WELLESLEY, Mass., July 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Although revenues are expected to develop at a slower pace due to ongoing price pressures, steady growth in sales volume will propel the market for advanced sintering technologies (AST) equipment forward, according to a new report Global Markets for Spark Plasma Sintering and Other Advanced Sintering Technologies.
With a forecasted compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6% from 2017 through 2022, the total market for AST equipment is expected to reach global revenues of nearly $1.3 billion by 2022.
The increasing popularity of 3D printed devices, higher penetration in the medical, electronics, optoelectronics and energy sectors, the need for sintering processes that allow for fast firing, and the rapidly rising levels of related R&D activities are all noted as factors impacting growth in the recent BCC Research report.
Research Highlights
- Electromagnetic radiation-assisted sintering (e.g., selective laser sintering and microwave sintering) account for the largest portion of the market at present, generating $647 million in sales in 2017.
- Currently the United States is the largest user of AST equipment, with revenues having reached $318 million in 2017, corresponding to a 34.8% share of the total market.
- Applications within the mechanical/metallurgical sector account for the largest share of AST equipment sales, including applications for both end-user parts and test models for a variety of products.
“There is a trend toward the utilization of fabrication processes that are simpler, more efficient, higher-throughput and less energy intensive, and also have a smaller carbon footprint,” said Margareth Gagliardi, report author and BCC Research analyst. “Advanced sintering technologies are designed to be fast, use less or no combustible and operate at lower temperatures than conventional sintering. Over the longer term, these factors will positively affect growth of the AST equipment market.”
Selective Laser Sintering Systems for 3D Printing
Some of the most advanced sintering technologies, such as laser and photonic sintering, have been introduced to satisfy the needs of the 3D printing industry. Selective laser sintering is considered a 3D printing technology with high flexibility in terms of shapes and sizes that can be fabricated. Patents related to selective laser sintering represent the largest group of the main process types, representing 57.9% of the total.
About BCC Research
BCC Research is a publisher of market research reports that provide organizations with intelligence to drive smart business decisions. By partnering with industry experts worldwide, BCC Research provides unbiased measurements and assessments of global markets covering major industrial and technology sectors, including emerging markets. For more information about BCC Research, please visit bccresearch.com. Follow BCC Research on Twitter at @BCCResearch.