5 Biggest 3D Printing Companies

Stratasys, 3D Systems, and Proto Labs lead the 5 biggest 3D printing companies list

The manufacturing process known as 3D printing is one of the most promising and rapidly developing technologies with applications across a multitude of industries. 3D printing involves the additive layering of thin sheets of material that are fused together to create a physical product from a digital design.

While the industry is currently hampered by relatively slow production times, advocates believe that 3D printing ultimately will have the capability to mass produce everything from medical equipment to automotive parts to airline components.

Below, we look at the 5 biggest 3D printing companies by 12-month trailing (TTM) revenue. This list is limited to companies that are publicly traded in the U.S. or Canada, either directly or through ADRs. Some foreign companies may report semiannually, and so may have longer lag times. All data are from YCharts as of Dec. 15, 2022.

Stratasys boasts that its founder created one of the very first 3D printers and says that it continues to evolve. The company's technology provides solutions for various industries, including but not limited to aerospace, health care, and consumer products. Not only does the company produce desktop 3D printers, but it also has systems available for large-scale production that can be used in digital manufacturing. Founded in 1989, the company is based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and has another office in Rehovot, Israel.

3D Systems invented 3D printing in 1989 with the development and patenting of its stereolithography technology, which uses ultraviolet lasers to help create highly precise parts. DDD built on that by developing new technologies, including selective laser sintering, multi-jet printing, film-transfer imaging, color jet printing, direct metal printing, and plastic jet printing. 3D Systems has three business units: products, materials, and services. The products category offers 3D printers and software and includes small desktop and commercial printers that print in plastics and other materials.

Proto Labs was founded in 1999 with a focus on building automated solutions to develop plastic and metal parts used in the manufacturing process. The company expanded to launch an industrial-grade 3D printing service that allowed developers and engineers to move prototypes into the production process. The company's primary business services include injection molding, sheet metal fabrication, and 3D printing.

Belgian company Materialise has a 30-year history of providing 3D printing solutions and related software. It provides platforms to facilitate the development of 3D printing applications in industries such as healthcare, automotive, aerospace, and art and design. Some of the company's first 3D printing activities included anatomical models in both dental and hearing aid products. Materialise also produces eyewear and automobile products.

Desktop Metal was founded in 2015. The company designs and manufactures 3D printing systems. It pairs these systems with performance-driven materials, applications, and technologies, which provide clients with speed and reliability in their 3D printing needs. Desktop Metal serves various industries, including automotive, consumer goods, machine design, and manufacturing tooling. The company is based in Burlington, Massachusetts.

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