GITNUXREPORT 2025

Digital Transformation In The 3D Printing Industry Statistics

Digital transformation accelerates 3D printing market growth and efficiency worldwide.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

62% of manufacturers using 3D printing have integrated digital transformation strategies

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42% of digital transformation initiatives in 3D printing resulted in at least 20% reduction in material waste

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84% of manufacturers believe digital transformation has enabled better supply chain resilience, especially involving 3D printing

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35% of healthcare 3D printing applications now incorporate digital records management systems

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43% of 3D printing users have reported a significant decrease in lead times due to digital workflow integration

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73% of 3D printing startups see digital transformation as vital for competitive advantage

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55% of companies integrating digital workflows reported faster onboarding of new products into the manufacturing pipeline

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68% of large corporations plan to increase their expenditure on digital transformation for 3D printing in the next two years

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47% of digital transformation initiatives in 3D printing focus on enhancing customer customization capabilities

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65% of 3D printing companies report that digital transformation has enhanced their ability to meet industry standards and certifications

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52% of companies reported an increase in overall operational efficiency after digitalizing their 3D printing processes

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66% of 3D printing firms are investing in digital training programs for their workforce to adapt to new digital tools

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59% of companies operating in the 3D printing industry reported increased customer engagement due to digital platforms

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61% of aerospace companies report that digital quality management has improved product certification efficiency

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The number of 3D printing patents filed globally increased by 18% in 2022 over the previous year

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The global 3D printing market is projected to reach $51.77 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 14.6%

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78% of companies adopting 3D printing report improved product development cycles

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The adoption rate of digital twins in 3D printing manufacturing processes grew by 45% between 2020 and 2023

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49% of additive manufacturing firms use cloud-based platforms for design and production management

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67% of companies in the aerospace sector plan to increase investment in 3D printing digital solutions over the next three years

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55% of automotive manufacturers use digital manufacturing platforms that integrate 3D printing workflows

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29% of 3D printers in industrial applications are now connected via IoT platforms

Statistic 23

The use of augmented reality for 3D printing design visualization increased by 40% in 2022

Statistic 24

32% of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) adopted digital transformation tools for 3D printing in the past year

Statistic 25

50% of 3D printing firms utilize simulation software to streamline production processes

Statistic 26

The adoption of blockchain in digital supply chains for 3D printed parts increased by 25% in 2023

Statistic 27

69% of automotive suppliers now utilize digital twins to manage 3D printing production quality

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48% of 3D printing deployment strategies include the use of digital dashboards for performance monitoring

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40% of additive manufacturing companies have invested in AI-driven predictive maintenance platforms

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The percentage of 3D printed parts that are digitally certified increased by 30% over the last three years

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22% of 3D printing processes are now managed via automation tools that coordinate digital and physical workflows

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The global digital 3D printing market share held by metal 3D printing increased to 43% in 2022 from 36% in 2020

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The number of universities offering specialized programs in digital manufacturing and 3D printing rose by 25% from 2020 to 2023

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31% of manufacturing firms have adopted cloud-based CAD solutions integrated with 3D printing workflows

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46% of 3D printing businesses utilized big data analytics in their digital transformation efforts

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39% of global 3D printing sales in 2022 were driven by digitally enhanced additive manufacturing solutions

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41% of industrial 3D printing facilities now employ AI-powered quality control systems

Statistic 38

70% of medical device manufacturers have incorporated digital recording and management in their 3D printing procedures

Statistic 39

53% of aerospace 3D printing processes now incorporate real-time digital monitoring

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The market for 3D printing services is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18.7% through 2027

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56% of 3D printing companies increased their R&D budget in 2023 to enhance digital capabilities

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The use of AI to optimize 3D printing parameters has increased by 35% in the last two years

Statistic 43

80% of aerospace companies report that digital workflows have accelerated their prototyping cycles involving 3D printing

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Key Highlights

The global 3D printing market is projected to reach $51.77 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 14.6%
78% of companies adopting 3D printing report improved product development cycles
The adoption rate of digital twins in 3D printing manufacturing processes grew by 45% between 2020 and 2023
62% of manufacturers using 3D printing have integrated digital transformation strategies
56% of 3D printing companies increased their R&D budget in 2023 to enhance digital capabilities
49% of additive manufacturing firms use cloud-based platforms for design and production management
The use of AI to optimize 3D printing parameters has increased by 35% in the last two years
42% of digital transformation initiatives in 3D printing resulted in at least 20% reduction in material waste
The number of 3D printing patents filed globally increased by 18% in 2022 over the previous year
67% of companies in the aerospace sector plan to increase investment in 3D printing digital solutions over the next three years
84% of manufacturers believe digital transformation has enabled better supply chain resilience, especially involving 3D printing
35% of healthcare 3D printing applications now incorporate digital records management systems
43% of 3D printing users have reported a significant decrease in lead times due to digital workflow integration

The 3D printing industry is experiencing a groundbreaking digital revolution, with projections revealing the market will reach nearly $52 billion by 2026 and widespread adoption of digital twins, AI, and cloud technologies driving unprecedented efficiency, innovation, and competitive advantage across sectors.

