CONTEXT Announces Leaders in 2017 3D Printing Revenues; Stratasys in Front

London-based data analytics firm CONTEXT has been in the business of watching market performance and industry benchmarks for over three decades. Recently, they set their sights on examining the leaders in 3D printing revenue for 2017. With a focus on hardware revenues for 3D printing, it was no surprise to see big names like Stratasys and 3D Systems at the top of the list overall.

Shipments of industrial and professional 3D printers placed companies such as HP, GE Additive, SLM Solutions and EOS on top for the last quarter of 2017 with an industry revenue growth of 40 percent. Stratasys—involved in nearly every major industrial realm for 3D printing, from aerospace to medical innovation—was number one in 2017 revenues for polymer 3D printing, followed by Carbon and 3D Systems.

Top five 3D printer vendors by revenue from Industrial/Professional machines shipped in 2017

Metal 3D printing popularity has accelerated quickly over the past few years too, and for a variety of users (to include the desktop) as the technology becomes more accessible and affordable. While basic materials such as plastics have a wide range of uses for prototypes and parts, metal 3D printing is vast in material choices, with production of powders establishing a sub-industry of its own. Companies such as GE Additive are currently experiencing top revenues for the hardware category though. After GE Additive, EOS and SLM are rising globally for profits in metal 3D printing.

“Over the year as a whole, long-time market leaders Stratasys and 3D Systems saw revenues from the shipment of machines drop a bit while upstarts GE Additive and HP experienced growth, helping the full Industrial/Professional segment achieve a 23% year-on-year growth in printer revenues,” says Chris Connery, VP for Global Analysis at CONTEXT. “The segment also saw the number of printer units shipped grow for the first time in three years; 11,453 Industrial/Professional printers were shipped in 2017, 5% more than in 2016.”

In terms of leaders for volume in 3D printers shipped around the world, here is the exact lineup from the CONTEXT analysis:

• Stratasys
• 3D Systems
• EnvisionTEC
• EOS
• Carbon and HP (tied in fifth place)

As CONTEXT analyzed the desktop realm, they found XYZprinting was in the top position (after beating out Monoprice) for desktop 3D printers, which is especially impressive considering the Taiwanese company only experienced 1% growth in unit share. Prusa Research has also just entered this category, with most of their revenue coming from 3D printing kits and sets.

Top five Personal/Desktop 3D printer vendors by units shipped in 2017

The data analysis can also be examined as possible, as CONTEXT stated in their recent press release:

“When the market is separated into a personal class that covers 3D printers priced under $2,500, and a professional class encompassing those priced from $2.5K to $20K, Ultimaker and Formlabs lead the professional class in terms of share. Formlabs outstanding 61% year-on-year unit growth has helped to drive significant growth in the segment.”

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[Source: CONTEXT]