Waterjet Cutting Machines Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Waterjet Cutting Machines Market is projected to expand from a valuation of USD 1.88 Billion in 2025 to USD 2.92 Billion by 2031, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 7.61%. These industrial systems employ high-pressure water streams, frequently augmented with abrasive particles, to slice through materials ranging from metals to stone without generating heat, thereby preserving material integrity through cold cutting. This capability, coupled with the versatility to handle various thicknesses for automotive and aerospace applications, drives market growth, a trend supported by Association for Manufacturing Technology data showing metalworking machinery orders reached $450.6 million in September 2024.

However, the market faces a substantial hurdle regarding the high operational and maintenance expenditures linked to these systems, specifically the need for frequent replacements of high-pressure parts like seals and nozzles. These recurring costs elevate the total ownership expense, which often discourages small and medium-sized enterprises with budget constraints from adopting the technology, even when considering its operational benefits.

Market Drivers

The surge in electric vehicle (EV) production and the associated need for composite fabrication act as primary engines for market growth, as the shift away from internal combustion engines demands cold cutting methods to machine lightweight carbon fiber reinforced plastics without inducing thermal damage or delamination. This transition is underpinned by the massive scale of electrification, evidenced by the International Energy Agency's 'Global EV Outlook 2025', which reported a global production total of 17.3 million electric cars in 2024, thereby generating significant demand for tools that maintain material integrity.

Market expansion is further fueled by the necessity for high-precision machining of heat-sensitive aerospace composites and alloys, as manufacturers utilize waterjet systems to shape titanium and fuselage parts without creating heat-affected zones to meet strict safety standards. This requirement is highlighted by Airbus delivering 766 commercial aircraft in 2024, according to Economy Middle East, necessitating continued investment in advanced cutting capabilities. Furthermore, data from the Association for Manufacturing Technology indicates that new metalworking machinery orders hit $387.3 million in July 2025, reflecting sustained capital expenditure in the fabrication technologies supporting these sectors.

Market Challenges

Significant operational and maintenance costs associated with waterjet cutting create a major obstacle to widespread adoption, as the technology necessitates the regular replacement of high-pressure components like focusing tubes, seals, and orifices that endure heavy wear from abrasives. These ongoing consumable expenses drastically increase the total cost of ownership, placing a persistent financial burden on users, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises with limited funds, leading many potential buyers to postpone investment or choose cheaper alternatives despite the precision advantages of waterjets.

This economic pressure is directly linked to volatility in capital equipment investments, with manufacturers showing reluctance to acquire high-maintenance assets during uncertain economic times. This hesitation is evident in industry data from AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology, which reported that manufacturing technology orders, including metalworking machinery, fell by 14.5 percent to $385 million in October 2024 compared to the previous month. Such a decline highlights how concerns over recurring operational costs can suppress demand and limit the technology's reach into cost-conscious market segments.

Market Trends

The market is being transformed by the integration of robotic automation and smart factory connectivity, allowing manufacturers to separate production capabilities from labor constraints by mounting waterjet cutting heads on articulated robotic arms for high-speed trimming of non-planar surfaces like molded liners and automotive dashboards. This alignment with Industry 4.0 enables real-time monitoring of abrasive flow and pump pressure for remote diagnostics, a shift supported by the International Federation of Robotics' 'World Robotics 2024' report, which notes that global industrial robot stock reached a record 4,281,585 units in 2024, emphasizing the drive to automate complex fabrication.

Simultaneously, the widespread adoption of 5-axis and 3D cutting technologies is accelerating to overcome the geometric constraints of traditional flat-stock machining, with modern heads capable of dynamic tilting to correct stream lag and taper for precise bevels and structural contours. This capability is increasingly vital for meeting strict tolerance requirements in complex assemblies, a trend reflected in the Association for Manufacturing Technology's report showing that aerospace sector orders in the first half of 2024 reached their highest unit count since 2018, underscoring the demand for machinery that handles sophisticated tasks.

Key Players Profiled in the Waterjet Cutting Machines Market

• Flow International Corporation
• Kennametal Inc.
• Wardjet Inc.
• Jet Edge Holdings Limited
• Koike Aronson, Inc.
• Resato International BV
• Hornet Cutting Systems
• Hypertherm Inc.
• Techni Waterjet Pty Ltd.
• BFT GmbH

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Waterjet Cutting Machines Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Waterjet Cutting Machines Market, by Type:

• Abrasive Waterjet Cutting Machines
• Pure Waterjet Cutting Machines

Waterjet Cutting Machines Market, by Technology:

• Robotic Waterjet Cutting Machines
• 3D Waterjet Cutting Machines
• Micro Waterjet Cutting Machines
• Others

Waterjet Cutting Machines Market, by Application:

• Automotive
• Aerospace & Defense
• Metal Fabrication
• Electronics
• Healthcare
• Others

Waterjet Cutting Machines Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Waterjet Cutting Machines Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.