As 2025 progresses, the shift in additive manufacturing is becoming more visible and measurable.

While macro pressures like inflation and interest rates caused many companies to postpone 3D printing investments in 2024, the underlying momentum remains strong. Supply chain reshoring, geopolitical considerations, and government policy support are reinvigorating the sector — this time with ROI as the guiding star.

Notable Sector Trends

• Aerospace & Defence: GE Aerospace has invested over $650M. Additive manufacturing is no longer a pilot; it’s production-ready.
• Healthcare: 14.8% growth in medical 3DP reported by Materialise. The rise of custom surgical tools and implants is well underway.
• Automotive: Still primarily tactical, focusing on prototyping and tooling (e.g., Atlas Copco reduced lead-times by 92%). Large-scale adoption is the next frontier.

The conversation is no longer about whether 3D printing is “cool” — it’s about the fact that it works.