Intensifying competition is expected to result in lowered prices and increased shipments of 3D printers in the coming years. With products maturing rapidly, and iteratively enhancing technology reducing the gap between objects made using 3D printing and conventional methods, the market is expected to witness growing demand into the future. Here is a competitive analysis of 3D printing manufacturers.
Direct
Stratasys (Ticker: SSYS) – Manufactures 3D printers and production systems for rapid prototyping and manufacturing applications. They are the clear leader in both the commercial and consumer spaces. Geographic Sales for Q1-2014 were 50% North America, 27% EMEA, 22% APAC, and 1% Other. Currently, they’re focused solely on plastic printing. Derives 30% of current revenues from outsourced printing services (acting link the Kinko’s of 3D printing).
3D Systems (Ticker: DDD) – Develops, manufactures, and markets worldwide 3D printing, rapid prototyping and manufacturing printers, and parts solutions. It also provides scanners for a variety of medical and mechanical X-Ray film digital archiving. It provides 3D authoring tools for digital imaging and design including 3D CAD modeling, feature capture, manipulation, replication, and measurement.
ExOne Co. (Ticker: XONE) – Manufactures and sells 3D printing machines and printing products. It also offers other associated products, including consumables and replacement parts & services. Biggest 3D company specializing in metal industrial printing.
Organovo Holdings, Inc. (Ticker: ONVO) – Currently the only publicly traded 3D Bioprinting company, which designs and creates functional and three-dimensional human tissues for medical research and therapeutic applications. The company also collaborates with pharmaceutical and academic partners to develop human biological disease models in three dimensions.
Voxeljet AG (Ticker: VJET ADR) – Manufactures and operates industrial 3D printing systems and provides on-demand parts services to industrial and commercial customers.
Materialize NV (Ticker: MTLS ADR) – IPO scheduled for June/July 2014. Provides printing services and produces software solutions specializing in the transfer of data to Additive Manufacturing machines.
Arcam AB (Ticker: ARCM-SE) – Engaged in the manufacture of technology for the production of fully dense metal parts. It offers equipment for the direct manufacturing of metal components by additive manufacturing. Its products include Electron Beam Melting machines, auxiliary equipment, software, powder metals, and service and training to customers.
SLM Solutions Group AG (Ticker: AM3D-DE) – Engages the development, production, and distribution of additive-based manufacturing and prototype construction as well as consumables and services. It operates through the Selective Laser Melting (SLM) and Rapid Prototyping (RP) segments. The SLM segment markets and sells metal-based additive manufacturing systems and accessories provide related services and sells consumables for these systems. The RP segment assembles and sells vacuum casting systems, metal casting systems as well as related services, and consumables for different rapid prototyping uses.
Renishaw Plc (Ticker: RSW-GB) – Engaged in the designing, manufacturing, and marketing of advanced precision metrology and inspection equipment. It operates through two segments: Metrology and Healthcare products. Renishaw’s products are used for applications as diverse as machine tool automation, coordinate measurement, additive manufacturing, gauging, Raman spectroscopy, machine calibration, position feedback, shape memory alloys, large scale surveying, stereotactic neurosurgery, and medical diagnostics.
Kinpo Electronics, Inc. (Ticker: 2312-TW) – Consumer electronics manufacturer that is releasing their own 3D printer targeted at the consumer market. It is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan.
Secondary
Proto Labs (Ticker: PRLB) – an online and technology-enabled manufacturer of quick-turn computer numerical control (CNC) machined, injection molded and 3D printed custom parts for prototyping and short-run production.
Faro Technologies Inc. (Ticker: FARO) – Operates as a 3D measurement, imaging, and realization technology company. It develops and markets computer-aided measurement and imaging devices and software. The company’s devices are used for inspecting components and assemblies, production planning, documenting large volume spaces or structures in 3D, surveying and construction, as well as for investigation and reconstruction of accident sites or crime scenes.
Economic Impact
It’s estimated that 3D printing could generate an economic impact of $230 billion to $550 billion per year across currently realized applications by 2025. The largest source of potential impact among the current applications would come from consumer uses, followed by direct manufacturing (i.e., using 3D printing to produce finished goods) and using 3D printing to make molds.
This brings us to the end of this article on the competitive analysis of 3D printing manufacturers.
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