CROZET, Va., Dec. 17, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SmarTech Publishing has just published a new 173-page report detailing the evolution of additive manufacturing with composite fiber reinforced materials. In this first update of the benchmark report published in 2016, SmarTech Publishing highlights how new large format material extrusion technologies and expansion of powder bed fusion system capabilities are contributing to build the chopped fiber additive manufacturing into a nearly $10 billion-dollar opportunity.

While continuous fiber additive manufacturing technologies remain a long-term objective for several companies’ research & development efforts, chopped fiber reinforced materials have already begun to generate significant revenues in terms of new hardware and material sales as well as AM services and internal part production by major composite AM adopters in segments such as aerospace, automotive, medical, energy, marine and consumer goods.

The new 3D Printed Composites Materials Markets – 2018-2027 report goes on to identify and quantify the commercial opportunities presented by implementation of fiber-reinforced composite and nanocomposite materials for 3D printing in these major manufacturing sectors.

Further details of this report can be found at:  https://www.smartechpublishing.com/reports/3d-printed-composites-materials-markets-2018/

About the Report: 

This report analyzes these trends to great depths providing a complete, highly accurate and current panoramic of the composite additive manufacturing market today. The primary objective of this report is to highlight the most relevant business opportunities that lie ahead for companies that are invested in either the composite material or additive manufacturing markets, as well as provide a detailed map of the key technologies and materials – as well as their business potential – to all major potential composite AM adopters in the primary adoption segments, including key industries such as aerospace, automotive, medical, energy, marine and consumer goods sectors.

As the AM industry, and the composite AM segment in particular, moves toward final part production, SmarTech leveraged its extensive market-leading hardware and material database to provide the first ever assessment of the revenue opportunity that is expected to emerge from prototype, tools and end-use part production of additively manufactured composite parts. These elements will enable readers to gain the most up to date and clear understanding of the composite AM industry today.

Key companies included in this report are +Lab/moi composites, 3D Fortify, 3D Systems, 3DXTech, Advanc3D Materials, Arevo Labs, Autodesk, BASF, CEAD Group, Cincinnati Inc., Continuous Composites 3D, CRP Group, EOS, Farsoon, Hexcel, HP, Impossible Objects, Ingersoll, Markforged, Prodways, Ricoh, SABIC, Siemens, Stratasys, Thermwood.

From the Report:

• SmarTech Publishing estimates the composite AM opportunity to grow into a nearly $10 billion yearly global business. This data includes over 4 billion in revenues from hardware sales. In particular, powder bed fusion 3D printers are expected to be the primary type of systems used for composite AM part production.
   
• SmarTech Publishing expects the revenues generated by composite AM part production (including prototypes, tools and final parts) to top $4 billion by the end of the forecast period in 2028. Within this timeframe, final parts are expected to grow into the largest revenue opportunity.
   
• Commercial composite AM technologies available on the market today belong almost exclusively to two technological families: material extrusion and powder bed fusion. Some experimentation is taking place in the segment of lamination-based AM processes.
   
• The primary material in all traditional and advanced manufacturing applications for composites is carbon fiber. Beyond fibers, carbon can also be used in manufacturing (and in AM) in other forms, which are called allotropes. These include graphene (which is a one-atom thick layer of carbon atoms) and CNTs (carbon nanotubes). Another key material in additive manufacturing of composites (and in composite manufacturing in general) is glass fiber. Glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic are increasingly seen as an opportunity particularly for PBF processes.
   
• Long term growth is expected to be very significant as composites become even more relevant in segments which expand beyond the medical and aerospace sectors and into consumer areas such as next generation automotive, energy, and transportation in general. As additive manufacturing technologies are perfected, SmarTech Publishing expects that they will take up a very considerable share of the entire composite manufacturing market.

About SmarTech Publishing:

Since 2013 SmarTech Publishing has published reports on all the important revenue opportunities in the 3D printing/additive manufacturing sector and is considered the leading industry analyst firm providing coverage of this sector.

Our company has a client roster that includes the largest 3D printer firms, materials firms and investors.  We have also published reports on most of the important revenue opportunities in the 3D printing sector including personal printers, low-volume manufacturing, 3D printing materials, medical/dental applications, aerospace, automotive, and other promising 3D market segments.

Press Contact:

Robert Nolan
SmarTech
(804) 938-0030
rob@smartechpublishing.com

A graph accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b33ad4f0-44af-4b54-9fff-0415388ea515