How Is 3D Printing Construction Market Growing with Improving Building Materials?

Factors such as the surging environmental concerns regarding the waste generated by the construction sector, mounting investments being made in renewable energy infrastructure, and rising focus on reducing the accident rate and health and safety risks will drive the 3D printing construction market growth during the forecast period (2021–2030). According to P&S Intelligence, the market revenue reached ~$15 million in 2020. Additionally, the presence of numerous possibilities for architectural flexibility and customization using this technology will supplement the market growth.

The increasing environmental concerns attributed to the waste generated during construction are one of the strongest drivers for the market. For instance, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the construction sector of the U.S. generated around 600 million tons of debris in 2018. The waste can be minimized by the deployment of the 3D printing technology as it only utilizes the material required for printing the structure. As the materials used in 3D printers are lighter than conventional building materials, their transportation requires lesser energy.

In recent years, the introduction of improved construction materials and methods has become a major trend in the 3D printing construction market. Sand 3D printing and metal technologies and robotic arm extruders are the new methods being deployed in the construction sector. The deployment of these technologies helps in creating unusual and complex shapes and designs. For example, in May 2021, Forward AM, the additive manufacturing arm of BASF SE, and BigRep introduced the Concrete Formwork, a 3D printing material for architecture and construction purposes.

Geographically, Asia-Pacific (APAC) held the largest share in the 3D printing construction market in 2020 due to the soaring number of buildings being constructed using this technology and surging research and development (R&D) activities in the region. Additionally, the strong presence of a large number of construction companies will supplement the market growth in the region, as the building and infrastructure industries are the primary users of materials that can be used for 3D-printied construction here.

Thus, the mounting concerns regarding the waste produced during construction activities and the increasing availability of 3D printing building materials and new printing methods will catalyze the market growth.

Read More

Why Is North America Leading 3D Printing High-Performance Plastics Market?

Factors such as the escalating demand for mass customization of products and increasing applications of 3D printing technology in the automotive, defense, aerospace, and aviation industries will facilitate the 3D printing high-performance plastics market growth during the forecast period (2021–2030). According to P&S Intelligence, the market revenue reached around $73.5 million in 2020. In recent years, increasing shift of manufacturers from traditional production methods to 3D printing, due to the zero-material wastage, more customizability, and cost-effectiveness offered by this technology, has become a major market trend.

One of the key catalysts for the market growth is the widening application base of 3D printing high-performance plastics in the aerospace industry. The rising production of aircraft components, primarily on account of the mushrooming demand for aircraft to ferry more cargo and passengers. 3D printing technology is an effective method of producing aircraft parts, as it uses filaments, which help in reducing the weight of the manufactured products. Furthermore, the usage of filaments also assists in enhancing strength and designing and creating complex structures for aircraft components. 

Currently, players operating in the 3D printing high-performance plastics market are engaging in partnerships to gain a significant position. For instance, in March 2021, Stratasys Ltd. partnered with Xometry to offer a wide range of high-performance nylon materials to end users. With this partnership, the customer base of Xometry, which includes Fortune 100 companies and startups, got access to the selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printing technology of Stratasys Ltd. Other companies focusing on improving their presence through partnerships include Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems, Solvay, and Victrex plc.

Geographically, North America held the largest share in the 3D printing high-performance plastics market in 2020, and it is expected to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period as well. This can be ascribed to the increasing investments being made in the research and development (R&D) of 3D printing materials, on account of the escalating focus on technological advancements. Moreover, the expanding manufacturing base of the robotics, aerospace, medical prostheses, and automobile industries in the region will also catalyze the market growth in the forthcoming years. 

Thus, the increasing demand for aircraft and automobiles will supplement the market growth in the foreseeable future.

Read More