HEALTHCARE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING MARKET ANALYSIS

The global healthcare additive manufacturing market was valued at US$ 1.95 Bn in 2022 and is forecast to reach a value of US$ 9.65 Bn by 2030 at a CAGR of 22.4% between 2023 and 2030. The global healthcare additive manufacturing market is experiencing strong growth due to the rise in burden of orthopedic and dental diseases and increasing demand for 3D printed medical products. Moreover, increasing applications of 3D printing in the healthcare industry and growing adoption of 3D printed prosthetics is expected to boost the growth of the market. However, factors such as high cost of additive manufacturing and lack of skilled/trained professionals are expected to hamper growth of the global healthcare additive manufacturing market.

Global Healthcare Additive Manufacturing Market: Regional Insights

Based on geography, the global healthcare additive manufacturing market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa.

Among regions, North America is expected to gain highest share in the market during the forecast period owing to the rising prevalence of chronic disease, growing geriatric population, increasing demand for medical devices and advent of novel technologies in the region. For instance, according to the Population Reference Bureau of the U.S., the number of Americans aged 65 years and older is projected to nearly double from 52 million in 2018 to 95 million by 2060. As the older population is prone to hearing loss, the demand for hearing aid device (manufactured using healthcare additive manufacturing) is expected to increase in this region.

Europe and Asia Pacific are also expected to witness significant growth in the healthcare additive manufacturing market owing to the rise in burden of chronic disease, growing geriatric population, increasing number of surgeries, and increasing demand for novel medical devices in these regions. For instance, in March 2021, Cellink announced the launch of BIO MDX series, a next generation bio-printers designed for high-throughput fabrication and precision 3D bioprinting for biomedical manufacturing, including biocompatible medical devices. Such developments are expected to aid in the growth of the market during the forecast period.

Figure 1. Global Healthcare Additive Manufacturing Market Share (%), by Region, 2023

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Global Healthcare Additive Manufacturing Market Drivers:

Rise in burden of orthopedic and dental diseases to propel market growth

One of the key factors expected to augment growth of the global healthcare additive manufacturing market over the forecast period is the rise in burden of orthopedic and dental diseases worldwide. In February 2022, Desktop Health announced the commercial launch of the Einstein series, a high-precision family of 3D printers, and Flexcera Smile Ultra+, one of the strongest dental resins ever to receive FDA clearance for permanent use. With this powerful combination, dental professionals have tools they need to deliver accurate, 3D printable smiles customized to the individual patient for both permanent and temporary dental restorations.  

Increasing demand for 3D printed products to underpin market growth

Another factor which is driving the growth of the global healthcare additive manufacturing market is the increasing demand for 3D printed medical products around the world. For instance, in June 2023, Dubai Health Authority (DHA) opened a 3D Printing Lab in its Innovation Centre that will provide medical professionals at DHA with patient specific anatomical models, allowing them to conduct detailed pre-operative analysis and to improve patient communication at DHA’s hospitals. The Innovation Centre will gather data from patients, which will allow the physician to isolate the specific anatomical region of interest.

Global Healthcare Additive Manufacturing Market Opportunities:

Increasing applications of 3D printing in the healthcare industry is expected to provide significant growth opportunities for players in the healthcare additive manufacturing market. For instance, 3D printing is used to develop novel surgical cutting and drill guides, prosthetics, and patient-specific replicas of organs, bones, and blood vessels. 3D printing have also led to safer, stronger, and lighter products, which in turn help lower manufacturing costs. In Jnauary 2023, Axial3D announced the opening of new medical 3D printing centre of excellence in Belfast, Northern Ireland for hospitals, medical device manufacturers, and medical research companies.

Increasing adoption of 3D printed prosthetics across the globe is expected to offer lucrative growth opportunities for players in the global healthcare additive manufacturing market. For instance, with the increasing number of road accidents around the world, the demand for 3D printed prosthetics is also increasing rapidly. In July 2022, Instalimb raised INR 26 crore in Series A funding in Japan to foray into the Indian market to deliver the highest-quality prosthesis leg with socket (tech) and alignment to Indian population. Instalimb products use 3D printing and AI technology that offers the much-needed comfort and desired fit for the end users.

Global Healthcare Additive Manufacturing Market Trends:

High demand for 3D printing materials is a recent trend

Polymers and their composites are one of the most widely used additive manufacturing materials due to vast potential for various applications in the healthcare. They are used to create prosthetic limb parts, hearing aids, as well as models that can aid in diagnosis and preoperative planning, and organs or specific body parts for practice purposes. While, titanium alloy and pure titanium are the most preferred and biocompatible metallic materials for biomedical implants. Several biomaterials are also used as inks to create 3D structures with a range of sizes and stiffness. Thus, this trend is expected to continue over the forecast period.

