Wohlers Associates, Inc. announced the publication of Wohlers Report 2021. The study provides trends, perspectives, and forecasts as a tool for decision making, education, and knowledge acceleration. The report gives readers new to additive manufacturing a comprehensive understanding of the technology and industry. Veterans of the technology benefit from up-to-date information on growth, recent trends, and important developments worldwide.
The 375-page report discusses the impact of COVID-19 on the additive manufacturing industry. Even with the pandemic, Wohlers Associates found industry expansion of 7.5% to nearly $12.8 billion in 2020. Growth was down considerably, compared to the average growth of 27.4% over the previous 10 years.
Most established manufacturers of additive manufacturing systems saw a decline in equipment sales, but many less-established companies grew in 2020. An increase in business by additive manufacturing service providers supported industrywide growth. The following chart shows 7.1% growth from independent service providers worldwide, resulting in nearly $5.3 billion of revenue from this group.
The report includes commentary on 74 early-stage investments and 35 acquisitions and public offerings. additive manufacturing startups and established companies have received substantial funding in the recent past. One example is Desktop Metal, which received $575 million as part of a merger with a special acquisitions company. After going public in December 2020, Desktop Metal’s market capitalization exceeded $7.5 billion in February 2021.
Wohlers Report 2021 was created with the support of 124 service providers, 113 manufacturers of additive manufacturing machines, and 24 producers of third-party materials. Eighty-eight co-authors and contributors from 34 countries provided expert views and perspectives. This valuable input, coupled with the experience and data from Wohlers Associates, resulted in the most detailed and comprehensive body of work on additive manufacturing available.
For more information: Wohlers Associates, Inc.
