According to IDTechEx’s Research, direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) remains the dominant printer technology by total installed base at the close of 2016 with an 84% market share; the remainder of the market is fragmented across the other 4 major technology types.

Hype-free analysis of the latest technologies to hit the market and their growth potential is included in the report.

In recent years, printer sales have enjoyed exponential growth rates; this is set to continue as new technologies at lower price points hit the market. In the long term, material revenues will grow at a significantly faster rate than for printers.

This report shares insights into established metal 3D printer technologies, including direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), electron beam melting (EBM), directed energy deposition (DED) and binder jetting. Key technological capabilities, applicable markets, SWOT analyses and key manufacturers are discussed for each established printer type.

In addition, this report cuts through the marketing hype to offer a direct comparison of the technical specifications of new printers to be unveiled in 2017 to those which have already been commercialised by market incumbents.

Readers of this report will gain a comprehensive view of the technologies, applications and markets of metal 3D printing. IDTechEx conducted exhaustive primary research with companies positioned throughout the entire 3D printing value chain for key insights into the trends impacting growth to 2028.