Gartner: worldwide shipments of 3D printers will grow strongly in 2016

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stampante 3dWorldwide shipments of 3D printers will reach 496,475 units in 2016, up 103 percent from the predicted 244,533 units in 2015, according to Gartner‘s forecast. 3D printer shipments are forecast to more than double every year between 2016 and 2019, by which time worldwide shipments are expected to reach more than 5.6 million. “Rapid quality and performance innovations across all 3D printer technologies are driving both enterprise and consumer demand, with unit shipment growth rates for 3D printers increasing significantly – said Pete Basiliere, research vice president at Gartner -.The 3D printer market is continuing its transformation from a niche market to broad-based, global market of enterprises and consumers”. Seven technologies constitute the 3D printer market, with material extrusion forecast to increase to 5,527,493 units in 2019 (97.5 percent of the total) largely due to the sales of low cost, entry-level material extrusion printers. Average selling prices (ASPs) vary by technology and market. Each market has different dynamics, including the mix of devices, prices and buyer requirements that drive the average for all 3D printers in a given technology. Directed-energy deposition printers are the most highly priced, followed by powder bed fusion printers.