The global additive manufacturing and lightweight materials for aerospace and defense market are poised for remarkable expansion, with an anticipated CAGR of approximately 20.58% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2030. By the end of 2030, the market is expected to achieve a market value of around US$5.6 billion.

Market Overview:

Additive manufacturing, often referred to as 3D printing, is an advanced manufacturing method that employs 3D printers to produce three-dimensional objects guided by software instructions. A wide range of industries, including aerospace and defense, automotive, healthcare, and others, harness 3D printing technology for diverse applications. The aerospace and defense sector, pioneers in adopting additive manufacturing (AM) technology, is driving the growth of the global additive manufacturing and lightweight materials market. This expansion is fueled by the development of sophisticated 3D printed aircraft components, 3D printed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and increased utilization in the production of defense equipment.

Key Findings from the Report:

• The market for additive manufacturing and lightweight materials for aerospace and defense is projected to witness over fourfold revenue expansion during 2023 2030.
• The preference for polymer matrix composites is expected to persist through 2030.
• The demand for plastics remains high in the additive manufacturing and lightweight materials market for aerospace and defense.
• In 2022, the powder bed fusion category led the market in terms of technology.
• Lightweight brackets fusion emerged as the largest market segment in 2022.
• North America is set to maintain its leadership position, while the Asia Pacific market for additive manufacturing and lightweight materials in aerospace and defense will experience the most robust growth until 2030.

Market Drivers:

Increasing Demand for Lightweight Components:

Reducing an aircrafts weight has significant benefits, including a reduction in environmental impact, fuel consumption, and cost per mile flown. Utilizing 3D printing technology to manufacture airplane parts, components, and frames offers these advantages without compromising structural integrity or aerodynamic efficiency. By extensively employing 3D printing, lead times and costs for producing aircraft components are reduced by 70-90% compared to traditional manufacturing methods. Consequently, the aerospace and defense additive manufacturing sector is poised for growth as the demand for affordable, lightweight parts continues to rise.

Aerospace additive manufacturing is also instrumental in producing cost-effective grips, jigs, and fittings. The widespread adoption of AM enables the fabrication of components using premium materials in short production runs with rapid turnaround times, fostering industry growth. Aerospace additive manufacturing contributes to the production of intricate and unique parts such as engines, brackets, ducting, and seat belt buckles.

Furthermore, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with AM for real-time monitoring and adjustments during the 3D printing process enhances precision and supports the creation of intricate designs, further driving market expansion.

Growing Adoption in the Defense Industry:

Additive manufacturing offers the defense industry the capability to produce unique parts and perform rapid, on-site repairs, expanding industrial capabilities. Advancements in materials and techniques have rekindled interest in this technology, creating new opportunities in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and healthcare. The research anticipates that the global additive manufacturing market will exceed US$75 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 20.8% between 2023 and 2030, surpassing the growth trajectory of the overall manufacturing industry.

Additive manufacturing enables the military to address design flaws, such as structural weaknesses, in products manufactured using conventional methods. Government and industry organizations rely on the ability of additive manufacturing to resolve long-standing supply chain challenges. Although additive manufacturing is often perceived as a relatively recent technology, its early applications in the military date back to the late 1980s. The technology began gaining wider recognition and acceptance in the 2000s, but its adoption in the defense industry lagged behind other sectors due to the absence of standardized terminology and limited technology awareness.

Market Challenges:

High Costs of Printing Equipment:

The growth of the additive manufacturing and lightweight materials for aerospace and defense market is hindered by the high energy and technology costs associated with 3D printing compared to other manufacturing methods. A study from Loughborough University reveals that 3D printers utilizing heat or lasers to melt plastic consume between 50 and 100 times more energy than injection molding. Additionally, the market expansion faces challenges related to the high cost of 3D printing equipment, limitations in build size and material availability, and other factors.

