3D Printing Construction Market Insights, Leading Players, Growth and Forecast to 2030

Factors such as the surging environmental concerns regarding the waste generated by the construction sector, mounting investments being made in renewable energy infrastructure, and rising focus on reducing the accident rate and health and safety risks will drive the 3D printing construction market growth during the forecast period (2021–2030). According to P&S Intelligence, the market revenue reached ~$15 million in 2020. Additionally, the presence of numerous possibilities for architectural flexibility and customization using this technology will supplement the market growth.

The increasing environmental concerns attributed to the waste generated during construction are one of the strongest drivers for the market. For instance, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the construction sector of the U.S. generated around 600 million tons of debris in 2018. The waste can be minimized by the deployment of the 3D printing technology as it only utilizes the material required for printing the structure. As the materials used in 3D printers are lighter than conventional building materials, their transportation requires lesser energy.

In recent years, the introduction of improved construction materials and methods has become a major trend in the 3D printing construction market. Sand 3D printing and metal technologies and robotic arm extruders are the new methods being deployed in the construction sector. The deployment of these technologies helps in creating unusual and complex shapes and designs. For example, in May 2021, Forward AM, the additive manufacturing arm of BASF SE, and BigRep introduced the Concrete Formwork, a 3D printing material for architecture and construction purposes.

Currently, companies operating in the 3D printing construction market are expanding their clientele by showcasing unique 3D-printed structures. For instance, Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (L&T) completed the first 3D-printed two-storey building in India in November 2019. The building, which has a floor space of 65 m², is located near Chennai, inside the Kanchipuram facility of L&T. It was fabricated by using a large-format concrete 3D printer offered by COBOD International A/S. The two-storey structure is made of a locally available 3D-printable concrete mix developed by the company. 

The construction method segment of the 3D printing construction market is bifurcated into extrusion and powder bonding. Under this segment, the extrusion category is expected to generate the higher revenue during the forecast period. This will be due to the burgeoning demand for concrete for the extrusion 3D printing method in the building and infrastructure sectors. This method is primarily used for on-site construction applications as it enables the utilization of conventional construction materials, such as cement, concrete, clay, geopolymers, and plaster.

Geographically, Asia-Pacific (APAC) held the largest share in the 3D printing construction market in 2020 due to the soaring number of buildings being constructed using this technology and surging research and development (R&D) activities in the region. Additionally, the strong presence of a large number of construction companies will supplement the market growth in the region, as the building and infrastructure industries are the primary users of materials that can be used for 3D-printied construction here.

Thus, the mounting concerns regarding the waste produced during construction activities and the increasing availability of 3D printing building materials and new printing methods will catalyze the market growth.