Although the two technologies need not compete directly with one another, a recent pair of reports suggest that global 3D scanner market growth could outpace that of the global CMM market by 2021.
Orbis Research forecasts that the global CMM market will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.10 percent during the period of 2017-2021, while Research and Markets predicts that the global 3D scanner market will grow at a CAGR of 10.12 percent during the same period.
Key vendors for CMMs, according to Orbis Research, include:
- Carl Zeiss
- FARO Technologies
- Hexagon Metrology
- Mitutoyo
- Nikon Metrology
According to Research and Markets, the key industry players for 3D scanners include:
- GOM
- FARO Technologies
- Hexagon Metrology
- Nikon Metrology
- Perceptron
Despite the overlap in key vendors, these two markets face significantly different challenges.
The challenge for CMMs is indicative of an older, established technology: the availability of a wide variety of machines makes choice difficult for end-users. In contrast, the challenge for 3D scanners is a classic problem for a relatively new technology: the high cost of high-resolution units.
The latter challenge can be addressed through research and development, which could reduce the cost of high-resolution scanners over time. Addressing the former challenge may be more difficult, as it requires companies to find ways to distinguish their CMMs from those of their competitors.
Nevertheless, you can expect both CMMs and 3D scanners to remain vital to metrology and quality assurance in Industry 4.0.
For more information, visit the websites for Orbis Research and Research and Markets.