Product category:
Engineering Industry Reports and Surveys
News Release from: Wohlers Associates
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 02 May 2008
Report analyses additive fabrication
industry
The market for additive fabrication, consisting of all products and services globally, grew 16% to an estimated US $1.141 billion in 2007, according to the Wohlers Report 2008.
Wohlers Associates has published the Wohlers Report 2008, a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the new developments and trends in additive fabrication (AF) worldwide AF technology encompasses a wide range of applications, including design review, concept modeling, prototyping, pattern making and tooling
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 28 Sep 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
CAE technology conference attracts big guns
This year's Altair Technology Conference will take place on 2nd November at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon.
Jargon buster cuts through the ATEX jungle
ABB has published an "ATEX jargon buster" that helps motor users cut through the jungle of terms and definitions that make up the new ATEX Directives.
It is also being used to manufacture products that are difficult or impossible to produce any other way.
The market for additive fabrication, consisting of all products and services globally, grew 16% to an estimated US $1.141 billion in 2007, according to the Wohlers Report 2008.
This is up from an estimated US $983.7 million generated in 2006.
Further reading
New general manager for drives, motors, machines
Steve Ruddell is the new general manager of ABB's drives, motors and machines division in the UK.
Government needs to support vocational training
The Government needs to be more supportive of firms willing to participate in vocational qualifications and training schemes, a West Midlands' engineering company has warned
The industry is expected to grow substantially over the next several years.
By 2012, annual sales of AF products and services will reach an estimated US $2.3 billion worldwide, with unit sales reaching 12,000 systems for the year, according to Wohlers Associates.
By 2015, the company believes the industry will grow to an estimated US $3.5 billion for the year, with unit sales reaching 20,000 systems.
The larger economic impact, however, will be the thousands of organisations that benefit from AF technology.
For example, Graco Children's Products is capable of producing 7,000 - 10,000 parts per year with four AF systems and one person.
Rockwell Collins, can produce 6000 parts in a four-month period with one system and one person.
A large manufacturer of toys produces 12,000 models per year and offers 24-hour and same-day delivery.
More than 90% of the work is achieved with several additive systems and a workforce of two people.
"Additive fabrication significantly reduces labour costs, making it much easier for organisations in the West to compete with companies in countries where labour rates are low", said Terry Wohlers, principal author of Wohlers Report 2008 and President of Wohlers Associates.
"This will become especially important as companies apply AF technology to the manufacture of end-use products".
Increasingly, companies are using AF systems for custom and replacement part manufacturing, special edition products, short-run production and even series production.
They are also being used to produce manufacturing aids, such as jigs, fixtures and assembly guides, which are used to make products.
A major part of Wohlers Report 2008 discusses manufacturing applications of additive fabrication.
The report also presents industry growth estimates, new developments and business opportunities, research and development and how the industry is likely to develop in the future.
The study was created with support from 53 co-authors, 58 service providers, 26 system manufacturers and many others worldwide.
To support the review and analysis, the report includes 31 charts and graphs, 44 tables and 138 photographs and illustrations.
• Wohlers Associates: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
