Data from analysts Context suggests that shipments rose by 24 percent in the first quarter alone.
The data shows that shipments of desktop or personal 3D printers “more than double[d]” in 1Q2015, with a 24 percent rise in the quarter resulting in a 114 percent year-over-year growth for the machines priced under $5,000 (€4,531). Context stated that these figures were thanks to “more brands enter[ing] the market, global channels expand[ing] and successfully crowdfunded efforts ship[ping]”.
In terms of regional markets, the North American sector “continued to lead” with 63 percent of all global shipments during the quarter, while Western Europe followed with 20 percent. In terms of OEMs, the top five consisted of XYZPrinting (with its Da Vinci machine), 3D Systems (the Cube/Cubify devices), M3D (the Micro), Stratasys (the MakerBot) and Ultimaker. XYZPrinting, 3D Systems and Ultimaker “all showed good year-on-year gains”, though MakerBot “struggled” in the quarter.
M3D’s shipments were said by Context to have “bolstered” global shipments “on the back of their very successful Kickstarter campaign”, which closed last year and earned the company $3.4 million (€3 million), with 10,800 pre?orders for the Micro 3D printer that was offered for $299 (€270) “or less”. In turn, Stratasys and 3D Systems posted “weaker than expected” results in the first quarter in the industrial/professional sector.
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3D Systems did see a “unit-volume shipment” increase year-over-year, but Context noted that this was “largely due to a low-priced machine” that “straddles the line between professional, prosumer and desktop” but is “classified as a professional-grade printer” by the manufacturer. Stratasys also reported that its “sequential and yearly unit-volume shipments” fell in the quarter.
Chris Connery, Vice President of Global Analysis and Research at Context, commented: “The nascent area of desktop 3D printing continues its upward momentum and continues to see entrants across a wide spectrum of industries, with offerings from legacy additive manufacturing stalwarts, to industry start-ups, to mature IT, Manufacturing and Tool companies all entering the space.
“As many of these companies begin to outgrow their start?up efforts, expanding their distribution networks around the globe is a necessary next step toward expanding market presence.”