Data acquisition
Inquiry by personal interviews
Basis for the market report data are over 150 personal interviews as well as secondary research from available sources. The personal interviews were conducted directly by AMPOWER staff. The respondents were typically the respective Additive Manufacturing managers or directors with good insight into the technological as well as economical company figures.
A highly dynamic and growing industry is difficult to interview exhaustively. Nevertheless, the system suppliers that contributed direct input for the AMPOWER Report represent 79.6 % of the worldwide installed base of metal Additive Manufacturing systems. Secondary sources such as press releases, financial reports, etc. were used to provide coverage of all installed machines. The buyer, or user, that contributed direct input for the report represents 10.4 % of the worldwide installed base of metal Additive Manufacturing systems.
Period of interest
Past calendar year and forecast of 5 years
The market data is based on data acquisition performed throughout the year 2019. Time of interest was the calendar year of 2018 as well as the forecast period until 2023. As with all forecasts, data for the period until 2023 are based on estimates or business plans regarding activities in Additive Manufacturing by the respective respondent’s company. AMPOWER did not add any correction factors that might account for changes due to past, current or expected geopolitical events.
Respondents
Respondents reflect state of industry
Almost half of all respondents of the supply chain, ie. system, material or service suppliers, are associated to companies with revenue below EUR 10 million. This includes many startups, whose valuation might far exceed this, however, have not yet introduced their products into the market. Out of this group, more than 50 % of the material suppliers are from very large companies. This reflects recent powder company acquisitions by large multinationals, to either add or increase market activity in this growing industry.
The largest share of buyer or user respondents are working in very large companies with revenue of above EUR 1 billion, combined by all affiliated companies. Metal AM is today mainly a B2B market, where hardly any components are sold directly to the end user. Many large companies use metal AM to produce components for larger machines, systems or products, that provide a functional and ultimately cost benefit.
The share of large companies also well reflects the capital-intensive metal Additive Manufacturing technology. A full process chains is required for successful in-house production, which not only includes the printer system, but also periphery for post processing and finishing as well as engineering capacity.
Analysis
Market report model
The AMPOWER Metal AM Report 2019 is based on a methodology developed in 2018. It takes into account the specific characteristics of the Additive Manufacturing and B2B market. This model will be continually optimized and improved for future reports.
The report has a worldwide region of interest. To display the regional developments in the AM market, the data was split into AMER, APAC and EMEA regions. For different geographical regions, AMPOWER is thankful to have received help from local AM experts to provide deep insight and facilitate contact to major players.
