What Were the 3D Printing Trends in 2024?

2025 is just around the corner, but with 2024 now ending, it is time once again for us at 3Dnatives to reflect on the past year. This time last year, many signs of what was to come were already present: notably speaking, the downturn in the industry. This is why this year, before getting into the 3D printing trends for 2024, it is worth looking a little more closely at how those from 2023 were reflected this year.
For example, we started our retrospective last year discussing AI and its impact on the industry. AI software has only continued to be present in additive manufacturing, though the initial all-encompassing optimism in its potential has been tempered. That is not to say that it has not lived up to expectations, but rather that it is finding its place more securely in applications where it will be useful, for example medical, as well as continuing its place in generative design. We can expect to see a continued adoption of AI not for every case, but similarly to 3D printing, in areas where it can really make a difference.

The Bambu Lab A1 was recalled this year, but the company still saw sharp growth (photo credits: Bambu Lab)
Budget also continues to play a role. In 2023, Bambu Lab made headlines throughout the sector as 3D printing enthusiasts turned en masse to the affordable, fast desktop solutions from the company. This is something that will only continue in 2024. Bambu Lab, despite some hurdles, including a recall on the A1 3D printer, continued to be a tour de force in the industry, growing rapidly and adding to its offerings. Showing that for many 3D printing users, affordability continues to be one of the major issues.
But what other 3D printing trends have we seen in 2024? What exactly had the biggest impact on the industry this year? Let’s dive in.
A More Somber Market for Additive Manufacturing
It’s hardly a secret. In 2024, we continued to see challenges in the 3D printing industry, a direct result not just of a worldwide downturn, one in which tech in particular has been affected. This largely can be attributed to a burst in the bubble that clearly happened in 2023 and the resulting growing pains that are still hitting the market.
When we told you about the instability of the market in our 3D printing in the 2023 trends article, we noted that this could be seen through numerous merger announcements and layoffs. Both trends were also present in 2024.
For example, Stratasys announced that it would be laying off around 15% of its workforce in September 2024 while other major player 3D Systems has sold off its metrology software in order to focus on its software portfolio related to 3D printing. There was also the bankruptcy of Shapeways, although it may soon be revived and has even acquired popular model platform Thangs, and increased difficulties for Markforged since it was ordered to pay Continuous Composites $17M after losing an intellectual property lawsuit. After comments from previous leadership from the company which cast doubt on the suitability of those running the company, Nano Dimension then chose to announce its impending acquisition of Markforged.
In fact, Nano Dimension made quite a few waves in terms of acquisitions this year. Beyond Markforged, the company also announced its intention to acquire Desktop Metal, which has been struggling for a few years now. And while it seemed like a done deal, these have once again been cast into doubt as Yoav Stern, the CEO of Nano Dimension, has been ousted from both the board and his position at the company. At the same time activist shareholder Murchinson Ltd, which has been gaining in shares to a current total of approximately 7.1%, saw a victory over its longtime jostling for the leadership of the company when its nominated director candidates Ofir Baharav and Robert Pons were elected to the board.

