Recently, 3DPI announced a distribution agreement with Wohlers Associates to sell the Wohlers Report 2014, an in-depth analysis of the current progress being made in the 3D printing industry. As the report, which is over 250-pages long, is filled with so many insights, analysis, and facts about the industry, we thought that we’d provide 3DPI readers with a list of five takeaways from Wohlers Report 2014, so that they may get a better understanding of just what’s inside.
1. The Report is Global:
Wohlers Report 2014 has surveyed 82 service providers and 29 system manufacturers from 30+ countries around the world. These 111 companies represent more than 100,000 users and customers of additive manufacturing and 3D printing. The publication also includes global reports on 3D printing activities in 25 different countries. The result is a comprehensive global view of the current state of the industry. For instance, Olaf Diegel, famous for his 3D-printed guitars and instruments, provides a detailed rundown of what’s happening in New Zealand. Diegel writes that he has seen a considerable increase in AM-related activity in the country, including the purchase of several high-end AM systems. He is also seeing a continuing increase in desktop 3D printing systems.
2. The Report is Thorough:
As a pillar of the 3D printing industry, the detailed report covers even the smallest 3D printing initiatives, including the $100 Peachy 3D printer. To that end, Joris Peels, author of the Personal 3D Printers section, reflects on the low-cost machines, saying that this market segment has been booming in recent years, with an influx of new users, along with a lot of hype. It is believed that more than 250 companies and teams are making personal 3D printers, with a few that have generated revenues of $1 million or more within a year of launch.
3. The Report is Futuristic:
More than a report focused on mainstream or established 3D printing technologies, the report delves, at times, into experimental technologies still in the making. Though the Foodini, from Spanish food printer manufacturer Natural Machines, has yet to be released to market, the Wohlers Report can already sense the Foodini’s importance in the future of the industry, writing that the device looks like a counter-top kitchen appliance. Owners will be able to use Foodini to connect to an online community site for recipes and load fresh ingredients into the machine’s food capsules.
4. The Report is Analytic:
Wohlers Report 2014 provides an expansive overview of the industry’s progress over the recent and distant past. And, as much as a general view of the industry is helpful to paint a picture of 3D printing as a whole, the analysis and conclusions provided in the report are among the truly informative gems in this information-rich publication. In a section outlining the pros and cons of AM, Zach Simkin and Annie Wang, Presidents of Senvol (previously covered on 3DPI here), describe cases in which 3D printing technology would be cost-effective, or not cost-effective, in great detail. This would help almost any company looking to implement the technology when trying to determine whether or not it is right for them.
5. The Report is Expansive:
In addition to its 276 pages with 70 co-authors from 24 countries, the report includes a number of additional sections, including important research and development activities that are expected to help propel the technology to the next level. The report also considers what’s ahead, with an entire section dedicated to the future of the industry. It includes advanced production applications of 3D printing, corporate and government investment, crowdfunding, and challenges that need to be overcome.
These five takeaways are just a small sample of what’s included in this critical piece of research and analysis. To learn more about the report, or to purchase, visit the Wohlers Report 2014 page at 3DPI’s report portal.
