3D Metrology Market

Market Overview

The global 3D metrology market size was valued at USD 8.61 billion in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 15.43 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period (2023–2031).

Highlights

• Hardware dominates the component segment
• Reverse engineering dominates the application segment
• Automotive dominates the end-user segment
• North America is the highest shareholder in the global market

"3D metrology" is a technological system for measuring a 3D object's point, length, height, and width. Its main applications include reverse engineering and flaw analysis of various materials and objects. A coordinate measuring machine (CMM), optical digitizer and scanner (ODS), video measuring machine (VMM), and 3D automated optical inspection (AOI) system are just a few of the hardware and software tools that are included. These devices transform 2D architectural models into photos and movies for better design, manufacturing, and production workflows. Several industries, including aerospace, defense, automotive, architectural, medical, energy, and power, use this extensively for quality control, inspection, reverse engineering, and virtual simulation of the goods.

Market Dynamics

Global 3D Metrology Market Drivers

Increasing Demand for High Precision and Accuracy in Measurement

One of the primary drivers for the growth of the 3D metrology market is the increasing demand for accurate inspection and measurement in industries including manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and medical. Nevertheless, since engineering tolerances are particularly close and simple measuring apparatuses are insufficient to measure intricate detailing. As a result, high-precision geometrical evaluations are required to measure industrial products. In addition, mechanical suppliers require precise reporting of dimensional data for statistical examination and to protect quality procedures. With rising quality mandates, organizations are pressured to put resources into innovative arrangements to uphold precise and instantaneous quality covering first-article and production reviews to guarantee provider quality management.

Furthermore, manufacturers are facing quality issues more than ever due to fast-tracking automation strategies. This is a captivating precision measurement to develop in sync and become better aligned with innovative operative processes. With the augmented implementation of automation technologies, the obligation of quality assertion lies mainly in precision measuring. Businesses are therefore investing in 3D metrology tools for time and cost-savings in the long run.

Advancements in 3D Metrology Systems

Over the past decade, substantial advancements and R&D in 3D metrology have occurred. Technological R&D plays a fundamental role in driving the growth of the market. Consumer's tendency towards security, and rigorous government regulations, coupled with scientific developments, has led to several advancements in metrology innovation in recent years. In addition, the major participants operating in the 3D metrology industry primarily focus on the quality of the products produced through precision measurement utilizing progressed 3D metrology methods and tooling. Almost every mechanical application can profit from profoundly accurate precision measurement arrangements.

Additionally, the three most important trends that are changing the face of the industry are non-contact precision measuring, automation, and 3D precision measuring technologies. In order to cater to these shifting industrial arrangements, the 3D metrology industry witnesses an advancement in its systems. For instance, the Absolute Multiline Technology developed by Etalon AG, a German system solutions provider, is a new measuring technology that combines the benefits of an interferometer for better metrological traceability. Unlike traditional interferometers, the laser beam of precision measurement tool can be interjected at any time without instigating accuracy loss. Such advanced systems are thereby driving the market's growth.

Global 3D Metrology Market Restraint

Lack of Technical Expertise in 3D Metrology Systems

Skilled and knowledgeable users are essential for efficiently and effectively using metrology equipment. Interactive training delivered by experienced professionals is crucial to ensure operators have the expertise to maximize inspection productivity. However, 3D metrology services need more technical expertise for optimum performance and functioning. Operating the 3D metrology equipment requires an undeniable technical skill set relying on the kind of goods and parts being measured for inspection or analysis.

Furthermore, there are just a set number of 3D metrology specialists accessible because of the shortage of training centers or industry-explicit certification programs. Another factor that influences the 3D metrology industry is that the workforces in manufacturing businesses have habitually handled the traditional coordinate measuring technology systems and need the technical know-how regarding new equipment. This, in turn, hampers the market's overall growth at an expected level over the forecast period.

Global 3D Metrology Market Opportunities

Upsurge in Demand for Industry 4.0

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is renovating value chains in the manufacturing industries with unparalleled scale and speed. A sequence of macro-level industry trends determines them, and worldwide value chains are being reconfigured, considerably impacting labor and the type of expertise needed in businesses soon. In addition, industrial frontrunners are digitizing crucial tasks within their in-house vertical maneuvers procedures and their horizontal associates along the value chain.

Furthermore, the outlook for Industry 4.0 regarding 3D metrology is to enhance quality and capitalize on the output while cutting outlays right down the assembly line, making manufacturing procedures faster and more precise than before. Industry 4.0 brings forward the upsurge of smart manufacturing technologies that add new and assorted complexities within the assessment procedure. Smart factories that are being established will find these manufacturing technologies vital to their success. To keep advancing into Industry 4.0, industrialists shall deploy smart manufacturing and communication processes such as automated inspection, cloud monitoring, closed-loop operation, and integrated communication and connectivity. As such, all these factors influence the demand for 3D metrology and create lucrative opportunities for the market players to grow.

Regional Analysis

Based on region, the global 3D metrology market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

North America Dominates the Global Market

North America is the most significant shareholder in the global 3D metrology market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.6% over the forecast period. The region is mainly driven by the strong presence of automotive, aerospace, and pharmaceutical OEMs, especially in the U.S. In addition, the adoption of advanced technology in aerospace and defense, as well as in the industrial sector in the United States and Canada, is likely to fuel market growth in North America. Rapid mechanization of automotive production facilities is one of the crucial factors behind the rising demand for inline dimensional metrology systems. Additionally, due to the growth of data centers and the rollout of the 5G network in the region, North America now holds a monopoly on the 3D metrology market. Several Body-In-White (BIW) and powertrain manufacturers might replace conventional measurement solutions, such as CMMs, with inline metrology solutions. 