Yoav Stern, CEO of Nano Dimension, was one of the participants in the Executive Perspectives series at RAPID + TCT 2024 where he highlighted his desire to help consolidate in the 3D printing industry through acquisitions (photo credits: 3Dnatives)
Adding to that uncertainty, six Nano Dimension directors also resigned, leaving only four Murchinson-backed directors. The new board confirmed in any case that “As a newly reconstituted Board, we are committed to strong corporate governance and executing plans to maximize long-term value for shareholders,” which, reading between the lines, shows dissatisfaction with the choices that have been made by Nano Dimensions’ board up until this point.
Certainly, the full saga has been a long one as Murchinson has been trying to replace Yoav Stern for some time for what it considers to be incompetence. In a press release, the company noted, “Nano’s Board has demonstrated that it is unable or unwilling to hold management accountable and lacks the necessary judgment to use Nano’s cash and other resources responsibly.”
The company goes on to stress that, “Nano’s commitment to questionable use of shareholder resources for mergers and acquisitions, without approval from its shareholders, continues unabated. We have substantial reservations about the acquisitions of Markforged Holding Corporation (NYSE: MKFG) (“Markforged”) and Desktop Metal, Inc. (NYSE: DM) (“Desktop Metal”) that Nano has not addressed. Both Markforged and Desktop Metal are cash-burning businesses with decelerating revenue growth, yet Nano is acquiring both at substantial premiums.”
Where does this leave us? Well, it makes it clear that the market will not be stabilizing anytime soon. As for what will happen to Markforged and Desktop Metal? It seems unlikely that the acquisitions will go through, but it is impossible to say at the moment. Although only Murchinson members remain on the Nano Dimension board, it is more probable that they will reject the agreements. Not only that but recently Desktop Metal filed a lawsuit against Nano Dimension asserting that, “Nano Dimension has breached its obligation to use reasonable best efforts to obtain regulatory approval as soon as practicable in connection with the merger agreement between the parties (the “Merger Agreement”).” The trial will be held in January 2025.
In any case, despite a more conservative year where stability rather than growth has been stressed, there have been some positive signs. At Formnext, the mood was more buoyant than in 2023 and press releases abounded, with partnerships especially being stressed in the industry. This collaboration is a sure way to help strengthen the additive manufacturing sector in this difficult time.
The Spotlight on 3D Printing Applications in 2024
Furthermore, the downturn in the market has led to some other interesting 3D printing trends in 2024. For example, this year we saw an increased focus on concrete applications rather than innovations in machines. A sign that the market was reacting to the reduced faith from overpromises by showing clearly how the technology can be used.

Renishaw had 3D printing applications at the forefront of its booth at Formnext 2024, including this one for bikes (photo credits: 3Dnatives)
For example, at trade shows, although machines were of course present, more space was dedicated to physical applications showing the worth of additive manufacturing. Take Renishaw for example. The British manufacturer had numerous parts on display including a bike used in the Paris Olympics and its 3D printed part, one of the more interesting metal parts we saw this year.
It also has been shown through press releases over the course of the year. Whether medical, aerospace, construction or automotive, major manufacturers are showing interesting applications. This is in contrast to a few years ago when, though of course applications were present, we saw many more innovations in the spotlight rather than what they could do. This of course is a direct response to a criticism that has been levied against the additive manufacturing market: that 3D printing is not able to deliver on its promises.
As mentioned earlier, though generally a downturn in tech has been observed, one of the reasons why it has hit the AM market is because users were disappointed in results from machines. This is due to a classic case of “over promise and under deliver” wherein, while 3D printers are incredible and can be used for many different purposes, expectations still need to be realistic for what exactly they can do.
Having clear applications addresses this directly by showing the direct use of the 3D printing technology. Another way this is being shown is through a growing trend where prototyping and tooling are heralded once again as major 3D printing applications along with hybrid manufacturing. The industry understands that it needs to show users concretely how to use additive manufacturing and select the right technology for the purpose.
This has also been echoed in an increase in certification in the field. A long hurdle to adoption, one of the 3D printing trends that was abundantly clear at Formnext 2024 was an increased concern with certification, of both parts and processes. Major organizations, including those working in specific sectors like SAE in aerospace and in manufacturing in general, are making serious advancements that empower users to 3D print parts more directly. This is sure to continue into 2025 and will even contribute to additive manufacturing’s market recovery.

The presence of SAE International at Formnext 2024, including in this presentation on design for 3D printed parts in automotive and aerospace, shows the importance of certification in the sector in 2024 (photo credits: 3Dnatives)
The Rise of China
China has been a major player in additive manufacturing for some time. But over the past year, we’ve seen an increase in the presence of Chinese manufacturers including in more industrial additive manufacturing. This growth in the region has been a dominant 3D printing trend in 2024.
One of the ways we have seen the growth of China was in fact at Formnext. While in previous years we have seen Chinese companies, they were mostly centered around the major players or those working in the industry. For example, Creality often has a presence as well as companies like Farsoon. This year, we did not just see a large number of Chinese exhibitors, about around 100, but they boasted some of the biggest booths.
While many Western exhibitors opted for booths with a reduced footprint, some of the most impressive stands we saw came from Chinese manufacturers. Eplus3D for example had a two-floor stand where it was able to show off industrial metal AM applications like a rocket nozzle. Bambu Lab and Creality, placed right next to each other, also were comparatively large compared to others at the show and were certainly among the busiest.
The growth of China in 3D printing can be seen in other ways as well. For example, a research report from Grand View Research noted that after earning 1.45B in 2023, the Chinese 3D printing market will reach 7.907B by 2030, a CAGR for 27.5% between 2024 to 2030. In contrast, the overall 3D printing market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 23.5% in the same period with the current largest market, North America, only growing at 22.4%.
Indeed, in a report from CONTEXT in January 2024, the company noted that the entry-level 3D printing market in China was one of the most profitable worldwide. Bambu Lab in the FDM space and ELEGOO in the resin were noted in particular for their strong growth against a general revenue downturn. The report also noted that these entry-level printers were also eating into the industrial AM market as they are increasingly capable of being used for these types of applications at a much smaller price tag.