Digital Transformation and Digital Supply Chains

62% of manufacturers using 3D printing have integrated digital transformation strategies
42% of digital transformation initiatives in 3D printing resulted in at least 20% reduction in material waste
84% of manufacturers believe digital transformation has enabled better supply chain resilience, especially involving 3D printing
35% of healthcare 3D printing applications now incorporate digital records management systems
43% of 3D printing users have reported a significant decrease in lead times due to digital workflow integration
73% of 3D printing startups see digital transformation as vital for competitive advantage
55% of companies integrating digital workflows reported faster onboarding of new products into the manufacturing pipeline
68% of large corporations plan to increase their expenditure on digital transformation for 3D printing in the next two years
47% of digital transformation initiatives in 3D printing focus on enhancing customer customization capabilities
65% of 3D printing companies report that digital transformation has enhanced their ability to meet industry standards and certifications
52% of companies reported an increase in overall operational efficiency after digitalizing their 3D printing processes
66% of 3D printing firms are investing in digital training programs for their workforce to adapt to new digital tools
59% of companies operating in the 3D printing industry reported increased customer engagement due to digital platforms

Digital Transformation and Digital Supply Chains Interpretation

As digital transformation weaves its way through the 3D printing industry, a stunning 62% of manufacturers are embracing new strategies, leading to greener production with 42% cutting waste by at least 20%, bolstering supply chains for 84%, and drastically reducing lead times for 43%, proving that in this high-tech arena, digital is not just an upgrade—it's the blueprint for sustainable, efficient, and customer-centric innovation.

Industrial and Sector-Specific Insights

61% of aerospace companies report that digital quality management has improved product certification efficiency

Industrial and Sector-Specific Insights Interpretation

With 61% of aerospace companies reporting enhanced product certification efficiency through digital quality management, it's clear that digital transformation is not just a trend but the jet fuel propelling 3D printing's ascent to aerospace excellence.

Intellectual Property and Market Growth

The number of 3D printing patents filed globally increased by 18% in 2022 over the previous year

Intellectual Property and Market Growth Interpretation

The 18% surge in global 3D printing patents in 2022 not only reflects a swiftly transforming industry but also signals that innovation in digital manufacturing is printing a future where boundaries are becoming increasingly layers—literally.

Market Adoption and Usage

The global 3D printing market is projected to reach $51.77 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 14.6%
78% of companies adopting 3D printing report improved product development cycles
The adoption rate of digital twins in 3D printing manufacturing processes grew by 45% between 2020 and 2023
49% of additive manufacturing firms use cloud-based platforms for design and production management
67% of companies in the aerospace sector plan to increase investment in 3D printing digital solutions over the next three years
55% of automotive manufacturers use digital manufacturing platforms that integrate 3D printing workflows
29% of 3D printers in industrial applications are now connected via IoT platforms
The use of augmented reality for 3D printing design visualization increased by 40% in 2022
32% of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) adopted digital transformation tools for 3D printing in the past year
50% of 3D printing firms utilize simulation software to streamline production processes
The adoption of blockchain in digital supply chains for 3D printed parts increased by 25% in 2023
69% of automotive suppliers now utilize digital twins to manage 3D printing production quality
48% of 3D printing deployment strategies include the use of digital dashboards for performance monitoring
40% of additive manufacturing companies have invested in AI-driven predictive maintenance platforms
The percentage of 3D printed parts that are digitally certified increased by 30% over the last three years
22% of 3D printing processes are now managed via automation tools that coordinate digital and physical workflows
The global digital 3D printing market share held by metal 3D printing increased to 43% in 2022 from 36% in 2020
The number of universities offering specialized programs in digital manufacturing and 3D printing rose by 25% from 2020 to 2023
31% of manufacturing firms have adopted cloud-based CAD solutions integrated with 3D printing workflows
46% of 3D printing businesses utilized big data analytics in their digital transformation efforts
39% of global 3D printing sales in 2022 were driven by digitally enhanced additive manufacturing solutions
41% of industrial 3D printing facilities now employ AI-powered quality control systems
70% of medical device manufacturers have incorporated digital recording and management in their 3D printing procedures
53% of aerospace 3D printing processes now incorporate real-time digital monitoring

Market Adoption and Usage Interpretation

As the global 3D printing market races toward an eye-watering $51.77 billion by 2026, it's clear that digital transformation—driven by digital twins, cloud platforms, and AI—has shifted from a trend to an indispensable blueprint for industry innovation, akin to turning a nostalgic hobby into the manufacturing equivalent of a space race.

Market Growth

The market for 3D printing services is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18.7% through 2027

Market Growth Interpretation

With an anticipated CAGR of 18.7% through 2027, the 3D printing industry’s digital transformation isn't just shaping the future—it's printing its way there at a rapid, unstoppable pace.

Technology and Innovation Trends

56% of 3D printing companies increased their R&D budget in 2023 to enhance digital capabilities
The use of AI to optimize 3D printing parameters has increased by 35% in the last two years
80% of aerospace companies report that digital workflows have accelerated their prototyping cycles involving 3D printing

Technology and Innovation Trends Interpretation

As 3D printing firms boost R&D budgets by over half and AI-driven parameter optimization surges, the aerospace industry's rapid prototyping pace signals that digital transformation isn't just a trend—it's printing its way to the future.