German equipment producer KraussMaffei is positioning itself to capitalize on the commercial 3D printing market as competitor Arburg exits the sector. CEO Jörg Stech acknowledged that 3D printing for industrial manufacturing is without doubt one of the few markets proving “not every thing is down,” presenting alternatives as Arburg withdraws its Freeformer 3D printing machine by year-end.
The additive manufacturing business faces headwinds, with development slowing to 9.1 p.c in 2024 based on the Wohlers Report 2025 – the slowest fee for the reason that COVID-19 pandemic. Decrease-cost desktop 3D printers beneath $10,000 are more and more capturing market share from industrial machines. Arburg cited the market’s failure to satisfy financial expectations as the explanation for its September announcement to exit the enterprise.
KraussMaffei differentiates itself by specializing in large-scale manufacturing, producing components as much as 2.0 x 2.5 x 2.5 meters. “There may be lots of competitors in some a part of the additive manufacturing market,” Stech mentioned. “I believe this is without doubt one of the main the explanation why different firms step out of this enterprise. However this isn’t the case for large-scale manufacturing.”
The corporate targets industries like automotive, agriculture, and development the place small-batch manufacturing of huge parts makes conventional injection molding economically unfeasible. KraussMaffei’s expertise handles high-temperature supplies like PEEK whereas lowering materials waste in comparison with standard manufacturing processes.
Supply: sustainableplastics.com
