The Trends and Challenges of the Metal 3D Printing Industry in 2025

In the past decade, metal 3D printing technology has experienced rapid development, from the initial production of orthopedic implants to the manufacturing of rocket boosters. This technology has become an indispensable part of multiple key industries. With the advancement of technology and the expansion of the market, we are witnessing the revival of electron beam melting (EBM) technology and the widespread application of multi laser systems. However, despite some companies thriving in this field, others are facing difficulties. So, what changes will 2025 bring to this industry?

1. The transformation of industry focus: service orientation and production efficiency
Opinion of John Barnes, Head of Barnes Global Advisors
According to John Barnes, the head of Barnes Global Advisors, the future metal 3D printing industry will focus more on services rather than equipment sales. He said, "We will see more and more companies turning to parts manufacturing services, not just selling machines. This will encourage manufacturers to develop more efficient and functional machines that are more suitable for specific purposes, rather than pursuing 'elegance' in appearance
In addition, as faster multi laser systems gradually replace old single laser and dual laser systems, the old systems will find new applications in the research and development field. At the same time, direct energy deposition (DED) technology will also begin to make big strides in manufacturing larger parts. Although the progress of the defense sector is slow, it will ultimately adopt more additive manufacturing (AM). Material sales will continue to grow, and excellent engineers, especially those with AM experience, will become valuable assets.

2. Intensifying competition and opportunities for innovation
Opinion of Ruben Wauthle, CEO of AMNovis in Belgium
Ruben Wauthle， The CEO of AMNovis, a Belgian implant 3D printing service company, agrees with Barnes' views on industry innovation and transformation, and emphasizes the upcoming competition and opportunities. Wauthle said, "In 2025, as more OEMs enter the market, especially manufacturers from China competing at lower prices, the metal additive manufacturing industry will face greater pressure. This price pressure may drive innovation and encourage manufacturers to develop simpler and more cost-effective machines
He also pointed out that the risk of overcapacity, especially in fields such as medical equipment printing, may lead to insufficient machine utilization and potential downtime issues. Despite this, the demand for metal additive manufacturing contract manufacturing is growing in various industries, but not all companies can survive as oversupply may force some companies to downsize. Wauthle expects a company to revolutionize the metal additive manufacturing market like Formlabs did with polymer printing.

3. Steady growth and quality improvement
Domin CEO Marcus Pont's Strategic Proposal
Marcus Pont, CEO of Domin, suggests adopting a more problem oriented approach to achieve AM innovation. Pont said, "Next year, we will see people no longer investing billions of dollars just to create solutions, but to find practical problems and realize that 3D printing can be a solution. This will lead to the establishment of new companies focused on creating value through applications and possibly integrating processes, and long-term stable processes will win.

4. Importance of Reflux and Elastic Production
Director of EOS Global Additive Minds
Fabian Alefeld's prediction
Fabian Alefeld, Director of Business Development and Academy at EOS Global Additive Minds, expects that the return of manufacturing and flexible production will continue to receive attention. Alefeld said, "We believe that the ability to rapidly increase production while reducing risk and dependence on global logistics will be valued. The company will adopt a total cost of ownership (TCO) metric to ensure scalability in critical manufacturing environments. With increasing confidence in this industrial technology, companies utilizing additive manufacturing will achieve long-term sustainability and economic feasibility by 2025 and beyond.

5. The Impact of Geopolitics and Strategic Investment
Insight from Hamid Zarringhalam, Vice President of SLM Solutions
Hamid Zarringhalam， The Vice President of Nikon Corporation and CEO of Nikon Advanced Manufacturing Company emphasized the strategic importance of additive manufacturing in economic and geopolitical changes. Zarringhalam said, "Especially in the United States, emotions seem to be on the rise. If this sentiment continues and inflation is under control, it is a good sign for mainstream customers' capital expenditures. Trade and global geopolitics will continue to be the driving forces for capacity reflux or return.

6. The development potential of multi material LPBF
Professor Richard Hague's Technology Outlook at the University of Nottingham
Richard Hague， Professor of Additive Manufacturing at the University of Nottingham and Director of Added Scientific, a contract research company, is excited about the development of Multi Material Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF). Hague said, "The recently upgraded aerosol three roll system is a significant improvement over the previous two roll setup. I am confident that despite technical challenges, commercial use cases will eventually emerge." He also pays special attention to molten metal spraying technology, believing that this emerging technology is beginning to accelerate development and has special potential in multiple materials.

7. Revival of Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion
JEOL President Shoji Shiota's Technology Development Trends
Shoji Shiota, President of JEOL, elaborated on the expected technological developments in the industry. Shiota said, "We believe that industrial 3D printing will continue to mature and focus on application driven applications in core areas. With the launch of a new generation of machines, electron beam powder bed fusion (EB-PBF) will regain importance, thanks to advances in processing technology for high melting point metals such as tungsten.

8. The application prospects of refractory metals
Freemelt Chief Scientist Ulf Ackelid's View on Refractory Metals
Ulf Ackelid, Chief Scientist of Freemelt, focuses on the emerging field of refractory metals in additive manufacturing. Ackelid said, "People's interest in additive manufacturing of refractory metals such as tungsten and molybdenum is growing. Cross border nuclear fusion energy programs and geopolitical tensions have provided new application scenarios for refractory metals.

Conclusion: Steady progress, quality first
Overall, the metal 3D printing industry is undergoing a profound transformation, shifting from simple equipment sales to parts manufacturing services, and from complex and expensive machines to simpler and more efficient solutions. Steady growth and continuous quality improvement will be the themes for the coming years, while geopolitical factors and technological advancements will continue to shape this dynamic industry. With the emergence of more innovations and the growth of market demand, metal 3D printing is expected to play a greater role in the future, bringing more possibilities to various industries.

Source: Yangtze River Delta Laser Alliance