In this article we are going to list the 15 biggest 3D companies in the world. Click to skip ahead and jump to the 5 biggest 3D companies in the world.
3D printing is a fairly new and upcoming technique especially in the field of industrial production. Previously, 3D printing was seen as a technique that could only be used for production of prototypes which was then known as the rapid prototyping process. However, with time and massive efforts in research and development the implementation of 3D technology in the field of commercial manufacturing was discovered and its application in large-scale manufacturing and production has now become a major disruptor in the way of how things were being done traditionally. 3D printing basically makes use of the CAD (Computer Aided Design) technology that uses the layering method to turn the soft copy of an object into a live 3D model.
There are various different kinds of materials that are now being used for 3D printing such as biomaterials, plastics, and composites and the models created by 3D printers are extremely accurate and precisely close to the design copy. The ease in application of 3D printing in various fields is due to its flexibility with what can be printed and the materials that can be used for doing so. Currently, the most widely used application of 3D printing is with rapid prototyping which has massively reduced costs for companies who previously had to invest huge sums of money, a lot of effort and a great amount of time in coming up with a prototype for their business product idea. With 3D printing technology the process has become much faster, cheaper and can be repeated over and over again until the perfect prototype is produced.
There is no two ways about the fact that 3D printing technology is the future of most, if not all, industries. People are already coming up with futuristic ideas that make use of this amazing technology and gaining a competitive advantage in their field of work in terms of cost, accuracy, customization, details, and precision that could only be provided through 3D printing production techniques. The construction industry can use the technology to come up with all kinds of parts required for building purposes along with the tools needed for construction. 3D printing can also be adapted for the making of gadgets such as phones and laptops. It can act as a game-changer for the automotive industry as it can help produce all kinds of auto parts much cheaper and faster than they are produced now.
By far, the most important and impactful application of the 3D printing technique is in the healthcare industry which has already been put to trial in the Covid1-9 pandemic era and proven to be extremely successful. In these challenging times where hospitals fell short of medical equipment much more frequently than they could be produced by the usual traditional production methods and doctors on duty needed a much more complex safety gear as they risked their lives every day to save someone else’s, 3D printing emerged as a savior. Many companies made use of the 3D printing technology to provide the necessary medical equipment to hospitals and the personal protective equipment (PPE) to doctors. This helped match the supply with the demand and aided healthcare workers immensely.
3D printing is all set to change a lot of business processes and work as a disruptor to bring things up to a whole new level. The technique will remove many barriers to entry that exist in various industries and will be extremely beneficial for startups who have big ideas but are short on financial resources. Startups will no longer have to spend thousands on just coming up with a prototype and by making use of 3D technology they will be able to do it much more cost efficiently. This will induce healthy competition in the business world, break monopolies and work for consumer’s best interests.
The 3D printing industry has now become quite saturated and the competition is tough, Following is a list of 15 biggest 3D companies in the world. The rankings and listings have been compiled from 3Dsourced, IG and Forbes, and are based on market capitalization:
15. Nano Dimension (NASDAQ:NNDM)
Starting our list from an Israeli company with a market capitalization of about 23 million. Nano Dimension is a market leader in 3D products based on nano-technology and has recently been in the limelight for producing an award-winning 3D printer called Dragon Fly Pro. The printer is expected to change the entire production process in manufacturing industries. Nano Dimension has clients across the globe who belong to different industries.
Stock-Asso/Shutterstock.com
14. Voxeljet (NASDAQ:VJET)
Voxeljet makes it on our list with a market capitalization of 51.56 million. The company was initiated as a startup in the Technical University of Munich and has since grown into a huge corporation. It makes use of chemical 3D printing technique and is known for providing 3D printing solutions to large scale manufacturing industries such as automotive, construction, aerospace etc. Voxeljet is known for producing and offering affordable 3D printing solutions to its corporate consumers who make use of 3D printing for industrial production.
