Aerospace 3D Printing Market Report: By Technology [Stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and Continuous Liquid Interface Production (Clip)], Application [Engine, Structural and Space Components], Industry [Aircraft, Spacecraft and UAV] and Region [North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East Africa and Latin America] - Forecast till 2030

Aerospace 3D Printing Market Research Report—Forecast till 2030

Market overview:

Aerospace 3D Printing Market Size is Projected To Reach $7.1 Billion By 2030, At CAGR Of 20% From 2021 To 2030

Aerospace 3D printing technologies are brought into the aerospace industry to manufacture the components required for the industry with higher precision using lighter materials. The demands for the crucial components in the aerospace industry had integrated 3D printing and have been contributing to their growth due to the increasing demand in the aerospace industry. Moreover, the demand for lightweight components with higher stability in the aerospace industry is bolstering the overall growth of the industry. Moreover, the potential advantages of the 3D printing technologies such as design freedom, surface finishing, cost-effectiveness, bulk production with minimal wastage, and time consumption are considered as the major drivers of aerospace 3D printing market growth.

For instance, the aerospace industry is completely reliant on 3D printing for manufacturing cabin interior components, turbine parts, engines, and significant others. Moreover, the advanced technologies in the industry had paved the way to design and manufacture varied aircraft parts with complex designs at a rapid pace. 

COVID 19 Analysis:

During the pandemic, there were severe disruptions in the supply and chain demand across the industrial verticals. The operating activities across the industrial verticals were also reduced or shut down due to the prolonged lockdown and reduced labor availability. Moreover the widespread of COVID-19 had exacerbated the challenges present in the industry. Such factors have significantly reduced the aerospace 3D printing market value in recent times. Moreover, the records from the leading reports such as IATA stated the decline of the airline industry in recent times. The airline industry had reduced by 65.9% in the year 2020 due to the pandemic.

Market dynamics:

Market drivers:

The cost-efficient and faster production capability due to the advanced technologies are considered as the major drivers of aerospace 3D printing market growth. Moreover, the increasing defense expenditure and the emerging market players are paving for advanced printing technologies that offer high detail visual prototypes for the manufacturers. 

The increasing demand for 3D printed replacement parts and demand across commercial and civil applications are bolstering the overall growth of the aerospace 3D printing industry. Also, the demand for lightweight components and lesser maintenance is fuelling the overall growth of the aerospace 3D printing industry.

Market opportunities:

The conventional manufacturing processes are increasingly replaced with 3d printing technology because of the time consumption and requirement of bilk production. The conventional methods require more time for production as these components are highly complex. Such factors are presenting favorable conditions for the overall growth of the aerospace 3D printing industry during the forecast period.

The presence of advanced technologies that are producing at a faster rate is presenting opportunities for market growth. For instance, the DMLS technology utilizes powdered metals and is thereby capable of producing 100 times faster. Moreover, the emerging market players are bringing in new strategies that are expected to boost the overall growth of the aerospace 3D printing industry.

Market restraints:

The key manufacturers are outsourcing the 3D printing processes to 3rd party organizations due to the time consumption and enhanced customization that in the future required maintenance and installation costs and other issues. Such factors are considered as the major restraints of aerospace 3D printing market growth. 

The fluctuation in the raw materials and the restrictions imposed by the government regarding the volume of the construction is considered as the primary restraints of aerospace 3D printing market growth. The demand for the smaller components and the incapability of 3D printing technologies to cater to the demand are also expected to hinder the overall growth of the aerospace 3D printing industry.

Market challenges:

The demand for higher volume production at a minimal time is considered as the major challenge for aerospace 3D printing market growth. The amount of complexity involved and the demand for the effectiveness consume a lot of manufacturing time and are considered as the major market challenge for aerospace 3D printing market growth.

Requirement of higher manufacturing, operational, and procuring costs are considered as the major challenge for the market growth. The procurement of advanced 3D printing machines and the capital and setting up costs are higher and considered as the major challenge for the overall growth of the aerospace 3D printing industry.

