Predictions 5 About the FUTURE of

Increase in material options and multi- #1 material/blended material applications Look for vendors putting more emphasis into material development and greater availability of high-temperature materials, more structural materials and more flexible materials for high-end use cases. Many companies are waiting for possibilities of printing with other materials so the use of additive will be much wider. 3D Printing Industry quotes, "Materials fill the gap between prototyping and production and increase the number of applications for the technology." 4

4

3

2

1

0 Strength Flexibility Durability

PLA ABS Nylon PC Carbon Fiber PC-ABS ASA

***NOTE: The above chart is based on a 1-4 scale

High-running material costs are one of the top inhibitors in the 3D printing market. With companies like Desktop Metal launching affordable metal 3D printing and offering low-cost versatile materials, office-safe materials and multi-material/blended materials, users are finding professional solutions at reasonable prices. This will also play a role in mass customization in the future, as consumer products require more material and color options. Majority of 3D printing will remain in the first phases of new product development #2 According to Forbes, 57% of all 3D printing is done in the first phases of new product development, signifying 3D printing's role in reducing time-to-market.1

% of Companies that View Top 3D Printing Applictations Additive Technologies as a Competetive Advantage

Proof of Concept (34%) Prototype (23%) Yes (95%) No (5%) Production (22%) Research and Development (7%) 1 Marketing Samples (10%) Other (4%)

Despite the shifts in technologies, the majority of companies still consider 3D printing a competitive advantage in their strategy, with the greatest ROI in the beginning stages of product development. While there is value in production and end-use parts, speeding time to market with prototypes cannot be overstated. 2 Research shows more American companies use 3D printing for design and production while more European companies use additive technologies for research and development. Stratasys holds steady to these trends with a variety of machines supporting all 3D printing applications - from proof of concept and prototyping to production and end-use parts.

FDM technology will remain the most #3 used 3D printing technology According to multiple surveys, Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) was the most used 3D printing technology worldwide in 2017.

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is continuing to be the most used technology with PolyJet and Direct Metal Laser Sintering among the fastest growing technologies. The shifting distribution of 3D printing technology adoption reflects the everchanging market.1

31 38 14 7 7 3 2 NOW 2 1 1

36 Percent % 33 25 13 7 8 2

FUTURE 4 2 1 4 2

0 10 20 30 40

Fused Deposition Modeling Selective Laser Sintering PolyJet Digital Light Processing Direct Metal Laser Sintering Selective Deposition Lamina.. Binder Jetting Electron Beam Melting Laminated Objet Manufacturing Fusion Jet

Historically, 3D printers' growth is based on whether they are desktop-friendly, user-friendly, affordably priced, have low-cost of consumables and the simplicity of the workflow.

FDM continues to lead the shift in "most common 3D printing method used in desktop 3D printing" due to cost-effective means for product development and . This lineup is anticipated to continue on this advance path and lead the desktop 3D printing industry based on material capabilities and future potential.

More untapped markets will adopt 3D printing solutions #4 The value of the 3D printing market is anticipated to skyrocket in the next five years.

3D printing is still underutilized in many markets. With advances in electronic PCB, high- performance materials and Additive Manufacturing5 for manufacturing, more industries will start reaping benefits from the entire design cycle.

$8.8B $16B $26.5B ?

2017 2019 2021 5-10 years out

Expect industries like aerospace and automotive sectors to capitalize on 3D printed parts for tooling, jigs and fixtures for manufacturing processes instead of traditional machining.

In the U.S. market and that the fastest-growing segment in the 3D printing industry is in the $25,000 to $100,000 price category. 2

Software will continue to become more #5 optimized for additive processes With design tools like SOLIDWORKS, GrabCAD Print, Voxel Print, Insight and other CAD software bridging communication, 3D printers will increase digital accuracy.

In the future, we anticipate more remote and cloud-based features as already seen in GrabCAD Print. Soon, additive manufacturing will demand these design tools to have remote access for multiple iterations and facilitated collaboration.

Research institutions are also offering more CAD for additive manufacturing courses for STEAM careers. With technololgy becoming more familiar to students at a young age, the future of 3D printing is hopeful. 3

Sources : 1. https://www.forbes.com/sites/louiscolumbus/2017/05/23/the-state-of-3d-printing-2017 2. https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/future-3d-printing-dr-conor-maccormack-co-founder-ceo-mcor-122679/ COPYRIGHTTRIMECH2017 3. https://www.onshape.com/cad-blog/the-future-of-3d-printing-5-additive-manufacturing-trends-to-look-for-in-2017 4. https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/future-3d-printing-14-industry-experts-tell-us-expect-additive-manufacturing-2017-104600/ ALLRIGHTSRESERVED 5. https://www.statista.com/statistics/261693/3d-printing-market-value-forecast/

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