3D printing has been around for more than 30 years (the technology was introduced back in 1983, while first 3D printers were marketed around 1990) but its worldwide adoption is only starting. The 3D printing technology holds immeasurable potential for innovation, as the ability to print exactly the shape you need, without any manufacturing waste, quickly and without any compromise in quality — this is a huge opportunity for the 4th industrial revolution, as well as disruptions in other areas. Today we describe 7 industries where 3D printing companies increase the horizons of what we consider possible.

3D printing technology is actually quite simple. By mixing the powdered materials (from flour and sugar in the food industry to metals and composites in manufacturing and design) with gluing mediums, 3D printers allow producing any components without any waste.

Thus said, while the possibilities to use the 3D printing tech are innumerable, there are 7 industries where this innovation yields the most profit and usefulness:

Industrial manufacturing

Fashion and clothing

Healthcare

Education

Food industry

Architecture

Entertainment

We cover all of these in our review and showcase the most impressive achievements for 3D printing startups around the globe.

3D printing: challenges and perspectives

One of the biggest troubles that hamper the expansion of 3D printing is the lack of transparent legal frameworks and governmental support. There are also some public prejudices, like the recent situation when one of the 3D printing startups called Defense Distributed was allowed to publish instructions for 3D printing handguns by the US State Department. The media went discussing how the streets will be filled with weaponry, and Facebook updated their policies, so anyone sharing the instructions for 3D printing guns will have Facebook their accounts blocked. Well, it seems the 3D printing fans will have to do it the old way, via email, as Google does not seem to bother… Naturally, once the regulatory side is dealt with, the volume of investments into 3D printing technology will grow exponentially.

Thus said, the perspectives of revenues for 3D printing businesses are very promising and prominent, according to Deloitte:

The healthcare industry applies 3D printing tech for prosthetics, wearable devices and producing various kinds of synthetic tissues. This is an ever-growing market, that is predicted to have CAGR of 26% till 2025 and bring in at least $2 billion dollars in 2020

At least $3 billion dollars in revenues will be generated by 3D printing companies in the manufacturing sector (with global revenue from industrial manufacturing being grossly $12 trillion in 2019)

being grossly $12 trillion in 2019) 3D printing startups conquer the design, food, architecture and multiple other industries, as the list of materials, the variety of printer models and the possible volume of product output continue to grow.

North America accounts for 2/5ths of the global market, while South-Eastern Asia is the fastest-growing market

As you see, the time has never been better to hop on the 3D printing hype wagon and cut yourself a piece of the pie in the ongoing 4th industrial revolution! As a matter of fact, we can share the stories of multiple startups that are doing this already!

3D printing startups that are shaping the future… literally

1. The healthcare industry is obviously the one that benefits most from 3D printing. Prosthetics for limbs, chemically-infused bone regrowth stimulators for shaping fractured skulls and limbs, growing synthetic skin and even 3D bioprinting and tissue engineering, up to artificial lungs! There is a huge market for 3D-printed prosthetics in the US, both in veterans and people recovering after car crashes and work injuries.

The 3D printing companies currently providing these services include startups like:

ProsFit specializes at printing individually-fitting limb prosthetics that provide much more comfort, as compared to mass-produced models

specializes at printing individually-fitting limb prosthetics that provide much more comfort, as compared to mass-produced models ZenyUm — a Singapore-based 3D printing startup producing invisible teeth bracers that are 70% cheaper, as compared to traditional teeth treatments and are infinitely more comfortable

— a Singapore-based 3D printing startup producing invisible teeth bracers that are 70% cheaper, as compared to traditional teeth treatments and are infinitely more comfortable Mecuris — a Munich-based startup specializing at 3D printing leg and hand prosthetics and special solutions according to individual scans.

2. Architecture and building industry benefits greatly from 3D printing the house components to shape quickly. China has demonstrated that whole houses can be industrially printed in mere hours, and many 3D printing companies offer their customers various astonishing solutions.

There are multiple businesses that provide incredible building and architectural solutions using 3D printing tech:

Dom.ai — a Ukrainian startup that developed fully-autonomous 3D-printed prefab houses and plans to release them by 2020. From a vacation house to an off-the-grid mobile hotel — these units will be useful for every occasion.

— a Ukrainian startup that developed fully-autonomous 3D-printed prefab houses and plans to release them by 2020. From a vacation house to an off-the-grid mobile hotel — these units will be useful for every occasion. MX3D — an Amsterdam-based additive robotic 3D printing startup that delivers software and robotic equipment to print any metal constructions on-site, from design and decor installations to maritime and heavy duty industry units.

