What Were the 3D Printing Trends in 2022?

As 2022 comes to an end, it’s time once again to reflect upon the state of the 3D printing market this year. Or more specifically, it is the moment to look back at the trends that dominated the additive manufacturing industry. And what was certainly clear this year is that the AM sector is continuing the progress that it has already made in previous years. For example, it has continued to recover from the pandemic as well as continue to industrialize, moving especially towards both large-format 3D printing and larger-scale operations. Additionally, actors in the field continue to focus on sustainability.

The connection between sustainability and 3D printing especially is certainly not a secret. AM is often lauded as a much more environmentally friendly process thanks to its ability to reduce waste. And though it is not perfect, with plastic use in particular courting controversy, the focus on developing the technologies more and encouraging environmental responsibility with 3D printing has only grown. In particular, we can point to the fact that the Additive Manufacturing Green Trade Association (AMGTA) continues to expand, counting many leaders in additive manufacturing among its members. Currently, the association has 50 member companies, a sharp increase from the beginning of 2021.

Sherri Monroe is the Executive Director of the AMGTA, an association which has grown rapidly as interest in 3D printing’s role in more sustainable manufacturing is explored (photo credits: 3Dnatives)

That being said, we also saw a number of new trends dominating the sector. But what exactly are these trends? How have we changed from previous years? Where do we see AM in the near future? To close out the year, we took a step back to reflect on the key takeaways from the 3D printing sector in 2022.