Pixabay/Public Domain
13. Organovo (NASDAQ:ONVO)
Organovo is an organization based in San Diego, US and was founded in 2007. The company specializes in 3D bioprinting and is one of the most valuable companies in bioprinting. With its focus on bioprinting the company provides its services mostly to the healthcare industry including pharmaceuticals, hospitals, medical institutes, and individual professionals in the field. The company’s services have greatly impacted some of the latest developments in tissue models and therapeutic implants. It is one of the most valuable companies in the industry, worth $127 million.
Pixabay/Public Domain
12. XJet
XJet was founded in 2005 and is an Israel based company that makes use of nano-particle jetting technology to produce metal 3D printers. The company is known for coming up with out of the box ideas and inventions by the help of their 3D printing expertise. XJet produced solar panels through 3D printing and is now trying its hands with 3D printing that uses ceramics. The organization is working towards coming up with a low-cost 3D printer that could be used by the masses. The company has a current market cap of $175 million.
Soonthorn Wongsaita/Shutterstock.com
11. Shapeways
Shapeways is fairly recent addition to the 3D printing industry and since its inception in 2007, the company has outperformed itself and has left behind many of its well-established competitors, with a market cap of $191.5 million. One of the reasons of Shapeways’ popularity and success has been its 3D printing service which it has made available to the masses by providing a platform to 3D designers where they can sell their designs to the public. The designs bought by individuals are then printed by Shapeways and sent over to their doorsteps.
Pixabay/Public Domain
10. The ExOne Corporation (NASDAQ:XONE)
ExOne is a German 3D printing company founded in 2005 that makes on the top 5 of our list of the biggest 3D companies. The company specializes in a 3D printing technique known as binder jetting. Although, the company was founded only about a decade and a half ago but has grown and expanded a lot in this short time by not only market penetration and development but also product development. ExOne provides 3D printing services in materials such as metal and sand which are extremely useful for the manufacturing and construction industry. ExOne’s current market cap is around $238.2 million
Pixabay/Public Domain
9. Markforged
One of the most recent 3D printing companies in USA, Markforged, was founded in 2013 by Greg Mark. The company has a market capitalization of around $300 million and makes use of continuous filament fabrication technology mainly in its 3D printing process. Markforged has a diverse portfolio as it has integrated vertically and besides manufacturing 3D printers it also offers its clients the materials and software needed for the printing. Markforged has a client base spread across various different industries such as automotive, electronics, education, aerospace and federal and defense.
Pixabay/Public Domain
8. SLM Solutions
SLM is a German 3D printing company which was founded in 2006 and has an estimated market capitalization of $323 million. The company focuses mainly on direct metal laser sintering technology and is known as a market leader in this 3D printing technique. SLM is known for providing technological services and software application needed for the production and development of metal prototypes. In addition to this, like a typical 3D company, SLM solutions also offers 3D printers and materials to its customers. The company has a diverse client base and has expanded geographically.
Pixabay/Public Domain
7. Formlabs
Formlabs is another US based 3D printing company that has been around for not more than a decade but has still managed to gain a market capitalization of approximately $1 billion. The company was founded as a startup in 2011 by three MIT students Maxim Lobovsky, Natan Linder, and David Cranor. Formlab specializes in the 3D printing technique called Stereolithography and is now also expanding to selective laser sintering technology. The founders initiated their startup by producing a 3D printer with one of the biggest crowd-funded projects in history. The company has also expanded to two more continents, Asia and Europe and continues to grow.
Pixabay/Public Domain
6. EOS
EOS is a German company which was founded in 1989 by Dr Hans Langer and has a current market cap of around $1 billion. The company is one of the pioneers of additive manufacturing and focuses mainly on providing technological support for the industrial 3D printing process which makes use of metal and plastic materials. EOS specializes in a 3D printing technique known as direct metal laser sintering. The company has a global presence with customers in more than 65 countries and sales partners in about 50 countries.
Please continue to see the 5 biggest 3D companies in the world.
Suggested articles:
- 15 biggest tech companies in the world
- 17 largest fintech companies in the world
- 10 best tech stocks to buy now
Disclosure: No position. 15 biggest 3D companies in the world is originally published at Insider Monkey.