— an Amsterdam-based additive robotic 3D printing startup that delivers software and robotic equipment to print any metal constructions on-site, from design and decor installations to maritime and heavy duty industry units. CONCR3DE — a Rotterdam-based company that mixes various construction materials to produce authentic architectural shapes (or reproduce the damaged ones, as they suggested for the restoration on Notre Dame de Paris after the fire).

3. Education industry employs 3D printing for producing medical learning materials. school education and visual aids for scientists and researchers.

Polar3D — an online platform for creating and managing the curriculum using 3D printing for delivering visual aids, improving student engagement and learning outcomes

— an online platform for creating and managing the curriculum using 3D printing for delivering visual aids, improving student engagement and learning outcomes Makers Empire — an Australian company that provides software and tech for 150+ curriculum-aligned K8 classes that increase engagement in schoolkids and help provide innovative, cost-efficient and useful learning materials.

4. Fashion, clothing, footwear, and accessories industries benefit hugely from employing 3D printing technology, as it allows utilizing the previously unavailable materials and techniques to create exquisite products.

Wiivv — a startup that creates custom-tailored sandals and insoles for footwear that redefine comfort when walking and exercising.

— a startup that creates custom-tailored sandals and insoles for footwear that redefine comfort when walking and exercising. RADIAN — a Berlin-based startup that designs and creates contemporary jewelry that looks and feel awesome and is quite affordable due to using 3D printing.

— a Berlin-based startup that designs and creates contemporary jewelry that looks and feel awesome and is quite affordable due to using 3D printing. King Children — a company selling eyewear built according to individual 3D scans from their customers. Their motto is “building frames for people with faces”, as even slightly inconvenient eyewear can result in lots of issues later down the track.

5. Interior design (vases, furniture, decor elements) can present various opportunities for showcasing creativity, from using individual forms to utilize non-standard materials for 3D printing of unique and luxurious items.

Gantri — a San Francisco-based startup that allows their customers to visualize their unique home lights and table light using AR and 3D prints them from sustainable corn-based materials. Each Gantri lantern is one-of-a-kind and will become a unique addition to your home or workspace.

— a San Francisco-based startup that allows their customers to visualize their unique home lights and table light using AR and 3D prints them from sustainable corn-based materials. Each Gantri lantern is one-of-a-kind and will become a unique addition to your home or workspace. Twikit — a global platform for designing and visualizing custom door frames, furniture, wearables, automobile accessories, etc. Individual approach and using Twikbot platform helps create convenient and appealing accessories.

— a global platform for designing and visualizing custom door frames, furniture, wearables, automobile accessories, etc. Individual approach and using Twikbot platform helps create convenient and appealing accessories. MyMiniFactory — a space for expressing your creativity by selecting one of the available awesome and creative products (from kitchen accessories to cosplay elements), or designing a new one using innovative technologies and 3D printing.

6. Food industry adopts 3D printing technology more and more, as the list of edible printing components, the output potential of 3D printers and the variety of recipes continue to grow, as well as the hype that surrounds new food products and sweets.

Natural Machines — this company markets Foodini, a new-generation kitchen appliance, a 3D printer that uses freshly-prepared ingredients to print portions of the exact size and shape, minimizing food waste and promoting a healthier cooking and happier living.

— this company markets Foodini, a new-generation kitchen appliance, a 3D printer that uses freshly-prepared ingredients to print portions of the exact size and shape, minimizing food waste and promoting a healthier cooking and happier living. Food Ink — the world’s first network of 3D printed food restaurants combines aesthetics and modern tech to provide an innovative approach to eating and communicating.

7. Entertainment and games industry was among the first to adopt 3D printing technology. From famous 3DoodleR Kickstarter project to printing exquisite toys and expressing your creativity — 3D printing startups boom in the entertainment industry.

Twindom — a true innovation in figurine production, allowing creating full-body scans and 3D printing figurines of any size and for any purpose, from edible wedding cake figurines to plastic gifts for friends and colleagues.

Conclusions: 3D printing provides limitless possibilities!

As you can see, 3D printing technology opens new horizons for startups in various industries, allowing them to provide conventional services better and faster, while also providing ample opportunities for innovation. The 4th industrial revolution of interconnected devices, Internet of Things, 3D scanning and manufacturing is actively going on. New apps, materials and appliances products enter the market and new exciting projects are launched frequently. Stay tuned for more updates — or become one of the 3D printing companies that shape our future today!