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News Release from: Wohlers Associates
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 13 May 2005
Report details latest rapid prototyping
progress
"Wohlers report 2005" provides a 256-page worldwide progress report on the rapid prototyping, tooling and manufacturing state of the industry.
Wohlers Associates has published its most recent findings in "Wohlers report 2005", a 256-page worldwide progress report on the rapid prototyping, tooling and manufacturing state of the industry Last year, the worldwide market for additive fabrication, consisting of all products and services, grew to $705.2 million, up an impressive 33.3% from $528.9 million in 2003
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 28 Sep 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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In 2002 and 2001, industry revenues declined by 10 and 10.5%, respectively.
"In early 2004, the rockets were ignited and liftoff was imminent", said Terry Wohlers, principal author of Wohlers Report 2005 and President of Wohlers Associates.
"This year was met with a spectacular launch".
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"All data shows that the industry is once again on a steep, upward trajectory", Wohlers stated.
"Revenues and unit sales are strong and material sales are better than ever".
"And the number of parts being produced annually is impressive".
The new worldwide study reports that sales of 3D printers nearly doubled, with machine sales ascending to unparalleled heights.
Stratasys, with its popular Dimension product, is again leading the pack.
Z Corporation has secured second place in the annual unit sales race for the second consecutive year.
A large installed base is more important than ever as companies build their businesses around recurring revenues from consumables.
Rapid manufacturing - the direct production of finished goods from additive fabrication - is showing an interesting, though not totally unexpected, upward growth trend.
Organisations that use additive processes to manufacture end-use parts indicate that activity has increased from 3.9% in 2003 to 6.6% in 2004, and now to 8.2% in 2005.
Wohlers Associates believes that rapid manufacturing will grow to become the largest application of additive fabrication in the future.
The release of "Wohlers report 2005" coincided with the Society of Manufacturing Engineers' Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing 2005 Conference and Exposition, in Dearborn.
In the opening day's plenary session, Terry Wohlers presented highlights of the report in his annual "state of the industry" address.
RP and M 2005 marked the 13th consecutive year in which Wohlers has been invited to present his views, analysis, and opinions on this fast-changing industry.
"Wohlers report 2005" covers all facets of the industry, including business, product, market, technology, research, and application.
49 co-authors, 47 service providers, 24 system manufacturers, and countless others assisted with its development.
To support the review and analysis, the soft-bound publication includes 24 charts and graphs, 36 tables, 97 photographs and illustrations, and seven appendixes.
The new report sells for $425 in the USA and $445 in all other countries.
The report's table of contents, as well as additional information on the additive fabrication market and industry, are available on the Wohlers Associates website.
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