Increasing Demand For 3d Printing Gases from The Aerospace and Healthcare Industries is driving the growth at a CAGR of 15.3% during the forecast period 2023 to 2030

Market Research Future (MRFR) has published on the “Global 3d Printing Gases Market”.

The 3D printing gases market is estimated to register a CAGR of 15.3% during the forecast period of 2023 to 2030.

MRFR recognizes the following companies as the key players in the Global 3D printing gases market — BASF SE (Germany), Linde PLC (Ireland), Air Liquide (France), Air Products and Chemicals, INC. (US), Nippon Sanso Holdings Corporation (Japan), SOL Group (Italy), and Messer Group (Germany), Universal Industrial Gases (US)

Market Highlights

The Global 3D printing gases market is accounted for to register a CAGR of 15.3% during the forecast period and is estimated to reach USD 170.49 Million by 2030.

3D printing gases refer to specialized gases used in the process of 3D printing or additive manufacturing. These gases are specifically formulated to optimize the printing conditions and enhance the quality and performance of the printed objects. As the demand for 3D printing continues to rise across various industries, the need for these specialized gases has increased. In the 3D printing process, gases are utilized for several purposes. They help create a controlled printing environment, ensuring the proper chemical reactions and material properties during the printing process. For instance, inert gases such as nitrogen or argon are commonly used to create an oxygen-free atmosphere, preventing oxidation, and maintaining the stability of reactive materials.

These gases assist in improving the quality of printed objects. They help minimize defects, enhance surface finishes, and provide better control over the cooling process, reducing the risk of warping or distortion of printed components. Additionally, specialized gases are used for post-processing steps such as annealing or heat treatment, which can enhance the mechanical properties of the printed objects. The utilization of 3D printing gases is particularly important in industries where precision and performance are critical, such as aerospace, automotive, and healthcare sectors. In aerospace, 3D printing is used to produce lightweight components with complex geometries, improving fuel efficiency and reducing overall weight. Specialized gases ensure the integrity and quality of these critical components, meeting stringent industry standards.

Similarly, in the healthcare sector, 3D printing is revolutionizing medical device manufacturing and personalized healthcare solutions. Specialized gases help maintain sterility, biocompatibility, and specific material properties required for medical applications, ensuring the safety and efficacy of printed objects. Overall, the market for 3D printing gases is driven by the growing adoption of 3D printing technology across industries. Manufacturers and businesses are increasingly leveraging additive manufacturing for rapid prototyping, customized manufacturing, and sustainable production. The use of specialized gases in the 3D printing process plays a vital role in achieving optimal printing conditions, enhancing product quality, and meeting industry-specific requirements. As the demand for 3D-printed products continues to expand, the market for these specialized gases is expected to grow, providing businesses with the necessary tools to maximize the potential of 3D printing technology.

Segment Analysis

The Global 3D printing gases market has been segmented based on Gas, Function, Technology, End User, and region.

Based on gas, the market is bifurcated to argon, nitrogen, and gas mixtures. The 3D printing gases market growth was prominently high under the argon category in 2022 owing to the huge applications in the end-use industries like design & manufacturing and health care, Argon is a colorless, tasteless, and odorless gas that is used in selective laser melting, which is a type of 3D printing. The 3D printer operates in an inert environment, where argon prevents any unwanted chemical reactions from taking place and maintains the purity of components. The inert environment in the 3D printing machine keeps the oxygen content low, to reduce oxidization in the manufactured part. It also reduces the fire hazard by rendering combustible dust inert. Since thermal stress is controlled and titanium powder clumping is reduced, argon improves the consistency of the final product and reduces deformities. While there are many benefits to using argon in the printing process, and argon is harmless when contained. Thus, with the broad spectrum of 3D-printing applications, the demand for argon is only expected to rise in the coming years.

Based on technology, the market is further bifurcated to stereolithography, laser sintering, poly-jet, material jetting, electron beam melting and others. In 2021, stereolithography accounted for the largest share of the market Stereolithography 3D printing is the most common resin 3D printing process that has become vastly popular for its ability to produce high-accuracy, isotropic, and watertight prototypes and end-use parts in a range of advanced materials with fine features and smooth surface finish. SLA parts have the highest resolution and accuracy, the sharpest details, and the smoothest surface finishes of all 3D printing technologies, but the main benefit of the stereolithography lies in its versatility. Stereolithography 3D printing has undergone significant changes. Traditionally, SLA 3D printers have been monolithic and cost-prohibitive, requiring skilled technicians and costly service contracts. Presently, small format desktop printers produce industrial-quality output, at substantially more affordable price points and with unmatched versatility. As technology becomes more accessible and affordable and hardware and materials advance to match market opportunities and demands, the demand for 3D printing gas mixtures is expected to rise significantly.