Asia Pacific is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.6% over the forecast period. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to remain the most lucrative market for 3D metrology over the forecast period. The growth is mainly driven by growing automotive production across emerging countries, such as China and India. The rising deployment of metrology solutions in the construction and engineering, and medical industries, especially in emerging economies within the region, is driving the market demand over the forecast period. The Asia-Pacific region is the most industrialized products manufacturing and engineering hub. Furthermore, China is prominent in manufacturing output products, including steel, iron, chemical, consumer product, food processing, transportation, and equipment manufacturing. Therefore, 3D metrology is used in power generation and diverse industrial applications, such as raw casting, forging inspection, die and mold design, and scrutinizing power generation machinery.

Europe is expanding rapidly due to the region's considerable use of the automotive and aerospace sectors, and this tendency is expected to continue over the forecasted period. The existence of extensive production facilities in Europe is anticipated to accelerate the industry's expansion in the coming years. Germany is expected to dominate the regional market over the forecast period due to the sizeable manufacturing facilities there. Furthermore, France is also growing at a considerable rate in Europe as a result of the country's significant aerospace and automotive industries.

In the Middle East and Africa and South America, the market growth is moderate due to the delayed adoption of advanced metrology technology and the shortage of skilled professionals necessary to operate Video Measuring Machines (VMM) and Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM).

Segmental Analysis

The global 3D metrology market is bifurcated into components, applications, and end-user.

Based on components, the global 3D metrology market is divided into hardware, software, and services. 

The hardware segment is the highest contributor to the market share and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% over the forecast period. 3D metrology hardware is used to test and analyze the performance of a machine to scan its strengths and weaknesses depending on the objects to be scanned. The increasing embracing of 3D metrology equipment by numerous industries, such as automotive, aerospace, heavy machinery, construction and engineering, and energy and power to uphold the quality of the product is the foremost driver for the growth of the hardware segment. In addition, the hardware segment is further subdivided into a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM), 3D Automated Optical Inspection System (AoI), Video Measuring Machine (VMM), and Optical Digitizer and Scanner (ODS). The growing demand for CMM also drives the growth of the hardware segment in the 3D metrology market. 

The software empowers complete information gathering and assessment from various sources. Therefore, it gives comprehensive and self-explanatory textual and graphical reports that distinguish production tendencies and assess real-time deviations. Furthermore, the applications of CAM/CAD software for manufacturing and designing processes include production engineering, tooling, metal fabrication, sheet metal, stone, and woodworking. It results in attaining production efficiencies and value enhancement to the process, which, consecutively, has driven the demand for software applications. Inspection of certain minute parts of a machine requires high accuracy, which metrology software achieves. 

Based on application, the global 3D metrology market is segmented into quality control and inspection, reverse engineering, virtual simulation, and 3D scanning. 

The reverse engineering segment owns the highest market and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.7% over the forecast period. Reverse engineering is a method of creating a 3D virtual model from an existing physical part for use in 3D computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), computer-aided engineering (CAE), or other software. The process involves measuring an object and then reconstructing it as a 3D model. Reverse engineering helps analyze product functionality and subcomponents, estimate costs, and identify potential patent infringement. The surge in demand for smart reverse engineering solutions with the convention of CAD model or by assessment of the archetype of the CAD model, essentially in the automobile industry, has also transformed the application setup of the metrology system.

Quality inspection is a measure aimed at checking, measuring, or testing one or more product characteristics and relating the results to the requirements to confirm compliance. This task is usually performed by specialized personnel and falls outside the responsibility of production workers. In addition, products that comply with the specifications are not accepted or returned for improvement. The trend certification of standardization laboratories by A2LA is critical for the endowment of quality service to temporary customer assurance. Moreover, manufacturers are implementing globally recognized quality standards and guidelines, such as ISO-9001, QS-9000, and Six Sigma, to meet the necessities of international clients. Hence, the quality control and inspection segment will record the highest growth over the forecast period.

Based on the end-user, the global 3D metrology market is bifurcated into automotive, aerospace, medical, heavy machinery, construction and engineering, and others. 

The automotive segment is the highest contributor to the market and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period. The automotive industry has always led most other industries in implementing new advanced manufacturing technology due to ever-shortening product life cycle times. One technology critical to delivering quality automotive products, with the necessitated increasing of productivity and lowering of costs, is 3D metrology. Component precision within the automotive industry is imperative. In addition, as quality standards rapidly rise, so does the need for equipment that allows our customers to verify component accuracy and increase throughput. The growth in the demand for fuel-efficient transport and high-end vehicles is expected to propel the demand for 3D metrology solutions over the forecast period.

In healthcare systems worldwide, measuring medical equipment is frequently utilized for illness prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The safety and accuracy of these devices' measures are a growing discussion area because they are crucial to medical professionals' day-to-day operations and how their measurements affect patients' health. Medical devices must pass tests for metrological safety assessment and control under the Medical Devices Act. It enables a high degree of accuracy in implants, prostheses, dental applications, and critical assemblies of medical devices, such as CT scanning and X-ray machines that need access to hard-to-reach spots, thereby driving the market growth.

Recent Developments

• January 2023- SMARTTECH3D announced a global collaboration with Oqton, a 3D Systems-owned software company that offers industry-leading software solutions for inspection and reverse engineering based on 3D scan data.

• February 2023- ZEISS #HandsOnMetrology unveiled the new ZEISS T-SCAN hawk 2, designed and manufactured in Germany and certified to meet the highest industry requirements. The ZEISS T-SCAN hawk 2 is a portable, dependable instrument for capturing data with metrology-grade precision in quality control, reverse engineering, MRO, and other applications.