Interview: Thomas Masuch, 4 November 2024
Rainer Gebhardt, Additive Manufacturing Consultant, VDMA e.V., talks to Formnext magazine about the current market situation in the Additive Manufacturing industry.
What is the current situation in the market as a whole and at your association in particular?
Rainer Gebhardt: Within the VDMA, Additive Manufacturing is naturally tied to the mechanical engineering sector, which is currently facing significant challenges – AM included. However, we are seeing positive signals from our member companies in the additive sector. AM is being used where flexibility is required: printing on demand and printing on site are proving to be an advantage in tough times. AM is experiencing growth in industries like medical technology, chip production, energy, and defense, where its relevance is increasingly being recognized. What we once saw as a challenge – that AM hadn’t yet gained widespread adoption, including in the automotive industry – now means that the AM sector is showing more resilience and confidence compared to the wider mechanical engineering industry. However, we still need to push for greater adoption of AM.
What are the reasons behind the somewhat subdued situation?
Rainer Gebhardt: Raising awareness of its benefits and potential remains a key challenge, especially in general mechanical engineering. Many companies already use AM technology, but don’t speak about it. Many others could be utilizing AM more effectively, but lack the necessary knowledge. This calls for expert meetings, industry events, and collaboration among stakeholders. The rapid development and variety of AM technologies persist, and knowledge transfer challenges remain. This makes expert networks like the VDMA working group indispensable.
Is the competitive situation getting tougher? What global developments do you see?
Rainer Gebhardt: Access to international markets is also becoming increasingly important. Renewed optimism in the U.S. market, for example, highlights a growing interest in advanced manufacturing, with additive technologies playing a key role.
What opportunities and challenges are still presenting themselves to AM companies?
Rainer Gebhardt: There’s no single AM technology; rather, solutions are often customized to meet specific quality and process requirements (such as multi-material use or processing in a single clamping). As a result, AM is offering innovative solutions for complex challenges on the global stage. Those who push beyond mediocrity will succeed with AM. Settling for current solutions is not enough.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
We have also discussed the current market situation with four other AM experts:
- Arno Held, AM Ventures: „It is positive that dubious participants have left the table“
- Rainer Lotz, Renishaw: “The good long-term prospects are not at risk”
- Frank Carsten Herzog, HZG Group: „There is no reason for pessimis“
- Jurgen Laudus, Materialise Manufacturing: Big difference between prototyping and series production
In a joint booth at the Additive4industry showcase (Hall 12.0, Booth B01), the AM workgroup of the German industry association VDMA will be presenting valuable AM applications from the world of mechanical engineering.
Tags
- Market reports and studies