Sculpteo, a digital printing specialist and 3D printer has published its eighth edition of The State of 3D Printing 2022. This annual, international report provides an overview on the additive manufacturing sector. It is similar to its predecessors. This document allows manufacturers to find new trends, and help them improve their business plans. Sustainability was the main theme this year. According to most respondents of the survey, which included mostly designers and engineers, 3D printing seems to improve the environmental impact from their work.
The report shows that 41% of all manufacturers think additive manufacturing can help companies achieve their sustainability goals. 61% believe this technology allows them produce the correct amount of material to meet the required needs. This eliminates the need for many resources. It is common to need multiple materials in traditional methods, making it difficult for sustainability. That’s why 3D printing is making a difference. Manufacturers can be assured of a sustainable manufacturing process by using 3D printing. They get precisely the amount of material they need to produce a product.
Better resource management is possible with 3D printing (photo credit to Mecalux).
3D Printing: The Future of Sustainable Technology in 2022
Study by Sculpteo shows that additive manufacturing can also be a very promising design technique. Indeed, 84% are optimistic about the technology’s potential in the future. 58% of the manufacturers think it will play an important role in production, both in corporate and private life. Statistics that reflect the opinion of Alexandre d’Orsetti, CEO of Sculpteo. “I can say that the future of 3D printing is promising and I am proud to be able to contribute to the future of this technology,” He says.
3D printing can be used to decrease the impact on the environment of manufacturing companies. It is reliable. Respondents believe that 3D printing has a sustainability and reliability advantage because of its on-demand manufacturing. 59% want more sustainable materials. These results show that additive manufacturing is increasingly dependent on bio-sourced materials. The three most important aspects in 3D printing reliability and sustainability according to respondents are more options for recycling printed objects and more development of sustainable materials and advancements in powder reuse technology such as SLS.
Limitations to 3D Printing
3D printing is a great technology, however, there are some limitations, especially in the area of cost. This translates to 33% of companies who believe budget to be the biggest obstacle to adopting additive production. This is still a very small percentage of companies. It does show that 3D printing may not be available to every company. A more sustainable approach requires better material management. The study revealed that 63% are interested in recycling 3D-printed parts. Resource management is still an area of opportunity for additive manufacturing. Download the complete report HERE.
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