The 2015 Wohlers Report Is Out

Wohlers Report 2015 is here, which is always good for anyone involved with, curious about, or invested in any area the 3D printing industry. Wohlers Associates, Inc. is widely recognized globally as a leading consulting firm of 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing.

According to the 2015 Wohlers report, "the market for additive manufacturing, consisting of all AM products and services worldwide, grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 35.2% to $4.1 billion in 2014.'" This means that the industry grew at $1 billion in 2014. 49 manufacturers are now producing and selling industrial-grade AM machines. The CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) over the past three years (2012–2014) measure exactly 33.8%.

Wohlers Report 2015 is a bit pricey too take a look at, but is a comprehensive snapshot of growth, competitive products and services, and the future outlook for the additive manufacturing industry. It's always very in depth, explaining and breaking down the history, applications, processes, materials, and equipment manufacturers, as well as recent developments in R&D, investment, collaborative activities in government, academia, and industry. It is respected as an accurate summary the state of the AM industry around the world, in case you couldn't tell by this point in the article.

Wohlers Associates growth report:

Growth occurred everywhere in the industry. This includes the low-cost “desktop” 3D printer segment. The use of industrial metal AM systems for demanding production applications in the aerospace and medical markets also grew strongly. Within the 314 page report, the technologies, markets, and business models are documented in great detail for every segment of the industry.

Terry Wohlers himself, the principal consultant and president of Wohlers Associates said, “The first Wohlers Report was published in April 1996. It was 40 pages in length and represented the first-ever published analysis of the industry worldwide. The AM industry represented a mere $295 million in 1995. A lot has changed in 20 years, and we’ve worked hard to document this change. I am proud to say that no other publication comes close to matching the depth and breadth of data and market analysis that is found in our annual report.”

Within the 314 pages of the 2015 Wohlers Report are 39 charts and graphs, 63 tables, and 279 images and illustrations. The report sells for $495 USD, was created with help and support from "87 service providers, 40 system manufacturers, and the valuable contributions of 78 co-authors in 31 countries."