3D Printing Construction Market

Market Overview

The global 3D printing construction market size was valued at USD 1.23 billion in 2023. It is estimated to reach USD 52.12 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 54.39% during the forecast period (2024–2032).

Construction 3D printing produces construction elements or entire buildings by polymer, metal, printing concrete, or other materials layer by layer on a 3D printer. The most regular type of printer uses a robotic arm to extrude concrete back and forth. Powder binding and additive welding are two other 3D printing methods. One of the most appealing aspects of 3D Printing is the design freedom. Architects can create complex designs that would be impossible, expensive, or too labor-intensive to develop using traditional construction methods.

Market Dynamics

Global 3D Printing Construction Market Drivers

Increasing Adoption of 3D Printing in the Construction Industry

Many industries are now using 3D Printing for prototyping, product development, and production. Enterprises were ranging from automotive to construction embrace 3D Printing to drive digital transformation, benefiting from shorter lead times, greater design freedom, and digital manufacturing. The implementation of 3D Printing in the construction industry is expanding. Certain aspects of construction are expected to grow faster than others.

The rising environmental problems about the industry's waste, the potential of customization options and architectural adaptability using this technology, and the rapid creation of prototype models are the most trying to influence this growth. Moreover, several benefits such as waste reduction, manufacturing, design freedom, and reduced human error drive the market growth for 3D Printing in the construction sector.

3D Printing can make different components used in the construction industry. The expansion is primarily driven by the number of innovative, new projects well-planned in their construction. Vinci, France's leading construction firm, acquired a stake in XtreeE, a French startup specializing in concrete 3D printing structural elements, in February 2017.

In 2018, the construction company ICON became the first in America to obtain a building permit and construct a 3D-printed home in Austin, Texas. Other cities have taken notice. 3D printing construction companies are helping to alleviate housing shortages and build much-needed structures in places where building codes are lax or non-existent, such as school buildings in Africa, low-income housing in Mexico, and homes for the homeless in Texas.

Benefits of 3D Printing Technology

3D Printing in construction is a new technology that replaces manual labor with a machine that creates and musters structures. This can be a convenient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly method of constructing new buildings. According to Construction Dive, global construction waste totals more than one billion tons per year and is expected to double by 2025. 3D Printing can help reduce this construction waste. This is primarily because 3D Printing is an additive manufacturing process that only uses the required material.

In addition, 3D Printing helps in fewer logistic processes and less waste. Since 3D Printing directly molds raw material into construction, it eliminates the need for wooden molds used in traditional construction. When combined with other waste-reducing processes and building methods such as prefabrication and lean construction, a waste-zero building becomes more plausible. Therefore, these factors are anticipated to drive the market for 3D Printing.

Global 3D Printing Construction Market Restraint

High Capital Investments

The high purchasing cost of renting such equipment and the logistics involved in getting these large 3D printers to the job site is perhaps the most significant barrier to the widespread adoption of 3D printing technology on construction sites. 3D printers are expensive, and the initial purchase price does not include materials or maintenance. Many construction professionals are currently finding it difficult to justify the cost of 3D Printing versus the benefits of the technology.

Global 3D Printing Construction Market Opportunities

Rise in the Adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM)

The steadily increasing use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) is one of the key factors driving industry growth (BIM). BIM is the base of digital transformation in the engineering, architecture, and infrastructure industries. It is a collaborative team solution that enables real estate developers, architects, engineers, manufacturers, contractors, and other infrastructure professionals to plan, design, and construct a 3D structure or building.

As a result of lower production costs on wastage of materials, the market is growing. 3D printers only use materials needed, resulting in cost savings. Moreover, three-dimensional printers can use recycled materials that are eco-friendly. These factors help to reduce the cost, which drives future growth.

Regional Analysis

Based on regions, the global 3D printing construction market share is segmented into North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. 

