3D printing leaders are trying to solve the industry’s scale problem with M&A

CB Insights December 18, 2023
Benjamin Lawrence

After decades of development, 3D printing tech still faces remarkably low adoption among manufacturers. For some firms, consolidation may be the key to achieving scale.

3D printing (also known as additive manufacturing) allows manufacturers to print components with a variety of materials, such as metals, polymers, composites, ceramics, and even electronics.

However, 3D printing adoption has been slower than anticipated, accounting for just 0.1% of the total value of manufacturing output today.

Instead of mass production, manufacturers have been using it for applications like rapid prototyping or the production of components with unique geometries that are otherwise impossible to create with more traditional methods.

One significant challenge, however, is scale. 3D printing developers may specialize in certain materials or sizes,...

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