Latin America’s 3D Printing Revolution

2020 was a year of great change in the 3D printing industry, resulting in adaptations that have allowed us to see the full potential of the technologies. It was also a year of opportunities and democratization for additive manufacturing technologies, this despite it also being a year of economic setbacks in many industries as a direct result of the COVID-19 crisis. These new opportunities have translated into a greater adoption of 3D printing worldwide. One area showing great promise for future adoption of 3D printing and its technologies is Latin America. According to several experts, these countries might be able to overcome this health and economic crisis faster than those in other regions, opening a door for the adoption of new technologies such as 3D printing in the near future. However, in order to fully understand the growth that is expected in the sectors in this region the upcoming years, we must first ask ourselves some critical questions. For example, what is the current status of 3D printing in Latin America? Are there already local manufacturers? And importantly, which industries are already working on the adoption of additive manufacturing?

Several economists agree that some Latin American countries will be able to recover more quickly from the 2020 crisis than many more developed countries. These countries could provide an opportunity for foreign companies due to their strong labor force. Currently the strongest economies in Latin America are Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia and Chile, and growth projections for these countries are positive. According to Forbes magazine: “Continued economic growth, competitive labor costs and proximity to key American markets appear to be factors driving the overall positivity toward Latin America as a viable business destination.”

Additive manufacturing technologies will see increased adoption in the coming years (photo credits: Maximize Market Research)

For some time now, several additive manufacturing companies have had their sights set on Latin American countries. “Latin America represents close to 10 percent of the global population so it is definitely a promising market for any industry, including 3D printing,” said the Photocentric team. Possible changes to the AM sector in 2021 could thus boost its adoption in multiple industries, helping to boost the region’s economy.