Selective Laser Sintering 3D Printing Technology Market - Forecasts from 2021 to 2026

The selective laser sintering 3D printing technology market is evaluated at US$1.286 billion for the year 2019 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 18.13% to reach a market size of US$4.129 billion by the year 2026. Selective laser sintering is a 3D printing technology that uses tiny particles of plastics, and ceramics by heat from a high-powered laser to form a 3D object. The technique is popularly used for prototyping and hobby projects, and the rising adoption and availability of 3D printing solutions around the globe is projected to shoot its demand in the coming years. The rising use in aerospace, coupled with a growing aerospace industry is expected to surge the market growth during the forecast period. Furthermore, the increased use of the technology in creating surgical learning tools as well as surgical guides & tools and the rising adoption of prosthetics are some other prominent factors anticipated to boost the market growth in the coming years. However, the availability of substitute technologies is projected to hinder the market growth during the forecast period.



The recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease had a negative impact on the selective laser sintering 3D printing technology market. The end-use industries such as automotive and aerospace witnessed a decline which led to declining demand for SLS 3D printing technology during the pandemic. Furthermore, a large number of surgeries were postponed in the year 2020 which decreased the demand for surgical tools and guides and consequently harmed the market growth.

Widespread use in the aerospace industry

Selective laser sintering 3D printing technology provides a high level of geometric design freedom and enables the manufacturing of profoundly intricate and lightweight designs with high stability which is required in aerospace. Furthermore, selective laser sintering is able to produce a small batch of components at decent unit costs, which has led to its widespread use and is expected to drive the growth of the SLS 3D printing technology market during the forecast period. SLS is the recommended process for aerospace applications such as engine compartment, for instance, tarmac nozzle bezel, which requires heat-resistant functional parts. The technology is also recommended for use in air ducts, for instance, airflow ducting, which requires flexible ducts and bellow directors. In addition, the aerospace & defense industry has been growing steadily and is anticipated to supplement the demand for SLS 3D printing technology which is projected to surge the market growth during the forecast period. According to the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), the aerospace & defense industry in the United States generated a revenue of $909 billion in 2019 and witnessed a strong annual growth rate of 6.7% compared to the previous year. Space systems led the industry growth, with a significant gain of nearly 9% revenue growth, while commercial aerospace posted a 7% growth in revenue. The growing trend in the aerospace industry is projected to continue in the coming years as well, which, coupled with the increasing use of SLS 3D printing technology in aerospace, is anticipated to propel market growth in the coming years.

Rising use in surgery and prosthetics

One of the prominent factors anticipated to drive the growth of the market during the forecast period is the increasing use of SLS 3D printing technology in prosthetics and surgical uses such as creating surgical learning tools and surgical guides & tools. SLS 3D printing technology is considered ideal for replicating bone as the parts produced by the process are generally white with a surface finish similar to a bone and possess superior strength. Furthermore, the use of anatomical models and surgical guides has been increasing as it allows the precise placement of screws and plates and hence provides better postoperative results. SLS 3D printing technology is being used for making functional guides and tools and the increased use of surgical guides is projected to propel the growth of the SLS 3D printing technology market during the forecast period. Moreover, due to its ability to produce complex geometries, it is generally utilized in prosthetics which requires everything to be specially designed and fit to the necessities of the wearer. In addition, SLS is generally used at the interface section of functional prosthetics due to its superior strength and high level of precision. The use of prosthetics has been becoming increasingly prevalent with the rise in the aging population, higher number of sports injuries, and advancements in technology, which is anticipated to boost the growth of SLS 3D printing technology in the coming years.

North America holds a significant market share

Geographically, North America is projected to hold a significant share in the market during the forecast period owing to the presence of an advanced healthcare system that extensively makes use of surgical guides and tools. Also, the region has large aerospace and automotive industries which are steadily growing and are expected to drive the market growth in the region. The Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness the highest growth owing to multiple growth opportunities in the coming years due to the rapidly increasing manufacturing sector of the region. According to data from the World Bank, the value-added in the manufacturing industry in South Asia reached US$491.606 billion in 2019, rising from US$278.594 billion in 2009, witnessing a growth of 76.46% over a decade. This is expected to have a positive impact on the SLS 3D printing technology market in the Asia Pacific region.

Segmentation:

By Component

• Hardware
• Software
• Services
• Material

By End-Use Industry

• Healthcare
• Automotive
• Aerospace and Defense
• Others

By Geography

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