Advanced metrology equipment gains significance as additive manufacturing trend increases
by CM Staff
Automotive, aerospace and defense, and medical devices will provide the most growth opportunities in the next 5 years, says Frost & Sullivan
PHOTO: Frost & Sullivan
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Frost & Sullivan’s recent analysis, On-demand Manufacturing Propels the Global Dimensional Metrology Equipment Market for Additive Manufacturing, finds that the increasing proliferation of additive manufacturing across all manufacturing industries and rising investments in automotive manufacturing are driving the metrology equipment market for additive manufacturing.
The market is heading toward a growth stage from a nascent stage and is estimated to garner revenue of US$276.6 million by 2024 from US$228.3 million in 2019, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.9%. However, COVID-19 is generating economic hardship across sectors.
Key industries such as the automotive, medical, and aerospace and defense sectors will be affected in 2020. With production hubs shut down, the overall growth of the dimensional metrology market for additive manufacturing is expected to decline in 2020 and recover in 2021.
“The growing trend of incorporating additive manufacturing as part of the entire production chain is leading to more adoption of a holistic approach as an integral part of the production chain,” said Mariano Kimbara, Measurement & Instrumentation research analyst at Frost & Sullivan, in a prepared statement. “Going forward, compared to traditionally siloed environments, an integrated and holistic inspection process will have a better chance of thriving in the dynamic additive manufacturing market.”
Kimbara added: “X-ray computed tomography will be the fastest-growing advanced dimensional metrology technology adopted in the market as it will evolve as the most important technology for the inspection of complex internal geometries and 3D-printed components.”
The growing trend of incorporating additive manufacturing as part of the entire production chain presents tremendous growth opportunities for market participants. To take advantage of these opportunities, Frost & Sullivan advises believes that metrology equipment providers should:
- Provide options to share the results with downstream assemblers, customers, and partners.
- Focus on closed-loop systems to improve quality assurance as it helps achieve higher accuracy and speeds, ultimately improving the quality of the final print.
- Produce better feedback upstream to control any variability in the process.
- Emphasize cost-competitive features and higher-resolution image quality.
- Consider customized options to fit various budgets, with payments lower for conventionally financed deals.
