Since the invention of the first 3D printing technologies in the early 1980s, the 3D printing market has experienced a tremendous amount of innovation and interest. A niche technology until the expiration of key patents, the 2010s allowed many startups to emerge offering inexpensive consumer-level 3D printers. The subsequent media frenzy in the early 2010s […]
How can low-cost sensors help address climate change?
According to the recent IDTechEx report “Printed and Flexible Sensors 2022-2032: Technologies, Players, Markets,” low cost printed/flexible sensor technologies could play a significant role in adapting to climate change [1]. Adapting could take various forms, from changing the areas in which specific crops are grown to building flood defense systems and even relocating cities in […]
The state of metal 3D printing
The metal 3D printing landscape is “Perfectly imperfect,” says research from IDTechEx. On one hand, the diversity in metal additive manufacturing technologies enables complex geometries and opens unique applications that no other manufacturing technique can reach. But these technologies are by no means infallible, and metal AM is ripe for improvement. In a benchmarking study, […]
10-fold growth in 10 years expected for composites additive manufacturing
Additive manufacturing of composites is approaching an inflection point. There is an increasing number of printer manufacturers, market launches, more funding, notable partnerships, and importantly demonstratable value-add with a wide range of success stories. In the report “3D Printing Composites 2021-2031: Technology and Market Analysis,” IDTechEx forecasts the market to reach $2bn by 2031. Although […]
The 3D electronics market is diversifying and forecast to reach around $3bn by 2030
By Dr Matthew Dyson, Technology Analyst at IDTechEx 3D electronics: an Alternative to PCBs? Mention an electronic circuit and you are likely to picture a printed circuit board (PCB): a rigid rectangle in a characteristic green color with copper lines and a bewildering array of components soldered onto it. But does adding electronic functionality means […]
3D printed electronics and its influence on on-demand manufacturing
3D printed electronics is an emerging technology that enables an on-demand manufacturing paradigm. A detailed analysis of the 3D electronics space, is available in IDTechEx’s new report “3D Electronics 2020-2030: Technologies, Forecasts, Players.” 3D printing, in which a material is deposited layer by layer to build up a 3D object, is a relatively well-established technology. […]
How the pandemic is affecting the metal additive manufacturing market
The metal additive manufacturing market will be negatively impacted by the 2020 pandemic. Despite this short-to-mid-term setback, the industry is forecast to rise and exceed $10Bn within the next 10-years. The emerging and established printer players grab nearly all of the headlines, but most of this forecast annual revenue will be in material sales in […]
What’s new in Printed/Flexible Stretchable and Functional Fabric Sensors?
By winning one of TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions 2018 Awards in the Gears and Gadgets category, BeBop Sensors fabric sensors have put printed/flexible stretchable (P/F/S) and functional fabric (FF) sensors on many people’s radar. Over four million of their sensors are in daily use in products such as gloves, helmets and more. Of course, this […]
IDTechEx forecasts $6.1 billion market for 3D printed medical devices
IDTechEx, a market intelligence and events company focused on emerging technologies, reports that the market for 3D printed medical devices and pharmaceuticals will be worth $6.1 billion by the year 2029. IDTechEx finds this to be a rapidly growing market with compound annual growth rates of up to 18% in certain sub-segments. IDTechEx analysts believe […]
3D printing’s affect on personalized medicine
One of the key industries to successfully leverage the advantages of 3D printing is the medical and dental industry. In an IDTechEx Research report–3D Printing in the Medical and Dental Industry 2019 – 2029, 3D printing in the medical and dental industry is forecast to be worth more than $8.1 billion by 2029. 3D printing […]
Emerging materials that help make aircraft lighter
by Dr Richard Collins, Technology Analyst, IDTechEx In the aerospace sector reducing the weight is one of the greatest constant priorities. Due to the high technical requirements, economic and legislative drivers, and relatively deep pockets, aerospace is often the first significant adopter of emerging lightweight materials. This article highlights some of these materials at different […]
An analysis of the state of high temperature 3D printing thermoplastics
Within the field of metal additive manufacturing, metals such as titanium with excellent tensile strength and low density are ideal for light-weighting applications, and as such demand for these materials continues to increase. The trend in polymer additive manufacturing is that thermoplastics with a high Young’s modulus, thermal resistivity or tensile strength are increasingly attractive. […]
What is the current status of energy harvesting for wireless sensing systems?
Energy harvesting (EH) has been an exciting potential source to power wireless sensing nodes for well over a decade. As in many new technology areas, the hype frequently exceeds the capability of the technology, especially within the short term. While some projections have changed within the last few years, EH still has great potential for […]