Optimized printing methods and materials as well as greater implementation in business processes and the establishment of new business models are growth drivers here. For the aerospace industry in particular, with average annual growth rates of 23%, and for the automotive industry (+15%), the process opens up new potential in production: in future, spare parts can be manufactured on site as required. With average annual growth rates of 23% forecast, 3D printing also offers great opportunities for medical technology, followed by industry (+14%) and retail (+13%).

"The accelerated and more flexible development and production resulting from the 3D printing process will unleash enormous economic power in the coming years. The growth opportunities are huge: only 18% of companies currently use 3D printing, but we expect this figure to rise to a third of manufacturing companies in the next five years. It is therefore important to consider now how 3D technologies can be profitably integrated into your own business model and how they can strategically expand your product portfolio," explains Christian Foltz, Partner at Strategy& Germany.

Within the aerospace industry, Strategy& experts forecast a global 3D printing market volume of EUR 9.59 billion by 2030. In 2015, only 0.49% of products in the industry were manufactured using 3D printing; by 2030, this share will grow to 5.2%. In the next two years, the certification of 3D printing technologies will be the key growth factor; by 2030, customized construction using 3D printing processes will play the most important role.

In medical technology, the 3D printing market volume will increase from 0.26 billion euros (as of 2015) to 5.59 billion euros (2030). "Until 2020, the progress of 3D printing in medical technology will primarily be characterized by the reinvention of existing products and business models. Later on, however, the success of companies with promising 3D printing projects will depend in particular on the development of new materials and optimized printing processes," comments Foltz.

In the automotive industry, the 3D printing market volume is estimated to grow from 0.34 billion euros (2015) to 2.61 billion euros (2030). The focus here is still on prototype development. "In the future, it is conceivable that manufacturers will print individual components that are only required in small quantities themselves, thereby saving time and costs compared to the previous supply chain. Here too, specialized 3D printing suppliers will divide the lion's share of the value chain among themselves. Just-in-time delivery will then become on-demand 3D printing," says Foltz. In the not too distant future, OEMs are also likely to set up their own certified 3D printers in their contract workshops, which will print original spare parts on demand and thus increase margins in the aftersales area by reducing logistics and storage costs.

This is an effect that retailers are already benefiting from in conjunction with individual, particularly progressive brands: Customers can design products digitally and have them printed directly on site. In terms of the entire German retail sector, the Strategy& analysis predicts that the 3D printing market volume will grow from 0.3 billion euros (2015) to 1.89 billion euros (2030).

In the industrial sector (excluding the automotive industry), experts expect an increase from 0.44 billion euros (2015) to 2.98 billion euros (2030). "The rapid technological development of 3D printing can fundamentally change established structures and the interaction between research and development, suppliers, manufacturers and retailers. The players involved along the value chain must therefore consistently address the opportunities and risks of this technology and analyze how the resulting potential can be used for their company," concludes Foltz.