Growing geriatric (aging) population is another trend

With the growing geriatric (aging) population around the world, the demand for medical devices (manufactured using healthcare additive manufacturing) is also increasing rapidly. For instance, as the older population is prone to hearing loss, the demand for hearing aid device (manufactured using 3D manufacturing) is also increasing worldwide. 3DP4ME is developing workflows to 3D print hearing aid earmolds/prosthetics. In November 2022, 3DP4ME planned to deliver thousands of custom hearing aids for people who need them. This trend is also expected to continue over the forecast period, driving the growth of the market.

Global Healthcare Additive Manufacturing Market Restraints:

High cost of additive manufacturing to hinder market growth

One of the key factors expected to hamper growth of the global healthcare additive manufacturing market is the high costs associated with additive manufacturing. Currently additive can still be an expensive option when looking at piece price, largely driven by machine cost and speed of build, often well over 50% of the cost is machine cost. The cost associated with additive manufacturing can be categorized into four key areas, such as materials, labor, tooling costs, and post processing. The cost associated with additive manufacturing is high and, hence, it can be considered as one of the major restraints for additive manufacturing market.

Lack of skilled professionals to hamper the growth of the market

Another factor which is hampering the growth of the healthcare additive manufacturing market is the lack of skilled professionals. For instance, the talent landscape in the additive manufacturing industry is characterized by a shortage of skilled workers and has been for many years. Innovations in additive manufacturing demand new capabilities and skills, both managerial and technical, and the scarcity of skilled workforce is affecting the production capabilities. Lack of skilled workforce also acts as a major barrier to implementing 3D printing technology, and this skill gap is expected to restraint to growth of the healthcare additive manufacturing market.

Figure 2. Global Healthcare Additive Manufacturing Market Share (%), by Region, 2023

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Global Healthcare Additive Manufacturing Market Segmentation:

The healthcare additive manufacturing market report is segmented into Technology, Application, Material, and Region.

Based on Technology, the market is segmented into Stereolithography, Deposition Modelling, Electron Beam Melting, Laser Sintering, Jetting Technology, Laminated Object Manufacturing, and Others. Out of which, Stereolithography Segment is expected to dominate the healthcare additive manufacturing market during the forecast period and this is attributed to the increasing number of surgical procedures worldwide. A common application of this technology is to create patient-specific surgical cutting guides. 

Deposition Modelling Segment is also expected to witness significant growth in the near future and this is due to the increasing applications of 3D printing in the healthcare industry. Deposition Modelling is one of the most common methods of 3D printing.

Based on Application, the market is segmented into Medical Implants, Prosthetics, Wearable Devices, Tissue Engineering, and Others. Out of which, Medical Implants Segment is expected to dominate the market over the forecast period and this is attributed to the increasing demand for medical implants (manufactured using additive manufacturing).

Prosthetics Segment is also expected to witness significant growth in the near future and this is owing to increasing demand for 3D printed prosthetics.

Based on Material, the market is segmented into Metals and Alloys, Polymers, Biological Cells, and Others. Out of which, Metals and Alloys Segment is expected to dominate the market over the forecast period and this is attributed to the increasing demand for surgical implants.

Polymers Segment is also expected to witness robust growth in the near future and this is owing to increasing demand for 3D printing materials (such as polymers and their composites).

Global Healthcare Additive Manufacturing Market: Key Developments

In November 2022, Wipro 3D launched its first product in its line of indigenously developed 3D printers. Wipro 3D F300-2 printer has features like automatic platform levelling, a magnetic print bed, a self-cleaning nozzle, and dual filtration to ensure user safety and high-quality 3D prints.

In July 2022, Sculpteo and Daniel Robert Orthopedic launched a Bio-sourced 3D printed device. Together, Sculpteo & Daniel Robert Orthopedic will produce orthopedic devices from bio-sourced material that will be made possible by 3D printing.

In June 2021, Stratasys Ltd. introduced a medical 3D printer that sets a new standard for healthcare providers and medical device companies by combining multiple applications in a system. Stratasys J5 MediJet 3D printer enables users to create highly detailed 3D anatomical models and drilling and cutting guides with approved third-party 510k-cleared segmentation software.

In March 2021, I-Form, the SFI Research Centre for Advanced Manufacturing, signed multi-year agreement with the US-based manufacturing company Fort Wayne Metals to develop 3D printed wires for use in next generation medical devices.

Global Healthcare Additive Manufacturing Market: Key Companies Insights

The global healthcare additive manufacturing market is highly competitive, and this is attributed to the increasing applications of 3D printing in the healthcare industry, as a result, players in the market are focusing on launching novel products in the market.

Some of the key players in the global healthcare additive manufacturing market are GE Additive, Stratasys Ltd., Materialise N.V., EoS GmbH, Allevi, Inc., RegenHU, EnvisionTEC GmbH, 3D Systems, Inc., Nanoscribe GmbH, and GPI Prototype and Manufacturing Services, LLC.

*Definition: Medical additive manufacturing, also known as medical 3D printing, is the process of creating medical devices and structures. A digital model is then sent to 3D printer, which creates the object by building up layers of material.