What Are the Future Trends of Additive Manufacturing in Europe?

In recent years, the additive manufacturing market has clearly shown its potential as trends begin to emerge. And since a technology like additive manufacturing never stands still, we can also always look forward to new trends, developments and opportunities. This year, as in previous years, CECIMO, the European Association of Machine Tool Industries and Related Manufacturing Technologies, conducted a survey, the European Additive Manufacturing Survey, about the most important trends on AM within Europe. Specifically, it is a six-month survey whose primary purpose is to help industries identify trends for potential major business areas. This will be carried out by assessing companies working within the additive industry. In order to obtain as much data as possible, CECIMO has even entered into cooperation with the VDMA, the German Engineering Federation, which also represents AM companies in Germany.

This report on trends in Europe is divided into two parts: firstly, it shows the results of the data from the CECIMO survey combined with the VDMA survey. For information, the former asks about expectations; the latter, about the actual development of the sector. The second part only shows data from those countries that use the CECIMO survey themselves. Thus, both parts address topics such as trends as a whole, but also show the data collected information such as investments, statistics on materials and machinery, exports or even customers from different industries such as automotive or aerospace.

Expectations of growth within the domestic market have increased when compared to the previous survey of spring 2022 (Image: CECIMO)

Exciting Trends are Emerging in Europe in the AM Sector

CECIMO distinguishes between the domestic and the foreign market in terms of trends. If we look at the respective domestic market, according to the survey carried out, it is noticeable that a slight increase in the market growth of the domestic market is expected by around 50% of the respondents, whereas just 6% of respondents expect a decline – this has also decreased compared to the last survey carried out. Therefore, views to the growth of the domestic market have become more optimistic. Similarly, if we look at the foreign market according to the survey, this year’s results show that especially in contrast to the last survey conducted, respondents have a more positive outlook on the growth of the AM market. 47% think that exports and orders originating from abroad will increase within the next six months. 47% think that the number of foreign orders will remain the same and the remaining 6% expect a decrease in the foreign market. In summary, CECIMO states that this is an ever-increasing optimism within additive manufacturing companies and an indication of stronger foreign demand in the European market.