3D printing elastomer market forecast at $1.3 billion by 2030

Chicago, IL – Report Oceans recently published a study in which it evaluated the growth of elastomers in the 3D printing market. The organization estimates that the elastomers market will reach 1.389 billion dollars within eight years, with an annual growth of 22.5% from 2022 to 2030. The healthcare and automotive sectors are expected to be the two markets that will largely be responsible for this increase. One big reason that suggests that is the fact that elastomers have many interesting properties for these two demanding sectors.

Elastomers belong to the large family of polymers and are characterized by their rubber-like elasticity. They are capable of withstanding large deformations before they break, and these deformations are usually reversible. For this reason, they are often used when designing a product that must withstand severe shock or vibration, such as car tires. In addition to that, elastomers are also incompressible, which makes them a preferred material for the manufacturing of seals.

In additive manufacturing, the thermoplastic elastomer family – better known by its acronym TPE – is popular in a number of industries, including medical, automotive, and even consumer products (for example sports equipment). According to Report Oceans’ study, the Covid-19 pandemic has contributed to the growth of the 3D printing elastomers market due to the need to design swabs, protective masks, etc. The report also discusses the large share of silicone elastomers in additive manufacturing, which is increasingly evolving.

Among the companies in the industries, 3D Systems and Carbon were identified as the machine manufacturers that will contribute the most to the growth of the elastomer market. Carbon, for example, offers four elastomer resins, including a biocompatible material. You’ve probably already seen these solutions in the soles of shoes produced by Adidas. It is therefore not surprising that the largest market share will be in North America.