Global 3D Printing Post Processing Market Size (2023 - 2030)

As per our research report, the global 3D Printing Post Processing Market size is valued at USD 2.1 Bn in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 5.2 Bn by 2030. This market is witnessing a healthy CAGR of 20% from 2023 - 2030. Ongoing technological advancements in 3D printing post--processing technologies, ease in development of customized products, and substantial investments by governments in 3D technologies are majorly driving the growth of the industry.

3D printing post-processing refers to the process that enhances a 3D printed object. Almost all 3D-printed objects require some degree of the post--processing treatmentas there are some excess extensions and loose edges when the object comes out from the 3D printer. With the help of different tools and techniques, the overall strength and aesthetic of the object can be improved. However, post-processing requires plenty of time as the product must undergo a series of cleaning and pep to look appealing. There are many different posts--processing techniques in 3D prints that can be used to achieve different results.

To automate the process, different companies are developing post-processing equipment.For instance, DyeMansion focuses mainly on post-processing machinery. Carbon and FormLabs are 3D printer makers that include after-treatment devices in their printing setups. Aerospace companies are using 3D printing technology for manufacturing various hardware parts. For instance, Boeing leverages industrial 3D printing to manufacture the inferior parts of its plane, and NASA uses it to build rocket engines and satellite parts. The rise in the utilization of 3D printing in various industries and improved manufacturing processes are expected to provide lucrative opportunities for the growth of the industry. The 3D printing technology is set to transform almost every major industry with the surge in the adoption of smart infrastructure solutions across the healthcare, automotive, and retail sectors which are expected to drive the market growth.

MARKET DRIVERS

Ease in development of customized products
Ongoing technological advancements in 3D printing post-processing technologies and availability of materials have increased the adoption of print-on-demand parts for the production of customized functional parts according to individual needs and requirements.

Substantial investments bythe Government
Many countries are experiencing massive digital disruptions in advanced manufacturing technologies. In 2018, the United States Department of Defense included 3D technology as an important capability in the 2018 budget. Governments are focusing on making a substantial investment in this technology. For instance, in 2017, the government of Canada granted a fund of USD 8.9 million to the University of Waterloo to develop a 3D lab to accelerate the additive manufacturing processes. This shows the United States as a potential user of 3D technology. The government of Korea is introducing tax incentives along with accelerating industry regulatory agreements to encourage the adoption of 3D printing technology. Germany has a well-established industry 4.0 infrastructure and, is expected to define new strategies for 3D technology. Such government initiatives are likely to propel market growth during the forecast period.

MARKET RESTRAINTS

High cost of post-processing
Post-processing is expensive especially when done by hand. Manual post-processing is unsustainable in large series production. It is also labor-intensive and not scalable. The cost of post-processing is almost one-third of the production cost of a 3D-printed model. According to 2018 Wohler’s research, the post-production costs, including the expense of part breakage, account for 27% of the total costs of making a 3D print model. However, the task of finishing 3D printed parts can be automated due to the recent development of various post-processing systems and, as a result, will drive down costs.

Restricted accessibility and significant expense of materials
A more noteworthy scope of unrefined substances is accessible for conventional assembling than that accessible for the 3D printing-based assembling processes. Item producing utilizing 3D printing innovation is a costly interaction because of the great material expenses, which is a significant limitation to the market. However, the innovation is a significant cycle leap forward, the materials that can be utilized are as yet restricted. Likewise, the precision and reproducibility of the items shaped by 3D printing are hampered because of the absence of legitimate principles concerning the mechanical properties of the materials utilized.

The threat of copyright encroachment
3D printers are probably going to turn out to be exceptionally normal with the rising utilization of this innovation, alongside the expiry of licenses. Organizations have proactively begun transferring their records on sites for clients to pick up their items, trailed by transportation them to the clients. Inferable from such expanded use, clients might expect a more serious level of customization for the items they buy. The ascent in shopper reception might prompt an expansion in 3D robbery, i.e., the capacity of clients to fabricate the items without anyone else as opposed to getting them from providers

Market Segmentation

3D Printing Post Processing Market - By Technology:

• Cleaning
  • FDM and Material Jetting
  • SLS and Powder Bed Fusion
  • SLA and Photopolymerization 
  • Electron Beam Melting (EBM)

• Fixing
  • Filling
  • Gluing and Welding
     
• Curing and Hardening
• Surface Finishin
  • Sanding
  • Vapour and Chemical Smoothing
• Painting and Electroplating
• Hydro graphics
• Others

Based on the technology, Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology registered the maximum share in 2022 owing to the ease of operation and advantages associated with the technology. This technology is used in making durable, strong, and dimensionally stable parts.

Stereolithography (SLA) is likely to have a growing demand in the dental and consumer goods industry.Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period owing to its wide variety of vertical applications, including, aerospace, automotive, defense, and others.

3D Printing Post Processing Market – By Component:

• 3D Printers
• 3D Printing Software
• Services
• 3D Printing Services
  • Consulting Services
  • Support Services            

Based on the components, the adoption of hardware for the manufacturing of 3D printed material registered maximum share and is anticipated to maintain its dominance during the forecast period as the key players are enhancing their product portfolio and launching new technologies to meet the demand from several industry verticals. 
Software developments are gaining pace in the 3D industry due to increased demand to streamline 3D operations. Extensive use of 3D technology in the manufacturing process has surged the need for software to increase production volumes and enhance additive manufacturing processes efficiently.

3D Printing Post Processing Market - By Application:

• Prototyping
• Tooling
• Functional Part Manufacturing

Based on the application, the prototyping segment registered the largest market share in 2022 due to a widespread acceptance of the prototyping process across various vertical industries. Prototyping helps businesses to produce consistent end products and achieve greater precision. 