Certification requirements, which demand that regulatory bodies ensure that AM systems are well-understood, repeatable in design, and capable of meeting reliability and safety standards, pose a significant barrier to the application of metal additive manufacturing in aerospace. Certification standards vary based on whether the intended AM system is considered safety- or mission-critical, among other factors. Bridging the gap between existing standards for conventional manufacturing and emerging standards for additive manufacturing processes is essential for practical certification.

Furthermore, aerospace structures present complex sustainment challenges due to their high complexity and low production volume. Maintenance issues include sourcing parts for outdated aircraft, remanufacturing and repairing them, and recertifying current aircraft for new purposes.

Overview of Key Segments:

Polymer Matrix Composites Command a Significant Market Share:

Polymer matrix composites dominate the additive manufacturing and lightweight materials market for aerospace and defense, driven by the transformation underway in commercial aircraft production. Airlines and aircraft manufacturers are increasingly utilizing composites for their ability to reduce weight, lower fuel costs, and enhance structural durability compared to traditional metallic materials. Composites exhibit superior strength characteristics, making them an ideal choice for lightweighting aircraft and reducing fuel costs.

In addition to superior strength, composites also offer resistance to fatigue from repeated take-offs and landings, leading to reduced inspection costs over the aircrafts lifespan. Commercial aircraft fuselage structures made of aluminum are susceptible to corrosion and fatigue cracking, issues that do not affect advanced composites since composites are corrosion-resistant.

Lightweight Brackets Fusion Application Dominates:

Over the forecast period, the lightweight brackets fusion category is expected to dominate the additive manufacturing and lightweight materials market for aerospace and defense. Aerospace brackets subjected to heavy loads are optimized for mass reduction using topology and size optimization techniques and subsequently produced using additive manufacturing. This combination of thermo-elastic topology optimization and lightweight brackets fusion results in significant structural mass reduction while meeting all mechanical performance requirements.

Growth Opportunities Across Regions:

North America Maintains Leadership:

North America is set to maintain its leadership position in the additive manufacturing and lightweight materials market for aerospace and defense. This dominance is fueled by higher defense budgets and substantial investments in aviation industry activities. In April 2021, the US Army decided to create and deliver the worlds largest metal 3D printer for vehicles, further driving market expansion. Key players such as General Electric, 3D Systems, Inc., ExOne, and others contribute to market growth.

Moreover, the North American aerospace additive manufacturing market will continue to thrive due to increased investments in aviation and defense sectors. The region is witnessing heightened spending on cutting-edge military technologies and a thriving aircraft sector.

Asia Pacific Emerges as a Lucrative Market:

The Asia Pacific region is expected to witness significant growth in the additive manufacturing and lightweight materials market for aerospace and defense. This growth can be attributed to the increasing investments made by countries like China, South Korea, and India in the development of lightweight components for the aerospace and defense sectors.

Research by Ernst & Young (EY) indicates a substantial rise in the familiarity of Koreans with 3D printing technology, increasing from 24% in 2016 to 81% in 2019. The TCT magazine study highlights that Chinese companies introduced 38 metal 3D printers of various sizes and forms, further bolstering market expansion in the Asia Pacific region.

Competitive Landscape:

The aerospace and defense 3D printing market is characterized by the presence of a few dominant players, resulting in a fragmented landscape. Market participants are focused on introducing advanced 3D printers and materials to cater to a growing customer base. Many players are emphasizing organic growth strategies, including mergers and acquisitions (M&A), partnerships, and capacity expansions, to expand their footprint. The aerospace and defense additive manufacturing market is poised to grow faster than the industry average during the forecast period, driven by the increasing demand for lightweight parts and components in aircraft manufacturing and design.

Browse Global Additive Manufacturing and Lightweight Materials for Aerospace and Defense Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, Regional Outlook, and Forecast 2023-2030 (By Composite Type Coverage, By Material Coverage, By Additive Manufacturing Technology Coverage, By Application Coverage, By Geographic Coverage and By Company): https://www.fairfieldmarketresearch.com/report/additive-manufacturing-lightweight-material-for-aerospace-defense-market

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COMTEX_440958172/2840/2023-09-26T05:19:36