By 3dzyk It probably is the same to Gen Ys.
After the show wrapped up and people left, a few of us sat down to talk. A friend’s comment, “I’ve spent ten years in 3D printing,” suddenly made everything pause.
As an industry reporter, the recent Formnext Asia expo in Shenzhen is still clear in my head. It was probably the biggest event this second half of the year: the venue was packed, with over 20,000 visitors in three days and nearly 300 exhibitors. You could really feel the energy and growth of the 3D printing industry right there on the floor.
Amidst such a bustling and information-intensive event, we still managed to carve out some time to sit down and have face-to-face conversations with old friends, discussing the industry’s evolution and enduring commitments over the years. It was during these exchanges that I suddenly realized many of the founders now leading companies at the forefront are, in fact, from the post-90s generation. In what seems like the blink of an eye, their journeys in 3D printing have already spanned a decade.
The industry’s growth in recent years has been remarkable, expanding from an initial market size of less than 100 billion yuan to now surpassing 500 billion yuan, swiftly advancing toward the trillion-yuan milestone. And perhaps, our youthful dedication over this past decade has, in this process, yielded fruitful outcomes.
Let’s drawback to the industry itself and share some key takeaways after the show:
2025 is the year 3D printing finally took off.
The “tipping point” we had long-debated is no longer theoretical; you can now feel its palpable shift in the air.
The Industrial-Grade Paradigm: Entering the Era of Mass Production
Historically confined to high-value, low-volume sectors like aerospace, 3D printing has now achieved a transformative breakthrough in industrial applications. This shift is particularly evident in the growing trend toward mass production within industries such as 3C electronics, humanoid robotics, and automotive manufacturing.
We are witnessing a fundamental transition in manufacturing paradigms—from initial process validation to truly scalable delivery. Production volumes have surged from trial runs capped at a few thousand units to current outputs reaching tens or even hundreds of thousands of parts. A prime example of this scaling is seen in the titanium alloy hinges for foldable smartphones, including models like the Honor Magic V3 and OPPO Find N5, which now utilize 3D printing technology.
Further validating this trend, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently revealed that Apple’s anticipated iPhone Ultra foldable, scheduled for launch next year, will also incorporate 3D printed components. Notably, he identified Bright Laser Technologies(BLT) as a core supplier responsible for the New Product Introduction (NPI) of titanium alloy bearing covers and middle frame components.
Consumer-Grade: Far away from reaching to the ceiling
In the consumer-grade segment, Chinese manufacturers accounted for 96% of the global entry-level 3D printer market in 2024. In the first half of 2025, China’s 3D printing equipment exports reached 2.28 million units, a year-on-year increase of 24.5%, with an export value of 4.618 billion RMB. Based on the current growth trajectory, annual exports are expected to exceed 5 million units, with total export value projected to surpass 10 billion RMB.
Although the vision of “a 3D printer in every home” remains distant, the consumer-grade market is entering an accelerated growth phase. On one hand, the adoption of AI modeling technology is addressing challenges such as difficult data generation and high barriers to modeling. On the other hand, continuous iterations in equipment technology—including multi-color printing, multi-nozzle systems, and higher printing speeds—are consistently enhancing user experience and expanding the application boundaries for home and personal use.
Currently, the first-tier companies include Bambu Lab, Creality, Elegoo, and Anycubic. Companies such as Flashforge and QIDI Technology are rapidly catching up, while others like Snapmaker and AtomForm are exploring technological pathways such as multi-nozzle switching to achieve breakthroughs and overtake competitors.
From a technology and product perspective, two distinct shifts have emerged this year：
On the industrial front, metal additive manufacturing has matured from preliminary research into support-free processes to the commercial adoption of LPBF beam shaping. This technique, which dynamically switches between Gaussian and ring beam profiles, directly addresses core challenges in part quality and mechanical performance.
In consumer 3D printing, the introduction of PEBA elastomers by leading brands represents a strategic pivot from rigid plastics to functional, flexible materials. This expansion of material capabilities is unlocking new applications across hobbyist, educational, and prototyping domains.
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Lack of Capacities
Behind the rapid demand growth, challenges such as insufficient production capacity and personnel shortages are becoming increasingly prominent.
Taking industry leader Bright Laser Technologies as an example, the company achieved revenue of 667 million yuan in the first half of 2025, with a net profit of 76.31 million yuan. The total number of employees has reached 3,392, with over 600 new hires in the past six months. In terms of equipment, the number of lasers has reached 4,600, a 1.3-fold increase compared to the full year of last year, equivalent to over a thousand metal 3D printing units.
In short, this series of initiatives is in preparation for handling large-volume printing orders in the future.