3D Printing Post Processing Market - By End-User Industry:

• Aviation
• Architecture & Construction
• Consumer Goods
• Healthcare
• Bioprinting
• Food Industry
• Education
• Automotive
• Printed Electronics
• Others

The Automotive industry is the fastest-growing vertical of the 3D printing market and held a maximum share in 2022. The automotive industry has shifted from the use of 3D printing for prototyping applications to the manufacturing of final products and components. The technology is used for the construction of lightweight automobile components and OEMs. The demand for better-performing vehicles, customization of automotive interior, and the need to optimize production and streamline supply chain and logistics are propelling the growth of the market.

The Aviation segment is expected to have significant growth in the 3D printing market during the forecast period as it helps to lessen supply chain constraints, reduce wastage of materials, and requires minimum warehouse space. Rapid production of aircraft parts on-demand using 3D printing helps aircraft manufacturing companies save time and money. 

3D Printing Post Processing Market - By Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• Latin America
• The Middle East and Africa

Geographically, theNorth American 3-D printing post-processing market,accounted for the maximum market share and remains a significant participant in the global 3D printing industry as the major institutions and government organizations are intensely putting resources into the technology, which is expected to expand the market growth. North America is at the forefront in terms of the development of 3D printing, including the presence of additive manufacturing companies,engineering firms, and service bureaus, various key players involved in R & D activities across different verticals, and increasing investment in 3D printing start-up. All such factors are providing an opportunity for market growth over the forecast period.
The European 3d printing post-processing market holds the second-highest 3d printing post-processing market share in the global market. This is attributed to the increasing demand for this technology among small and medium-sized industries that require high-speed, reliable, and inexpensive prototypes for manufacturing purposes. The regional market is anticipating strong growth in the adoption of 3d-technology in the manufacturing and semiconductors industries. 

The 3d printing post-processing market in the Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is attributed to increasing interest in the development of a sustainable 3d printing environment by manufacturers, implementation of several policies, and legislative proposals by governments. China is possibly the main force behind adopting 3d technologies in Asia due to massive government funding for the industry which is expected to boost the market growth.

The Latin American 3d printing post-processing market is projected to showcase high growth during the forecast period owing to technological advancements and improvements in the manufacturing industry. 
The 3d printing post-processing markets in the middle east and Africa is expected to grow in the coming years. The middle east is anticipated to witness rapid adoption of 3D technologies due to technological advancements and improvements in the manufacturing industry. 

Major Key Players in The Market
Companies playing a pivotal role in the 3D Printing Post Processing Market are:

•    3D Systems Corp.
•    Arcam AB
•    Stratasys Ltd.
•    Autodesk Inc.
•    Optomec, Inc.
•    Organovo Holdings, Inc.
•    Protolabs
•    Voxelijet AG
•    Hoganas AB
•    ExOne Company
•    GE Additive
•    EOS GmbH
•    Materialize

NOTABLE HAPPENINGS IN THE GLOBAL TELEMEDICINE MARKET IN THE RECENT PAST

Joint Venture- In May 2022, GE Additive banded together with Protolabs and style planner Zac Posen to develop four outfits and a hood for appearing at the Met Gala. Electron-shaft liquefying (EBM), Multi Jet Fusion (MJF), and stereolithography (SLA) innovation were utilized across the things to satisfy the plan necessities of wearable garments.
Product Launch- In March 2022, Stratasys sent off a 3D printer that empowers dental labs' 3D printing proficiency matched with the organization's poly jet authenticity and accuracy innovation. The J5 DentaJet 3D printer is a multi-material dental 3D printer that permits professionals to stack blended plates of dental parts. The new 3D printer consumes just 4.6 sq. ft (0.43 sq. m) of floor space and can deliver something like multiple times more dental parts on a solitary blended plate than cutthroat 3D printers.
Joint Venture- In March 2022, Renishaw worked together with Domin, a maker of water-powered frameworks and direct drive servo valves, to foster a superior execution servo valve. Under this coordinated effort, Domin has expanded its efficiency and diminished cost per part by utilizing Renishaw's RenAM 500Q, a four-laser AM framework that is intended for sequential creation applications.
Product Launch-In November 2022, Materialize presented VR capacities for its 3D displaying stage. The Mimics VR watcher permits clinicians to 3D print physical models, bringing about creating intuitive models for schooling and preparation, patient commitment, doctor correspondence, and life structures representation.

COVID-19 Impact on 3D Printing Post Processing Market
The outbreak of COVID-19 has significantly impacted the growth of the 3D printing post-processing market by affecting prime players operating in the 3D printing supply chain. The market faced several obstacles amid the COVID-19 pandemic such as delays in projects and a lack of skilled workforce availability due to complete lockdown. The pandemic restricted several businesses across various verticals and forced market players across the globe to reduce their operational expenditure. The investments of market players in new 3D technologies are likely to be restricted due to fewer operation expenditures. Imports and exports limitations in major economies like China, Southeast Asia, the UK, Germany, and others barred manufacturing facilities across North America and Europe during the pandemic which created a significant fluctuation in overhead costs and the overall quality of the product. Production plants of the 3D technology industry and operations of suppliers were affected resulting in short-term supply shortages. The short-term disruptions in supply shortages have resulted in logistics challenges and delays in delivering services to end-user. However, manufacturers in the United States plan to change their supply chains in response to the pandemic. The increasing investments of manufacturers in 3D technologies are likely to drive market growth in the forthcoming years.