Based on function, the market is divided into cooling, insulation, and illumination. The insulation application segment accounts for the largest share of 40% and the highest CAGR of 16% in the global 3D printing gases market. 3D printing cannot be sintered at high temperatures because the heat deteriorates the all-important insulation layer around each particle. Inert gases such as argon and nitrogen create an environment which is chemically inactive, which allows parts to be built which meet the exacting standards required for metal parts used in the aerospace and automotive industries. In an inert atmosphere, additive manufacturing processes such as directed energy deposition, electron beam melting, selective laser sintering, binder jetting or powder bed fusion can take place without the risk of contamination from reactive gases that exist in the air, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide.

By end user, the market has been segmented into automotive, aerospace & defense, and consumer products. In 2022, automotive industry is the largest end-user of 3D printing technology. In the auto industry, OEMs have traditionally used 3D printing for rapid prototyping. However, in recent years, advances in 3D printing have slowly been transforming the ways in which end-use parts are designed, manufactured, and distributed. Automakers are adopting 3D printing to create design iterations, to enhance quality through cost-effective prototyping, and to create specific tooling parts. Furthermore, as high-volume automotive OEMs and suppliers are applying 3D printing to enhance overall manufacturing capabilities and reduce costs, the demand for 3D printing gases from the automotive industry is expected to rise in the coming years.  

Regional Analysis

By Region, the study segments the 3D Printing Gases Market into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. With a market share of more than 30%, North America accounted for most of the global market for 3D printing gases. The market for 3D printing gases in North America is primarily driven by expanding investments made by significant 3D printing players and a favorable regulatory environment. The US government has realized the numerous uses and enormous advantages of 3D printing, further promoting the adoption of this cutting-edge technology. Moreover, reduction in costs for mass customization has further accelerated the product development via additive manufacturing. The US administration’s plan to promote 3D printing (additive manufacturing) as a solution to rising prices and sinking competitiveness of America’s small- and medium-sized manufacturers through a new initiative called Additive Manufacturing Forward (AM Forward), large manufacturing companies in America pledge to purchase 3D-printed parts from small- to mid-size U.S.-based suppliers and reduce their dependence on overseas factories. The adoption of 3D printing for different medical diagnosis is also experiencing significant increase as a result of advancements in 3D metal printing and other end-user sectors like healthcare. Due to increased spending and quick adoption rates across many business verticals, particularly in the consumer goods, healthcare, automotive, and defense and aerospace sectors, the US is expected to experience the biggest growth. Due to its remarkable transition in the manufacturing sector, Canada now holds the second-largest market share in additive manufacturing. Thus, with the continuous growth in the 3D printing industry, the demand for 3D printing gases is also expected to rise continuously.

The European Patent Office's figures demonstrate a fervent interest in the 3D printing industry, which has grown by 36% over the years. Small and medium-sized enterprises in Europe are the ones with the biggest demand since they require prototypes that are quick, dependable, and affordable. The most recent figures show that over time, Europeans were responsible for most 3D printing applications where the healthcare industry took the top spot, followed by the energy and transportation sectors. The European automotive industry is also advancing integrating 3D printing into their industrial sector. The 3D printing technology with its exciting property of making aftermarket parts along with their functional prototypes for design and development has made its utility unavoidable in the world of automotive.

Key Findings of the Study

• The Global 3D printing gases market is expected to reach USD 170.49 Million by 2030, at a CAGR of 15.3% during the forecast period.


• The North America region accounted for the fastest-growing global market.


• Based on Gas, the Argon segment was attributed to holding the largest market in 2022.


• Based on Function, the Insulation segment was attributed to holding the largest market in 2022.


• Based on End User, the Automotive segment was attributed to holding the largest market in 2022.


• BASF SE (Germany), Linde PLC (Ireland), Air Liquide (France), Air Products and Chemicals, INC. (US), Nippon Sanso Holdings Corporation (Japan), SOL Group (Italy), and Messer Group (Germany), Universal Industrial Gases (US) are the key market players.