Additive Manufacturing Technologies and Materials in Passenger Car Market

Advancing Technologies to New Levels

The method of creating three-dimensional items by stacking layers of material is known as additive manufacturing, or AM. The method transmits data using 3D modeling software to the printing device fed with the preferred stacking material. These materials can include but are not limited to, titanium, concrete, metal, and plastic. The method might be seen as the antithesis of traditional manufacturing, where, for instance, while creating a car, the various pieces are made by removing material from a full block of a certain material. More is becoming conceivable as additive manufacturing technology develops, particularly in the automobile industry.

Compared to only a few years ago, the materials used to construct automobiles have seen a significant change. Vehicles' weight and strength have increased thanks to the new steel utilized in the automotive industry and other composite materials. This reveals a lot about how the car business is quite active in innovation, even if it doesn't appear like a new development.   By allowing lighter and stronger cars, more design options, shorter lead times, and lower prices, 3D printing is becoming more and more popular in the sector because of advancements in technology and additive manufacturing techniques. In the end, 3D printing cars only refers to the fabrication of end-use parts and production tooling rather than the printing of the full vehicle.

Trending Market Insights

In order to reach USD 76.16 billion by 2030, the market for additive manufacturing technologies and materials in passenger cars is anticipated to expand at a compound yearly growth rate of 20.8% between 2023 and 2030. The market is anticipated to expand as a result of factors like the rising demand for prototype applications from different sectors and industrial verticals, notably healthcare, automotive, and aerospace & defense, as well as the vigorous research and development in 3D printing.

Major players in Additive Manufacturing Technologies and Materials in Passenger Car Market are 3D Systems, Inc., Stratasys Ltd., ExOne, Arcam AB, EnvisionTEC, EOS, Materialise NV, and MCor Technologies Ltd.

A block of material is ground to remove any extraneous material in the subtractive technique to manufacture, which is different from additive manufacturing (AM). In industrial settings, 3D printing is typically used in additive manufacturing. With the use of a 3D printer and 3D printer software, additive manufacturing entails the layer-by-layer addition of material to create an item while referring to a three-dimensional file.

In 2022, North America dominated the market for additive manufacturing, taking a revenue share of more than 34%. Developed nations like the United States and Canada are found in North America. These nations' economies are regarded as some of the leading and early adopters of contemporary technology. Europe, on the other hand, became the second-largest regional market. Geographically speaking, Europe is by far the largest area. There are a number of businesses with excellent technological capabilities in additive manufacturing in Europe.

With the increasing demand for three-dimensional printing from established players in the automotive industries for production reasons, market participants are consistently improving additive manufacturing technologies. The main market participants frequently use additive manufacturing as a method for developing new products.

A Need for the Future

Design limitations that limit conventional methods of making components are removed with Additive Manufacturing. As it allows for the integration of many materials in a single piece with varying degrees of flexibility and conductivity, this is not only aesthetically pleasing but also useful.

The market is more responsive because additive manufacturing shortens the lead time. Moreover, additive manufacturing may significantly minimize scrap and save significant amounts of money on material because it only utilizes the material required to create the item. With a material use ratio of about 20 to 1, typical manufacturing requires purchasing 20 times as much material as the finished product. On-demand and location-based manufacturing can reduce inventory costs, while AM can reduce handling expenses as well. Everything here simplifies supply chains and moves production closer to the consumer.

Additive Manufacturing makes it easier to produce prototypes without the need to develop specialized equipment, and its advantages may be seen in the shortened design cycles and lower costs. Nowadays, additive manufacturing is mostly used by big-volume OEMs and suppliers to save costs and improve operations.

Conclusion

In terms of mass production, additive manufacturing will still be difficult in the near future. According to experts, Additive Manufacturing will continue to be most beneficial for smaller-volume manufacturing, which includes higher-end or military vehicles. Also, it may be used to remanufacture components for cars older than 16 or 20 years for which the original equipment manufacturers no longer make spare parts. Automobile manufacturers continue to use Additive manufacturing by integrating it into their current operations. Nevertheless, neither good nor supply chain applications have seen much innovation. Automobile manufacturers have to consider using alternative routes to value creation. Automakers must adjust to the changing market rules as the life cycle of new vehicle models gets shorter and shorter. Additive manufacturing can help by enabling a decrease in design-to-final production and the fabrication of complicated parts that can function to high standards. The potential of Additive manufacturing technologies to promote innovation inside businesses and create a competitive advantage in the market should thus be taken into consideration by leaders of automotive firms.