Market Analysis and Industry Trends of 3D Printing in Healthcare: Growth Driven by Tissue Engineering and Dental Implants
Tissue engineering and artificial dental implants have driven3DThe Development of Printing Technology in the Healthcare Market, to2020its market share will reach12hundred million U.S. dollars.
As the application of 3D printing technology in healthcare fields, such as orthopedics and dental implants, continues to grow, it is estimated that the global 3D printing industry’s share of the healthcare market will surge in the coming years.
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, can transform a 3D model into a three-dimensional object; the materials used for this purpose are referred to as 3D printing materials. The application of 3D printing technology in numerous fields within the healthcare industry, including dentistry, medicine, transplantation, and pharmaceutical manufacturing, has begun to grow rapidly.
2014Year, Global Medical3DThe printing market is mainly monopolized by a few giants, such as:Stratasys Ltd. (U.S.), 3D Systems (U.S.), Materialise NV (Belgium), EnvisionTEC GmbH (Germany), etc.
Major companies in the 3D organ and tissue printing market include:
Organovo (United States)
Oxford Performance Materials (U.S. Facial Printing)
Aspect Biosystems (Canada)
n3D Biosciences (U.S. Bioprinted Cell Culture)
Medical 3D printing can utilize a wide range of materials. In this way, the 3D printing market can be segmented into categories such as donor cells, plastics, ceramics, and metals. Due to their low cost and ease of manufacturing, there is substantial demand for plastics in the medical 3D printing industry. Plastics and polymers are the most widely used materials in medical 3D printing, with revenue from raw material supply reaching $189.9 million in 2014. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2015 to 2020 is estimated at 13.1%. Although donor cells are projected to have the highest CAGR of 28.8% in the medical 3D printing industry, ceramic materials remain the second largest pillar of raw materials in the medical 3D printing market.
3D printing technology has numerous applications in the healthcare and medical field, which can be categorized into several sectors such as prosthetics, surgical guidance, hearing aids, and tissue engineering. Prosthetic limbs manufactured using various metals and materials have long been widely used in the medical industry. However, 3D-printed prosthetics, with their advantages of cost-effectiveness and customization, are poised to bring about a revolution in the healthcare sector and will further advance the development of medical applications of 3D printing.
Dental laboratories have increasingly embraced the use of 3D-printed products for replacement and restorative procedures. The rising number of dental implant surgeries has further driven the demand for dental implants. In 2014, dental implants accounted for the largest share of the global medical 3D printing market, generating $175.3 million in revenue. Restorative procedures ranked second, while tissue engineering applications are projected to achieve the highest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.2%.
In recent years, 3D printers have begun to be used in the healthcare industry for designing customized medical devices and prosthetics (including prosthetic limbs and dental applications). Consequently, demand for materials used in these applications, such as plastics, ceramics, and metals, is expected to grow. Furthermore, governments worldwide are formulating and implementing policies to encourage the development of the medical 3D printing industry. Due to the continuous emergence of revolutionary 3D printing applications and the significant potential economic benefits, substantial investments are being directed toward 3D printing companies in the form of research resources. However, the high cost of 3D printers has indirectly affected their adoption rates in healthcare settings and university R&D departments. As a result, only large organizations and universities with investment support from governments or contracted companies have the opportunity to enter this industry. The high costs of printers and materials make 3D printing unaffordable for individuals, which remains a major obstacle to current market development.
Driven by the increased adoption of 3D printing technology and growing investment, the global medical 3D printing market in 2014 was predominantly dominated by the United States, with Europe ranking as the second-largest market. Following significant transformations, including mergers and acquisitions and substantial government investment in 3D technology, the European market is projected to experience substantial growth. With an anticipated compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.5%, the medical 3D printing market in the Asia-Pacific region is also poised for significant expansion. Nevertheless, the current market share of the Asia-Pacific region remains lower than that of Europe; its vast future potential is primarily attributed to population growth and the expanding application of 3D printing in transplantation and surgical procedures.
According to an analysis by IndustryARC, given the increasing number of new entrants flooding the industry, the market will see more material manufacturers and printer manufacturers than technology developers. As the application of 3D printing in dentistry, medicine, and prosthodontics continues to expand, laboratory scientists are showing greater interest in developing tools and seeking solutions that meet their needs. Anticipating potential exponential growth in future profits, these material and printer suppliers are actively collaborating with researchers and investing heavily in the development of new solutions.
IndustryARC
IndustryARC is a research and consulting firm that publishes over 500 reports annually, covering a diverse range of industries such as agriculture, automotive, automation and instrumentation, chemical materials, energy, power, food and beverage, information technology, life sciences, and healthcare.
Compiled by Li Haoyue
Editor: John Wang