The Predominance of Asia-Pacific in the Regional Market

Asia-Pacific holds the largest share of the global 3D printing construction market. Asia-Pacific controls the majority of the global 3D printing construction industry. The 3D Printing technology is expected to gain significant traction during the forecast period as the region establishes itself as a global manufacturing hub. The presence of many manufacturing sectors contributes to the region's overall economic growth.

Due to the existence of several manufacturers, the region is an important market for 3D printing construction. The growing demand for 3D printing construction in the building and infrastructure end-use sectors is also going to fuel the development of the market. China and Southeast Asia dominate the APAC 3D printing construction market. Since this evolving technology is yet to be commercialized in India, South Korea, Japan, and other Asian countries, they have been classified as the rest of APAC. Research activities in Japan and India, on the other side, make these prospective countries markets for this technology.

The European market is projected to expand steadily over the forecast period. Many European market players, such as the United Kingdom, are soaring in their investment opportunities in 3D Printing, propelling market growth in the region. For instance, Skanska, a construction engineering firm, announced a joint venture with Loughborough University in the United Kingdom in May 2020. This collaborative effort is meant to raise the use of 3D printing technology in the country's construction sector.

Segmental Analysis

The global 3D printing construction market share has been classified based on method, material, end-user, and regions.

• On the Basis of Method

Based on the method, the global market is segmented into Extrusion, Powder Bonding, and Others.

The Extrusion method accounts for the largest share of the global 3D printing construction market. Extrusion is the most common and most basic 3D printing technique. It can be used in almost any situation. A plastic filament is used as the primary printing material. The filament is heated and melts in the 3D printer's printing head.

Powder Bonding is the second-largest segment. It is estimated to grow at a higher CAGR during forecast period. The increasing use of powder bonding 3D printing technology for constructing complex formworks in the construction industry is driving segment growth in recent days. The demand for this method is significant as it is faster, simpler, and more accurate to produce a complex formwork and is less labor-intensive and time-consuming than traditional methods used in making formworks.

• On the Basis of Material

Based on material, the global market is segmented into Concrete, Metal, Composites, and Others.

Concrete holds the largest share of the global 3D printing construction market. Over the last five years, 3D concrete Printing for construction has advanced rapidly, owing to advancements in robotics, material science, and software.

Metal holds the second-largest position. Metal 3D printing creates non-prismatic sections, internal stiffening, openings, and functionally graded elements, among others, via controlled heating and cooling. Metal 3D printing in construction is primarily used for designing facade nodes and other connections. It is also used to construct bridges in recent days. Moreover, the growing use of 3D printed stainless steel in construction is also one of the major factors driving the segmental growth.

Composite acquires the third-largest market share. Various companies such as Mighty Buildings use thermoset composite materials such as Light Stone Material to reduce the home construction industry's reliance on steel and concrete. The firm is expected to reduce home construction's carbon footprint and cost by more than 50% through this initiative. Thus, the construction industry is expected to use composite materials for 3D Printing in the coming years due to the harmful impact of concrete on the environment.

• On the Basis of End-User

Based on end-user, the global market is segmented into Building and Infrastructure.

The Building segment holds the largest share of the global 3D printing construction market. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 91.4%. The increasing need for houses globally is expected to drive the segment growth. This growing need for new homes can be met using 3D printing technology as this technology can create high-quality homes in a fraction of the cost and time required for traditional construction. Therefore, various construction companies are forming partnerships with 3D printer providers to construct homes using 3D printing technology. Moreover, the mission of World Housing to solve homelessness by building and funding homes for poor people globally is anticipated to create new opportunities for segment growth in the coming days.

The infrastructure segment is the second-largest. It is expected to grow at a higher CAGR during forecast. The spiking use of 3D printing technology to construct infrastructures such as furniture and bridges using metals, plastic, and composite materials is driving the segment growth.

Recent Developments

• In November 2023, CyBe Construction launched its new US affiliate, CyBe Florida LLC. This strategic expansion underscores the company's dedication to broadening its market reach and delivering cutting-edge building technology across the United States. Among the array of construction services, CyBe Florida LLC will specialize in 3D printing concrete and customized design processes, highlighting its innovative approach to modern construction practices.