Beyond equipment manufacturers, the materials sector is also accelerating its layout.
For instance, ZTP Advanced Materials recently completed the construction of a fully intelligent production line cluster for aluminum alloy powder. Six additional production lines are set to commence operations in early September, bringing the annual production capacity to 1,500 tons (suitable for LPBF processes). Just six months ago, the company completed its Phase III factory, dedicated to the mass production of recycled titanium alloy powder for 3D printing. By the end of 2025, the annual production capacity for Ti6Al4V powder is expected to reach 700 tons.
In the consumer-grade segment, Creality, who is planning to list on the Hong Kong stock market, now has over 2,000 employees, while another leading company, Bambu Lab, has surpassed 1,000 employees and continues to expand its recruitment. At the same time, an interesting phenomenon has emerged in the industry: after some manufacturers release new products, it often takes up to half a year before they become available for sale in the domestic market. The reason behind this is severe production capacity shortages, as market response has been overwhelmingly positive, leading to supply falling short of demand immediately upon product release.
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Companies diversifications
The term “diversification” here refers to both the diversity of companies within the industry and the expansion of their core business activities.
Firstly, alongside homegrown 3D printing specialists, a growing number of upstream players are accelerating their entry into the sector. Initially focused on supplying key components or materials, companies like Gongda Laser have established subsidiaries such as Xihe Additive, while Han’s Laser launched Han’s Juwit, Ti-Tech Advanced Materials set up Ti-Tech Crystals, and Gripm Advanced Materials founded Gripm Additive.
These cases are just a snapshot, illustrating how upstream suppliers are keenly aware of the growth potential in 3D printing and are proactively expanding their presence. In addition, traditional manufacturing giants are also making moves—for example, Haitian Group has established Haitian Additive, officially stepping into the additive manufacturing arena.
Another notable trend is the rise of startups founded by industry veterans. Aura3D, a U.S.-registered company focused on pellet-based 3D printing equipment, was founded by a former marketing director of a domestic firm.
As the number of market entrants grows, competition within the sector is intensifying, leading to increasing signs of “involution.” This dynamic presents both opportunities and challenges for the industry. On one hand, it drives technological advancement and cost reduction—addressing a key barrier to 3D printing adoption. On the other, it squeezes profit margins, pushing companies to explore new growth avenues.
Under this pressure, many firms are visibly diversifying their core offerings. Creality, for instance, initially focused on 3D printers but has since expanded into engravers and scanners. Similarly, materials suppliers like Yongchanghe, once dedicated solely to resins, have begun producing filaments and even entered the equipment space. Such examples are increasingly common—in a fast-moving industry, standing still may be the biggest risk of all.
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Last but not the least, customization
Customization has now become the dominant trend, versus the previous preference for versatile “all-in-one” machines.
To cater to diverse application scenarios, leading manufacturers are increasingly launching tailored equipment solutions. These customized systems not only better align with specific industry needs but also achieve lower price points through optimized design and manufacturing processes, thereby enhancing market penetration.
Two distinct segments are currently emerging as frontrunners in this customized development path.
The first is the metal shoe mold sector. Here, most players—from established leaders to startups—are converging on a similar equipment configuration: typically four lasers and a build volume of around 400mm. This standardization is viable because the market is large, requirements are well-defined, and adoption of metal 3D printing is already mature—providing manufacturers with a clear development roadmap.
The second is the consumer-grade 3D printing farm segment.
If Bambu Lab’s P1 Series initially met the batch production needs of printing farms somewhat coincidentally, it nonetheless secured a strong market position. Now, more companies are intentionally developing farm-specific solutions, such as Creality’s latest Sermoon M300 and Fushen’s FLSUN V500—both purpose-built for this application.
The underlying message is clear:
To truly expand market share today, the focus must be on application-specific implementation. Companies that continue to pursue a generalist “do-it-all” approach may soon find themselves excelling at nothing.
Finally, another noteworthy industry trend is gaining momentum: fully 3D-printed shoes.
Perhaps this requires no further elaboration, as evidenced by the presence of 3D-printed shoes showcased across at least 20 exhibition booths at this year’s event. We have consistently maintained that 2024 belonged to 3D printing farms, while 2025 has emerged as the breakthrough year for 3D-printed footwear. What began as our initial assessment has now been unequivocally validated by the industry’s concrete actions.
With half of 2025 already behind us, the true journey is only just beginning. What lies ahead is the next decade—and perhaps the one beyond that.
By then, those of us from the post-90s generation will have long become the industry’s “middle-aged veterans.”
Yet, years from now, when we raise our glasses once more, may we still proudly declare:
“We’ve been in 3D printing for twenty—no, thirty—years.”