Production-driven ceramics AM market forecasted to reach 3.6 billion in 2028
New SmarTech Publishing reports looks at ceramics, glass and cement 3D printing

SmarTech Publishing, the leading industry analysis and consulting firm to the additive manufacturing (AM) industry, has released the new edition of its industry-leading study on the emerging ceramics 3D printing market. The new Ceramics Additive Manufacturing 2018 report projects that the ceramics 3D printing market is expected to generate overall revenues for over $3.6 billion, driven by strong CAGR in end-use part production.
The second report from SmarTech Publishing on the ceramics 3D printing market looks at the most up to date market data and analysis of market trends at the professional and industrial level. The report breaks down the ceramic 3D printing opportunity across numerous user industries as well as different AM technologies, materials and material supports, part types and geographical market regions.
The report analyzes the pros, cons and generated revenues of the dominant AM technologies for processing ceramics, both technical (advanced) and traditional /(clay-like). These include material extrusion, photopolymerization and binder jetting 3D printing technologies. Currently available high-end industrial system data are complemented by a deep analysis of new and emerging technologies such as low-cost hardware systems and new jetting processes. All analyses are supported with hardware and material market shipments, sales, installations, and future forecasts through 2028 to provide a fully comprehensive insight into the future of ceramic 3D printing.

The definitive ceramics additive manufacturing 2018 report
In 2018, the ceramics 3D printing market is focusing on AM part production, benefiting from the experience acquired by adopters and system OEM’s working with metal and polymer technologies. Ceramics AM, however, presents a distinct set of advantaged and challenges which are explored in detail in this report, along with the latest successful use cases.
Companies developing materials and providing ceramic AM services or specific applications have come to understand that additive manufacturing’s extreme geometric capabilities are proving ideal for the production of complex ceramic parts in all major ceramic adoption segments. These include the aerospace, automotive, marine, energy, electronics, medical, dental and biomedical segments, which are already among the first adopters of AM technologies. In this report, SmarTech includes updated information on all major players and movers in the ceramic AM market, including Lithoz, 3D Ceram Sinto, Admatec, Prodways, Tethon 3D, 3D Systems, Kwambio, voxeljet, ExOne, HP, Johnson Matthey, Nanoe, XJet and several more.
A timeline for ceramics AM production
SmarTech’s forecasted timeline expects ceramics AM adoption to experience an inflection point after 2025 as all major AM technologies that support ceramics production come to maturity and enjoy a sufficient presence in the market to support serial part production. SmarTech is currently forecasting that this shift will be driven by imitating and benefiting from the experience of powder metal additive manufacturing. In particular, the adoption of CIM- (ceramics injection molding) based additive manufacturing processes is expected to drive larger batch production in the same way as MIM- (metal injection molding) based additive processes are now expected to significantly expand AM adoption and throughput capabilities, lowering costs.
Final parts value for both technical and traditional ceramic parts is expected to represent the most significant opportunities driving the market for the medium to long-term future. Compared to relatively low revenues generated by technical and traditional ceramic materials, this trend indicated that in ceramics AM more than in any other material family, the primary “value is in the process”. This means that that additively manufacturing a ceramic part increases the value of the material used to produce it several times.
Ceramics AM technologies are now largely available so perhaps the biggest challenge to address today is the creation of market demand. Many companies that produce ceramic components, especially advanced ceramic components, could be benefiting significantly from subassemblies and DfAM (Design for Additive Manufacturing) ceramic parts but in many cases still need to imagine, envision, design and develop the parts that will make ceramic AM processes and materials truly cost-effective.