increasing examples of end-use parts, which will only continue
to increase, but the main area is on the manufacturing floor with
jigs, fixtures, tools, and other equipment. This will progress into
low to medium part runs, particularly with new solutions emerging
and significant interest from high-value sectors such as aerospace
and medical, but the manufacturing floor is still a potentially
very lucrative area and where there is a clear value-add. Composite
printers can not only allow metal parts to be replaced and
facilitate design improvements but give the company the capability
to bring this technology in-house, reducing both supplier costs and
inventory challenges driven by long lead-times for replacement
parts.
What is the market outlook?
IDTechEx forecast the total revenue for 3D printing composites
to reach $2bn by 2031 from much
smaller values in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the
industry which has been a minor setback, but printer usage
recovered fairly quickly, and it has certainly accelerated the
discussion around a robust distributed supply chain which benefits
3D printing.
There is already a reasonable installed base in composite 3D
printers, but obviously much smaller than their polymer
counterparts and set to grow significantly. Existing polymer
printers can often accommodate certain composite material, but
typically at very low loading percentages and with several
limitations. This market report focuses on those
printers designed for FRP materials. This growing installed base
will lead to notable revenues in follow-on sales for materials,
software and services which will quickly overtake hardware
sales.
For more information on this industry including player profiles,
market forecasts, application case studies, and benchmarking
studies see "3D Printing Composites 2021-2031: Technology and
Market Analysis".
For more information on this report, please
visit www.IDTechEx.com/3DComp, or for the full portfolio of 3D
research available from IDTechEx please visit
www.IDTechEx.com/Research/3D.
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