Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
The companies that are the heaviest consumers of 3D printers and services
tend to have deep pockets. Yet the size of the market for 3D printed goods and
services remains tiny, particularly when the 3D printing market is compared
against the size of the $15 trillion a year market for mainstream manufacturing
goods and services. Terry Wohlers estimates that in 2011, a total of $1.7 billion
U.S. exchanged hands around 3D printing. If the global market for mainstream
manufacturing were the volume of a beach ball, the volume of the worldwide
market for 3D printing would be comparable to a ping-pong ball.
On the other hand, although a $1.7 billion industry is a modest piece of the
world's economy, this market may not be as small as it sounds at irst. Small
manufacturing-related businesses like Mike's dot the global manufacturing
landscape. In fact, the U.S. Census Bureau data indicates that about half
of the manufacturing irms in the U.S. employ fewer than ten employees,
and a quarter employ fewer than ive. A 3D printing industry that's worth a
few billion dollars a year may be insigniicant in the big picture, but a few
billion dollars a year distributed amongst many small businesses could go
a long way.
The blank canvas of the 21st century
Companies that make 3D printers keep a careful eye on the new world of
nimble manufacturing. I paid a visit to one of the leading 3D printer companies
to get more insight. From the outside, 3D Systems' headquarters looked like
any other successful mid-sized technology corporation that's home to more
than 700 employees. The building's white and glass exterior did not hint at
the creative energy inside.
Visitors to 3D Systems walk into a waiting area that's worthy of an exhi-
bition in a museum of modern art. Clean white walls showcased brightly
colored 3D printed objects. To the right side of the room, a sleek red race
car the size of an amusement park bumper car sat proudly on a pedestal.
On the left, a counter was laden with dozens of colorful 3D printed toys and
random machine parts.
Nearby, two 3D printed fully functioning funky plastic electric guitars are
displayed. One guitar was purple and the other bright red, designed by Olaf
Diegel in New Zealand. The guitars' bodies were a feat of 3D printed product
