3D Scanner Market - Forecasts from 2024 to 2029

The global 3D scanner market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 10.71% over the forecast period to reach US$3.533 billion by 2029, increasing from estimated value of US$2.124 billion in 2024.

3D scanners are devices that scan data of physical objects and convert it into a 3D CAD model. Such devices analyse objects from the real world in the creation of data that enables to recreate of the object’s appearances and shapes. Demand for reverse engineering services is gaining traction in various sectors such as defense, aerospace, manufacturing, and automotive which has positively impacted the 3D scanner’s market demand.

Moreover, the increasing cases of terrorist attacks have further augmented the demand for 3D scanners for scanning faces and bodies for security surveillance at airports and other public places. Other factors such as technological advancement and the development of handheld 3D scanners are projected to expand the global 3D scanner market in the forthcoming years. Furthermore, the increasing demand for whole-body scanners to get deep insights into medical problems will also propel the growth of the 3D scanner market on a global scale.

Market Drivers

The growing automotive sector has accelerated the overall market expansion.

3D scanning is slowly finding its way into the automotive sector where it is enabling manufacturers to transform the way how automotive components, assemblies, and parts are designed, prototypes, and customized. The growing demand for fuel-efficient vehicles coupled with innovations in overall vehicle design is expected to positively impact the overall market demand. Furthermore, the applicability of such technology further improves the overall production which in today's times is imperative to manufacturers especially when automotive production is witnessing a boom fuelled by the growing demand. According to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, in 2022, global automotive production witnessed a 6% increase over 2021 with the overall production reaching 85.01 million units.

The growing aerospace sector has propelled the overall market growth.

3D scanning has revolutionized aerospace manufacturing where besides its applicability in components manufacturing and customization, the technology also provides excellent measurement capabilities to check the geometric dimension of aerospace parts. The growing aircraft manufacturing has accelerated the new technological innovations adoptions to achieve optimum utilization of resources and with the booming air passenger traffic coupled with ongoing investments in military aircraft enhancements, such technology is expected to witness positive growth in the coming years. According to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, in Q2 2023, total aircraft shipment globally witnessed a 47.4% increase in comparison to Q1 2023.

A laser scanner is anticipated to account for a considerable market share.

By type, the 3D scanner market is analyzed into optical, laser, and structured light scanners, where laser scanners are expected to hold a significant market share fuelled by the ease in the availability of laser scanners coupled with the emerging trend of 3D presentation and designing.

The optical scanners are projected to witness the fastest market growth usage of scanning technologies such as bar codes, magnetic ink character recognition (MICR), and radio frequency identification (RFID) tags in sectors such as the packaging industry, banking and finance industry, and education sector, among other industry verticals. The Structured Light Scanner (SLS) market will also experience considerable growth due to rising demand for photographic and bathymetric maps of the seafloor for environmental study purposes as well as for archaeological sites.   

Oil & Gas sector is expected to grow at a significant rate.

Based on industry verticals, the global 3D scanner market is segmented into healthcare, military and defense, media and entertainment, manufacturing, construction, and others. The oil and gas industry is one of the significant end-users for these products on account of their ability to aid in the development of a 3D terrain survey for any upstream or downstream site.

Likewise, the growing emphasis on improving overall crude oil and petrochemical supply by major oil-producing nations is estimated to propel the demand for 3D scanning in the oil & gas sector for designing, construction sequencing, and pre-fabrication applications. Additionally, automotive manufacturers are investing in 3D printing & scanning technologies to analyze their vehicle structural integrity, which would enable them to analyze the cost of production, which is expected to stimulate market expansion.

North America will hold a considerable market share.

By geography, the global 3D scanner market has been segmented into the following North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific (APAC) regions. North America accounts for a significant share of the global 3D scanner market which is attributed to the strong presence of key players in the region offering state-of-the-art 3D scanner products coupled with the rising adoption of VDI/VDE regulations that define 3D scanner specifications.

The European 3D Scanner market will witness considerable growth during the forecast period owing to the rising manufacturing and automotive industries in the region. However, the Asia Pacific region is anticipated to witness the fastest regional market growth during the forecast period due to rising demand for 3D scanners and their applications in the automotive, architecture, construction, and healthcare sectors.

Key Developments

• In January 2024: Polyga Inc released the next generation of desktop 3D scanners namely “Compact S5 Macro” that enables engineers to parts with dimensions 1 to 5 centimeters at 5 micron accuracy. The scanner features SDK software which easily integrates it into robotic systems and industrial automation.
• In October 2023: Creaform launched a new edition of its HandySCAN 3DTM 3D-scaner “ MAX Series” which offers a 3D scanning area of 1m x 1m and can easily acquire 3D measurement of any large object. The portable 3D scanners offer multiple scanning modes that enhance the ability to optimally measure objects.
• In January 2022: B9Creations launched its ultra-precision “B9 scan 500” 3D scanner which enables users to replicate models with an accuracy of 5 µm. The scanning solution is ideal for a wider number of sectors spanning from Jewellery to manufacturing.

Segmentation:

By Type

• Laser 3D scanner
• Structured light scanner

By Range

• Short Range
• Medium Range
• Long Range

By Technology

• Laser Triangulation
• Laser Pulse Based
• Laser Phase Shift-Based

By Product

• CMM Based
• Tripod Mounted
• Others

By Industry Vertical

• Automotive
• Healthcare
• Aerospace & Defense
• Oil & Gas
• Construction
• Energy & Power
• Mining
• Others

By Geography

• North America
• USA
• Canada
• Mexico
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Others
• Europe
• United Kingdom
• Germany
• France
• Others
• Middle East and Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• Israel
• Others
• Asia Pacific
• Japan
• China
• India
• South Korea
• Thailand
• Taiwan
• Indonesia
• Others