They’re in a unique position to have inside information, and now Stratasys and Stratasys Direct Manufacturing have conducted a survey of 700 executives, engineers, designers and managers about the impact of additive processes on manufacturing.
Stratasys Direct Manufacturing, the indirect subsidiary of Stratasys, through 3D Printing’s Imminent Impact on Manufacturing takes an in-depth look at current – and impending – trends and practices in 3D printing.
Stratasys says 40 percent of the respondents to the survey are currently working for or with companies with more than $50 million in revenue, and many of those respondents are already working for concerns using 3D printing.
The result of the report, one of the only 3D printing studies focused on input from professional users, was revealed this week at a media summit at the Stratasys Direct Manufacturing headquarters in Austin, TX.
The professional 3D printing users weighed in on where 3D printing for product development stands today and examines questions about in-house investment plans, whether or not they work with a service provider and what they’d like to see happen regarding 3D printing of end-use production parts.
The vast majority of respondents represented the aerospace, automotive, consumer and medical sectors.
“We needed to look beyond our factory walls to get a more complete sense of where 3D printing is headed, so we turned to those who live and breathe the technology just like we do – professional users. We set out to uncover the common themes among companies who are on the spectrum of larger-scale adoption and integration of 3D printing into their manufacturing process,” says Joe Allison, the CEO of Stratasys Direct Manufacturing. “We’re sharing our findings to help advance adoption and help manufacturers’ maximize the business benefits.”
The report examines which applications, business benefits and challenges, equipment, materials and services are of peak interest to the most committed users of additive manufacturing and 3D printing.
Among the more interesting findings of the report, SDM says additive metal use is expected to nearly double over the next three years, and the majority of respondents say they believe, regardless of their company’s current in-house AM capabilities, there will always be a need to partner with an AM service provider.
“If your company is a committed user of 3D printing, the report will provide assurance that you are headed down a similar path of your peers and face many of the same challenges to adoption,” Allison says. “If you’re still dipping your toe in the water, the results may serve as a wake-up call to take swifter action.”
You can download a free copy of this report here.
Stratasys Direct Inc. is the result of a combination of the latest technologies and many years experience of three industry-leading pioneers – Solid Concepts, Harvest Technologies and RedEye – which were joined to provide a broad range of additive and conventional manufacturing services. Stratasys Direct Manufacturing now has more than 600 employees across eight manufacturing facilities.
What do you think of the conclusions in this report from Stratasys Direct Manufacturing? Let us know in the 3D Printing’s Imminent Impact on Manufacturing forum thread on 3DPB.com.
