Additive manufacturing makes strides

As Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing marks its 10th anniversary, the staff is looking back on the events and issues that shaped our coverage over our first decade. Read more of our 10 Trends for 10 Years here.

By Bruce Geiselman 

Faster technologies, better materials and declining prices are facilitating growing adoption of additive manufacturing (AM) beyond R&D and prototyping, as companies in the plastics industry take on a wider variety of applications, including the manufacture of end-use parts, as well as molds and tooling.  

In 2023, Wohlers Associates reported $18 billion in global revenue for AM products and services in 2022 — 18.3 percent more than the previous year, continuing a trend of double-digit revenue growth in 25 of the past 34 years.  

AM often is used when designing complex geometric shapes, such as lattice structures for lightweighting, that are difficult or impossible to mold. It’s also ideal for customized products designed to fit specific customers, such as medical and dental devices, football helmets and shoe insoles. 

In recent years, numerous manufacturers, including Adidas, Rawlings, General Motors, Ford, Fizik and Boeing, started 3D printing production parts and components for sporting goods, automotive parts, bicycle seats and aerospace components. In addition, the U.S. military has adopted 3D printing to produce replacement parts for equipment in the field.  

For example, the U.S. Navy in 2021 awarded a $20 million contract to Stratasys to provide up to 25 Stratsys F900 3D printers, plus materials and support, over five years. At the time, Stratasys and the Navy said the printers would be positioned on Navy bases in the U.S. and Japan to produce tooling, training aids and parts to maintain a fleet of aircraft across bases worldwide. Earlier this year, 3YourMind announced it had been awarded a contract to help modernize equipment sustainment for the U.S. Army.