A new, clever classification of the AM market

The Atomic Layers: S7E7 (00185)

Atomic Layer of the Day:

Joris Peels has a rather demanding writing style, and for an average reader like me, keeping up with the stream of words he publishes isn’t always easy. But once you catch the thread and understand his point, you realize that there are some truly insightful thoughts behind it.

Like the ones in today’s article: “Communicating Vessels: Four 3D Printing Markets” (published on 3DPrint.com).

I won’t lie to you—the title isn’t exactly inviting, nor is the chosen cover image. And the text itself is tough to read (as usual). But beneath this somewhat uninspiring first impression lies a rather revolutionary idea that deserves wider recognition.

There’s even a possibility that Peels has just created a new way of classifying the 3D printing market.

Listen to this…

The article presents a reflection on the 3D printing industry, which the author doesn’t see as a single, uniform sector but rather as four distinct segments, each with its own needs and characteristics. Instead of categorizing the market based on printer applications or technologies, he proposes a perspective based on use cases, sectors, economic utility, and specific 3D printing configurations.

Peels compares these segments to communicating vessels, where investments, talent, education, research, and technology adoption influence one another, striving for balance. While each segment evolves at a different pace, ultimately, progress in one area benefits the others.

For instance, the success of desktop 3D printers can drive industrial market growth, and advancements in SLA technology can contribute to the development of materials and other technologies like SLS, and so on...

Joris Peels identifies four new 3D printing markets:

1. New Defense – covering defense, aerospace, aviation, and maritime industries, where security, regulatory compliance, and advanced materials (e.g., high-temperature metals, ceramics) are key.

2. Serial Manufacturing – focused on optimized, standardized machines that have become commodities. Companies prioritize cost reduction, automation, and production efficiency.

3. Specific Variable Manufacturing – targeting companies that specialize in narrow niches, such as dental prosthetics, footwear, or aerospace components. Specialized materials and deep customer insight are crucial here.

4. DVD Players (Commercial Commoditization) – a segment where 3D printers are becoming increasingly affordable and accessible, much like DVD players once did.

Peels emphasizes that while each of these segments requires a different approach, their growth is interconnected. Success in one area can drive advancements in others, strengthening the entire 3D printing ecosystem.

Why this is innovative and important.

At the beginning, we divided the market by technology:

• FDM (polymer filament)

• SLA & DLP & PolyJet (photopolymer resin)

• SLS (polymer powders)

• PBF (metal powders)

• Binder Jetting (everything except metal powders)

• Other.

After 2010, when amateur and desktop 3D printers emerged, an economic classification was introduced:

• low-budget

• mid-budget

• high-budget.

Then, as certain desktop companies started aiming higher, new categories were created to satisfy their egos, replacing budget-based classifications with terms like “prosumer,” “professional,” “production,” and “industrial.”

Now, there’s total chaos—how do you compare a Stratasys Fortus, used daily for prototyping and limited-run end-use parts, to a Bambu Lab farm of 300 3D printers mass-producing PACF or ASA parts? In such a case, which machine is “professional” and which is “industrial”?

Peels’ new classification cleverly solves this dilemma. Both Bambu Lab and Stratasys can function across all four sectors simultaneously without breaking logic or forcing artificial classifications.

Ok, again, why is this even important?

Because with proper market classification we can properly research and measure it. And without research and measurement we don't know if we're going in the right direction or not? Are we in a crisis or not? And if we are, are we getting out of it or sinking deeper.

It's possible that one of the sub-reasons for the current situation is that market research started to rely on screwed-up classifications in the first place (prosumer vs. professional vs. industrial).

I highly encourage you to explore this topic further. (And read Peels’ article)

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Atomic Layer from the Past:

02-07-2017: Stratasys introduced a mid-budget series of professional FDM 3D printers, the F123 Series.

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News & Gossip:

1. Germany’s economy has entered recession for the second consecutive year, with GDP shrinking by 0.2% in 2024 after a 0.3% decline in 2023. Weak exports, declining trade with China, and high production costs are key factors. The once-dominant German automotive industry is struggling against Chinese EV manufacturers, while rising energy prices and labor costs further reduce competitiveness. Structural issues and a lack of investment worsen the outlook, with the IMF predicting slow growth in the coming years. Forecasts for 2025 remain bleak, with only 0.5% expected growth, making Germany one of the weakest economies in the EU. No clear recovery signs are visible. Yes, it affects 3D printing either.

2. On the other side of the globe, Bambu Lab has raised hardware prices in its US store by about 3% due to the Trump administration's 10% tariff on Chinese goods. This marks one of the first visible impacts of the tariff on 3D printing consumer prices, confirming expected cost increases in the industry.

3. And in case you haven’t noticed, it’s already been six months of silence since Stratasys filed its lawsuit against Bambu Lab. Interesting, isn’t it...?