Ultimaker, the global leader in desktop 3D printing, has released its first annual 3D Printing Sentiment Index. Independent research conducted by Savanta, an international research firm, details a comprehensive view of the current and future potential for 3D printing in 12 countries worldwide, while covering the widest range of verticals and professions, including education. The quantified index reveals the USA, UK, and Germany have the highest overall index score and therefore the greatest expectations for implementing additive manufacturing and capitalising on its opportunities.
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1
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USA
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7
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Mexico
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2
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UK
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8
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Switzerland
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3
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Germany
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9
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Italy
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4
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France
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10
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Netherlands
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5
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China
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11
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Spain
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6
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Japan
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12
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India
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The index is a measure of market awareness and adoption; adoption levels over time; as well as overall sentiment towards the potential impact of the technology. It is based on 2,548 interviews with qualified professionals and in-depth analysis of macro-economic factors. Five key elements were investigated: market awareness, adoption and install base, 3D printing growth indicators, perceived future impact and optimism, and technology infrastructure and ease of adoption. Overall, 67 percent of respondents are currently aware of the terms ‘3D printing’ and ‘additive manufacturing’. However, only 35 percent have adopted the technology. Two thirds – 65 percent – think that 3D printing will revolutionize their industry and nearly 40 percent say that 3D printing will bring significant operational efficiencies and cost savings to their businesses over the coming 12 months, indicating the market’s rapid evolution.
Market awareness of 3D printing or additive manufacturing
The survey shows that the Netherlands (83%), Switzerland (82%), and the USA (77%) have the highest levels of awareness. The Netherlands, home to several 3D printing companies, is often considered a leader in technology. Switzerland has strong growth in both the manufacturing and research fields – industries where 3D printing has a high innovation and adoption rate.
Level of adoption of 3D printing technology
By investigating the number of businesses that have adopted 3D printing and used the technology for more than 5 years, the survey determines the current maturity level across various countries. In China, 53 percent of businesses have adopted 3D printing and 11 percent have used it for more than five years, followed by the USA (34 percent adoption and 19 percent have 5+ years of usage) and France (42 percent adoption and 8 percent have 5+ years of usage). This is significantly higher than the global average.
Sentiment levels towards 3D printing
The survey highlighted that, while the UK is largely on par with the rest of the leading countries in terms of awareness and adoption levels, British respondents demonstrated a measurably higher positive perception of the technology. 87% believe that 3D printing can offer extensive benefits in bringing new concepts and design ideas to life; 77% agree that 3D printing offers a much more effective way of making jigs, tools and fixtures than traditional methods; and 74% that 3D printing is the most efficient way to produce small batches of products and components.
Current 3D printing budget and plan to increase investment in the future
When the 67 percent of respondents who are aware of the technology were asked about their current and future 3D printing budgets, China, India, and the Netherlands came top with the highest current budget and future investment plans over the next 12 months. Wang Peng, Secretary-General of the Additive Manufacturing Alliance of China shared with The Telegraph that: “3D printing is entering a golden period in China. After years of development, it has turned from an innovative concept to something quite helpful in upgrading manufacturing plants.” With current install bases being low in India and Netherlands, an increase in investment is inevitable driven by the positive sentiments.
“Sentiments are the start of a domino effect,” says Rohit Jhamb, Director Global Research & Analytics at Ultimaker. “Positive sentiments lead to positive behaviour and investments, resulting in a future of significant and sustainable growth. This research is the widest and most in-depth in terms of coverage that combines end customer voice with macro-economic indicators. It therefore offers a complete view of the current ecosystem and future growth potential for 3D printing and shows that we have moved past the hype often associated with 3D printing. For potential stakeholders who haven't embraced the additive manufacturing market and are hesitant about entering, this Index shows they should be unafraid to contribute and can expect a healthy return on that contribution.”
“Being close to end-customers is something we always highly value,” says Jos Burger, CEO at Ultimaker. “These findings confirm our current strategy for delivering easy-to-use, reliable solutions that anyone can leverage to gain a fast ROI with 3D printing. In that sense, Ultimaker is uniquely positioned, since we provide the market with an open ecosystem of hardware, software and materials. By delivering a complete solution that seamlessly integrates with existing workflows, we are on track to facilitate this positive future growth potential and continue to be the driving force to achieve true digital distribution and local manufacturing.”