2020 Plastics Market Forecast: 3D Printing

“2020 promises rapid innovation and transformation in machines, materials, and methods. Additionally, manufacturers are increasingly discovering 3D printing’s benefits and are adopting it in their production practices– on both a large and small scale. Here are the trends I see making the biggest impact in 2020 and beyond:

Open Source Machines: Open source 3D printers are becoming more affordable and higher quality – offering manufacturers an alternative to the larger, pricier closed platform printers. With machinery prices decreasing, we saw the rapid adoption of open-sourced filament-based printers in 2019 as industry education is more readily available. We’re starting to see that same trend spread to other polymeric printing methods, such as photopolymer- and powder-based systems following FDM/FFF filament trends. We expect open source machines and the broad range of materials they use to continue to drive change and transformation in the additive manufacturing market in 2020.

Innovative Materials & Methods Gaining Popularity: Chemical companies are continuing to develop ground-breaking formulas for materials, which contribute to the use and production viability of advanced 3D printing applications. A few innovative examples I see continuing to pick up steam include:

We will continue to see OEMs shift to additive manufactured parts to streamline legacy processes, cut costs, save time, and increase quality. It no longer makes sense for companies to use traditional methods such as custom or injection molding for low-volume applications when, with the right materials, they can be 3D printed in production with incredible functional and highly aesthetic properties. As the design concepts for additive manufacturing become more commonplace and skillsets further develop across the broader workforce, the use of additive manufacturing methods and materials will continue to increase.”