Key Shifts in 3D Printing Through 2023
Throughout 2023, additive manufacturing navigated a complex landscape shaped by global economic pressures, evolving user demands, and a sharper focus on practical applications. While artificial intelligence captured widespread attention across industries, its role in 3D printing extended beyond established uses in process control and automation. New discussions emerged around AI-driven design tools, highlighting potential efficiencies in model creation.
Market instability was a defining feature of the year. Factors such as the ongoing war in Ukraine, rising energy costs, inflation, and broader economic downturns weighed heavily on technology sectors. The additive manufacturing industry felt these effects directly, with notable workforce reductions at companies including Desktop Metal, Essentium, and Markforged. Financial strain was evident in declining revenues and asset values, alongside compliance challenges with stock exchange listing requirements. Markforged’s public statement regarding its NYSE noncompliance underscored its intent to regain compliance within the six-month cure period, noting possible measures such as a reverse stock split “subject to stockholder approval, if necessary to regain compliance.”
Corporate maneuvering added to the turbulence. The protracted acquisition and merger discussions involving Nano Dimension, Stratasys, Desktop Metal, and 3D Systems dominated headlines before collapsing in September. These events reflected the pressures on publicly traded AM firms, many of which had entered markets via SPAC mergers in 2021–2022 and were now facing investor skepticism.
Despite these headwinds, industry gatherings such as Formnext demonstrated resilience, with increased exhibitor and visitor numbers. Strategic acquisitions, like BigRep’s purchase of HAGE3D, pointed to sustained interest in high-temperature 3D printing capabilities.
A notable shift in 2023 was the pivot from technology-centric discussions toward concrete applications. End-use parts in aerospace, oil and gas, and other critical sectors continued to expand, but prototyping regained prominence. Jabil’s July 2023 survey revealed that 97% of respondents used 3D printing for prototyping, up from 72% in 2021. The report emphasized that “Prototyping continues to be a central application of 3D printing in organizations, with its usage growing rapidly since the previous survey.” Hybrid manufacturing also gained traction, with 3D printed molds enabling faster, more cost-effective production. Duo Form’s David Rheinheimer noted, “The turnaround time for parts, molds, and formed parts has put us leaps and bounds above our competition” following adoption of 3D Systems’ EXT 1270 Titan Pellet printer.
Medical applications advanced significantly, particularly in point-of-care solutions, bioprinting, and prosthetics. The Wohlers Report 2023 identified healthcare as a major growth area, underscoring additive manufacturing’s role in personalized treatment.
Evolving user priorities influenced technology development. Affordability and speed became central considerations, with selective laser sintering (SLS) systems entering lower price ranges. New SLS offerings under $50,000 broadened access to industrial-grade production, while binder jetting maintained momentum for cost-effective ceramic and metal part fabrication.
Bambu Lab emerged as a disruptive force in fused deposition modeling (FDM), delivering high-speed, multi-material printing at comparatively low cost. Its product line, including the A1 bedslinger, attracted strong interest, though operational issues—such as printers initiating jobs unexpectedly—raised security concerns.
Industrialization trends continued, marked by increased adoption of pellet-fed printers and robotic arms. Pellets offer cost advantages due to widespread availability, and robotic arms provide adaptable, multi-process capabilities at lower price points. These systems, often customizable and compatible with diverse materials, are expanding beyond niche applications.
In sum, 2023 underscored the additive manufacturing sector’s adaptability under pressure. Market volatility coexisted with technological progress and expanding applications, setting the stage for further integration of AI, robotics, and advanced materials in the years ahead.
