The market for additive manufacturing is clearly showing its potential, as new trends have emerged in recent years. Because additive manufacturing is a rapidly evolving technology, it can be viewed as a constant source of new trends, developments, and opportunities. CECIMO (the European Association of Machine Tool Industries & Related Manufacturing Technologies) conducted a survey about the most significant trends in additive manufacturing within Europe this year. This survey is six months long and aims to help the industries identify major business opportunities. The assessment of companies in the additive industry will help to accomplish this. CECIMO has partnered with VDMA (German Engineering Federation) to collect as many data as possible. This association also represents AM companies in Germany.
The report on European trends is split into two parts. First, it presents the combined results of the CECIMO survey and the VDMA survey. For information, the first asks about what the sector is expected to develop; the latter provides details about how it has developed. The data in the second section only includes data from countries that have used the CECIMO survey. Both parts cover topics like trends in general, but also provide data such as statistics on material and machine, investments, exports, or customers from other industries, such as aerospace or automotive.
The expectations of domestic market growth have increased compared to the spring 2022 survey (Image: CECIMO).
The AM Sector in Europe is experiencing exciting developments
CECIMO differentiates the trends between the domestic market and the foreign market. If we look at the respective domestic market, according to the survey carried out, it is noticeable that a slight increase in the market growth of the domestic market is expected by around 50% of the respondents, whereas just 6% of respondents expect a decline – this has also decreased compared to the last survey carried out. The outlook for the growth of the domestic marketplace has become more optimistic. Similarly, if we look at the foreign market according to the survey, this year’s results show that especially in contrast to the last survey conducted, respondents have a more positive outlook on the growth of the AM market. 47% believe that orders and exports from overseas will rise in the next six-months. 47% predict that foreign orders will continue to increase, while 6% of respondents expect an increase in foreign market. CECIMO summarizes this as an indicator of stronger foreign demand in Europe and an ever-increasing optimism at additive manufacturing companies.
When asked how the respondents assess the order situation in their own market in the next six months – especially in comparison with the previous six months – optimism is evident, indicated by the fact that the percentage expectations in all AM categories (products/manufacturing parts, machines, materials and services) are higher than before. CECIMO’s survey shows that AM products and the manufacturing parts category will see the most growth. Full 52% expect growth and 1% see a decline. This is especially encouraging considering that the Spring 2022 survey found 16% of respondents expected growth. The remaining 36% anticipate the same results. This may not surprise many, but AM machinery is the second best category. This has increased significantly after a slight decrease in spring 2022. This also shows that only 1% expects a drop in incoming order. This is good news for AM machine manufacturers.
The survey respondents found the AM machine category to be extremely promising. (Photo credit: CECIMO).
AM Industry Expects a Boost in Investments
If we compare this year’s survey on additive manufacturing trends in Europe, more companies stated that they expect an increase in future investments (36%), but also more companies think that a decrease will happen (9%). CECIMO, however, is optimistic. It says that this positive investment trend will likely continue, particularly considering the strength of the additive market and its past growth. CECIMO also asked for opinions about future exports. It can be summarized as follows: More foreign/export orders will be expected. This trend mirrors the outlook for the domestic market. The percentage of respondents who are not positive about it is lower than those who expect an increase. With a positive balance at 59%, AM service providers will see the greatest growth in orders.
The survey asked respondents to rate the order numbers and trends in Europe for materials. Comparing the spring 2022 survey, we see strong growth but with different trends. Composite materials trade experiences a slight decrease in order predictions. Metals are second with 60%, while only 1% expect a negative drop in orders over the next six months. The consensus is that ceramics will continue to grow as an AM material. This is compared to the 12% who gave a different forecast in the previous survey.
Only 1% of those working in the metals and materials industry expect a decrease (Image: CECIMO).
The order intake by customer segment is also discussed in CECIMO’s report on trends in AM in Europe. In summary, it can be said that the percentage balance in the aerospace, mechanical engineering and chemicals & pharmaceuticals sectors has improved strongly and the respondents expect better business in this area. The aerospace sector is particularly noteworthy, with a positive percentage that rose from 7% up to 37%. This represents the highest measured value since the survey began. The automotive sector has seen a decrease in positive growth from 41% up to 28%, but respondents aren’t as optimistic. Although the sector still has high order expectations, subjects are less optimistic than ever about this sector. CECIMO points out that the supply side is facing increasing challenges. This sector may finally be able to show a positive expectation value after the latest survey on AM orders from pharmaceutical and chemical sectors. This encouraging result is however overshadowed though by the fact that the expectation for additive manufacturing orders remains below 2020 and 2021 levels.
This report and the opinions of individual respondents regarding AM trends in Europe can be viewed as positives, especially when compared to previous surveys. Click HERE to find out more about AM trends.
What do you think about these trends? Which would you choose? Let us know in a comment below or on our LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here, the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.
*Cover photo credits: CECIMO