Cumulative growth analysis:

The market value of the aerospace 3D printing industry was at USD 1.9 billion in the year 2021 and is expected to surpass the market value of over USD 4.9 billion by the year 2027 while registering a CAGR of 19.4% during the forecast period. The aerospace industry is demanding cost-effective and lightweight aerospace components with no compromise on their functionality. Currently, the manufacturers are facing distress in the production units and are capable of producing only limited volumes of the components. Such factors are driving the overall growth of the aerospace 3D printing industry in recent times. 

The growing demand to design and manufacture the engines is also considered as the major driver of aerospace 3D printing market growth, because of the advanced technologies in the market, the complex engines can be designed with improved strength and minimal weight as well. The technologies such as Stereolithography, selective laser sintering, direct metal laser sintering, and significant others are bolstering the overall growth of the aerospace 3D printing industry.

Value chain analysis:

The growth of the aerospace 3D printing industry is influenced by the growing demand for the crucial components involved in the industry. For instance, the demand for designing aircraft, space crafts, UAVs, and significant other advanced engineering materials are bolstering the overall growth of the aerospace 3D printing industry. The demand to reduce weight and improve the performance of these components, especially manufacturing thin walls, curved surfaces with complex dimensions is growing across the aerospace industry which is considered as the major driver of aerospace 3D printing market growth. 

On the other hand, the demand for cost-efficient and customized printed solutions and manufacturing processes are growing in recent years. Several leading market players are increasingly outsourcing the manufacturing processes to separate 3D printing companies and that requires after-sales and maintenance. Moreover, several manufacturers are carrying out the material extrusion and fusion deposition modeling that is considered an as fast and efficient method to manufacture bulk volumes with minimal wastage. The capability while utilizing this technology to manufacture with complex shapes and varied material thicknesses and textures are bolstering the overall growth of the aerospace 3D printing industry.

Segment overview:

Based on vertical:

• Printers 


• Materials


• Based on industry type:


• UAV


• Aircraft


• Spacecraft

Based on application type:

• Engine components


• Space components


• Structural components

Based on printer technology:

• DMLS


• FDM


• CLIP


• SLA 


• Others

Regional analysis:

Currently, North America is dominating the aerospace 3D printing market share due to the presence of several aerospace companies and the increasing investments from these market players are also bolstering the market growth across the region. The increasing investment has helped in the developments. The region also showcases higher demand for potential features such as building with fewer materials, designing the complex parts, and reducing the manufacturing costs which are providing opportunities for the overall growth of the aerospace 3D printing industry. Moreover, the US aerospace and defense industry is considered the largest producer of aircraft components and technically advanced components in the entire world. 

On the other hand, the Asia-pacific region is also rapidly growing in the aerospace 3D printing market share owing to the increasing manufacturing facilities across the region. The presence of sophisticated development facilities and the potential manufacturing units across China, South Korea, and Singapore are presenting lucrative opportunities for the market growth during the forecast period.

Competitive landscape:

• 3D systems corporation


• Aerojet Rocketdyne


• Arcam AB


• EOS Gmbh


• EnvisiontecGmbh


• MTU Aero engines AG


• Norsk Titanium


• Stratasys Ltd.


• The exome company


• Ultimaker BV


• Hoganas AB

Recent developments:

In the year 2019, NASA and made in Space had joined for a contract and they have been valued at over USD 73.7 million and had established plans to develop 3D printed communications antennae and large-scale telescopes as well. The other complex structures were also ready for designing and planning.

In the year 2019, one of the leading market players named Relative space had joined with bond and tribe capital in a contract that valued at over USD 140 million and had launched Terran 1 to the orbit which is considered as the world’s first 3D printed rocket.

Report overview:

This report has covered:

• Market overview


• COVID 19 Analysis


• Market dynamics


• Cumulative growth analysis


• Value chain analysis


• Segment overview


• Regional analysis


• Competitive landscape


• Recent developments