BLT is one of the Chinese 3D printing companies that has seen enormous growth in 2024 (photo credits: BLT)
That being said, we are seeing a growing move into industrialization in the country. While Chinese, desktop and entry-level 3D printers continue to soar in popularity, companies like Bright Laser Technologies (BLT), Eplus3D and Farsoon have not just had a flurry of exciting applications this year but are turning a serious profit. BLT in particular is currently one of the most profitable additive manufacturing companies in the world after a nearly 60% increase in revenue growth from 2022 to 2023, something that was reflected again in 2024.
Of course, this growth is not seen as purely positive. Along with a rise in competition with Chinese manufacturers, there have also been claims of patent infringement. This can be seen clearly in the case of Stratasys and Bambu Lab.
This year, Stratasys filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Bambu Lab alleging that Bambu Lab has used patented technology in its 3D printers. The lawsuit mentioned purge towers and even heated print beds as two such violations. Still not resolved, the lawsuit sparked a furious discussion with 3D printing users and manufacturers holding different views. On one side a growing concern from manufacturers on intellectual property rights and on the other, enthusiasts and those committed to innovation in the sector that label the companies making these lawsuits as ‘patent trolls.’
Who is right? Well, the answer is probably somewhere in the middle. Either way, it is safe to say that the rise of China has been one of the dominant 3D printing trends in 2024.
Sensationalism on the Rise
In the face of such a turbulent year, we have also seen a sharp rise in sensationalism in 3D printing. What do we mean by that? Well, we have seen a lot of trendy and exciting topics coming up in 3D printing, ones that spark discussion, especially from the mainstream media.
For example, 3D printed guns have been spoken about regularly by many news sources. And while this of course has a solid basis, there have been cases where 3D printed guns have been involved in recent years and it is certainly sensible for governments to investigate the phenomenon, it does not tell the whole story. 3D printed guns remain a minor issue in most places but the new furor surrounding them is disproportionately large.

3D printed meat, such as this example from Steakholder Foods, has been widely discussed in 2024 (photo credits: Steakholder Foods)
That being said, sensationalism cannot be taken only as a negative. While we have seen a rise in gossip and tabloidism within the sector, there is also the case of sensationalism for trendy topics as a way to bring attention to additive manufacturing. This can be seen especially in the case of food 3D printing and construction.
Throughout the year, we have seen an influx of positive news surrounding applications in food and construction. In the case of the latter, the sector has proven that additive manufacturing can be used effectively with multiple homes already on the market. Many examples from 2024 have also centered on how construction 3D printing can be used to make housing more affordable, directly addressing the housing crisis that is present worldwide.
Food is also having its time to shine. Companies like Revo Foods and Steakholder Foods are successfully making 3D printed meat and fish that are lauded as being more environmentally friendly. This in turn sparks discussions, especially with some of these products now available in supermarkets. This is an area where we also see sensationalism from non-additive manufacturing media sources over whether 3D printed meat should be eaten.
This sensationalism does have a purpose though. It brings attention back to 3D printing at a time when it needs it, especially from those who are not already well acquainted with the technologies. Still, it would be prudent for all in the industry to also acknowledge that sensationalism after COVID-19 can now be partially attributed to current woes.
Regardless, it is sure that 2024 has been an interesting one for the 3D printing industry. It will be interesting to see if the sector continues to march in this direction or whether change is on the horizon in 2025.
What do you think of these 3D printing trends from 2024? What would you add? Let us know in a comment below or on our LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here, the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.