3D Printing Industry Outlook in 2025

With the economic recovery and technological progress, the 3D printing industry will usher in new opportunities in 2025. Although the market fluctuates in 2024, the growth of low-cost printers and the increase in demand for metal printing. This article will introduce the current status of the 3D printing industry and what new development opportunities there will be in 2025.

CONTEXT's latest report on the 3D printing market

According to the latest report from market intelligence company CONTEXT, the outlook for the additive manufacturing market in 2025 is optimistic, especially in the field of industrial 3D printers. Although shipments of mid-range ($20,000 to $100,000) and professional ($2,500 to $20,000) 3D printers declined in the first half of 2024, down 10% and 28% respectively, and industrial 3D printer sales also fell 15%, CONTEXT expects that as global inflation continues to cool and interest rates fall, shipments of different types of 3D printers will rebound overall in 2025, especially demand for metal 3D printers will be driven by the Chinese market, and sales in the industrial market are expected to return to 2021 levels.

Despite the challenges faced by high-cost printers, low-cost 3D printers achieved significant growth in 2024, with shipments of entry-level printers priced below $2,500 increasing by 41%. CONTEXT predicts that low-cost 3D printers will continue to achieve double-digit growth in 2025, while the high-end market is also expected to recover after interest rates fall and financing conditions improve. In particular, the application of metal 3D printers in industries such as aerospace, automotive and medical is increasing, which has promoted the application of additive manufacturing in mass production. The compound annual growth rate of industrial 3D printers is expected to reach 19% in the next few years. Overall, although the industry faces certain challenges, the long-term prospects of the additive manufacturing market remain positive as the global economic environment improves.

Forecast for the 3D printing industry in 2025

Transformation to service providers: As customer needs change, traditional 3D printing manufacturers will gradually transform into "service-oriented enterprises" that provide solutions, not just limited to the supply of equipment and materials. This transformation means that 3D printing companies will not only sell equipment, but will also participate in the entire process from design to production, providing technical support and customized services. This full range of services will help companies stand out in the fiercely competitive market, especially standardized service solutions for different industry applications, which will become the key to occupying the market.

Entering life: 3D printing technology is gradually entering daily life, and the application scenarios are gradually diversifying. Nowadays, with the increasingly simplified operation of desktop printers, the online sharing of a large number of ready-made models, and the increasing variety of materials, more and more ordinary families may choose to buy a 3D printer, and everyone is a maker. At the same time, with the development of 3D printing technology, the rise of a new generation of designers will also bring more innovation to this technology. In the future, there will be more stories and industry linkages related to 3D printing that will be known.

Combination of artificial intelligence and 3D printing: Artificial intelligence will be more deeply integrated with 3D printing technology in 2025, improving efficiency, improving quality and simplifying operations. AI can optimize the design and printing process through intelligent data processing and algorithm optimization, including automatic modeling, dynamic adjustment of printing parameters, real-time quality monitoring, intelligent defect repair, etc. The application of AI will greatly reduce the design threshold. Users can generate printable models through simple text or pictures, making the transformation from creativity to physical objects easier and more efficient.

Optimization direction of 3D printing in 2025

Filament recycling and reusable spools: More efficient filament recycling technology is needed to convert waste materials into usable resources and promote filament companies to adopt reusable spools to reduce waste and reduce costs.

Availability of replacement parts: Printer manufacturers should simplify part design and ensure that replacement parts are more easily accessible, thereby simplifying equipment maintenance and repair.

Software upgrades: More general slicing software is needed to prevent users from being locked into a specific ecosystem, provide more flexibility and functionality, and meet a wider range of needs.

Improving printing speed and engineering performance: Future printers will move towards faster and more efficient directions, such as adding higher temperature hot ends and heated build chambers to enhance the ability of rapid prototyping, even in the consumer market.

Open source software and innovation: Open source software, such as Clipper, will continue to drive the advancement of 3D printing technology and promote innovation in hardware and software, and more community-driven technical improvements may appear in the future.

Multi-color and multi-material printing: Although multi-color printing and multi-material systems are currently mainly used in the prototype stage, as the technology matures, more cost-effective consumer-level multi-material printers may be launched in the next few years.

Accessibility and the popularity of cloud platforms: Cloud-based design platforms (such as Onshape and Bamboo Lab) will make the design and monitoring of 3D printing more convenient, but data storage and reliance on cloud services may bring some concerns.

As an online 3D printing service provider, JLC3DP will continue to provide customers with one-stop mechanical manufacturing services in 2025 and promote the application of additive manufacturing in more industries.