Worldwide shipments of 3D Printers rose +19% in Q4 2015 compared to a year ago, according to latest figures by CONTEXT, the IT market analysis company. Of the total 73,012 units shipped in the final quarter of last year, 96% of these were Desktop/Personal printers, mostly priced below $5,000, representing a +22% year-on-year growth rate. Shipments of 3D printers in the Industrial/Professional segment declined -24% over the same period with 2,907 printers shipped.
For the full calendar 2015, the total market saw a growth of +30% in terms of total printers shipped marked by a +33% year-on-year growth for Desktop/Personal printers but -9% fewer Industrial/Professional 3D Printers.
In the Desktop/Personal 3D Printer sector, Taiwanese vendor XYZprinting remained the global leader in Q4 2015, extending its share to 31% for the period and 21% for the full calendar year. The second half of the year witnessed the de-emphasis of the sale of Desktop 3D Printers to consumers by former market leaders Stratasys/MakerBot and 3D Systems/Cubify, a mantle picked up by others includingXYZprinting and M3D. The period also witnessed the largest crowdsourced effort to date for 3D Printers with the pre-sale of over 16,000 units of the $179 Tiko 3D printer, expected to arrive during 2016.
As seen by the demand generated by the Tiko campaign, CONTEXT expects growth in 2016 to be fuelled by even more aggressively priced 3D printers. Market leader XYZprinting already showcased a $269 printer due later this year, with toy maker Mattel also getting in the game with a sub-$300 printer coming out by year’s end. The year will also witness the entrance into the Desktop/Personal market from such notable brands as Polaroid.
The Industrial/Professional portion of the 3D Printing market struggled as anticipated in Q4 2015 with many eagerly awaiting the entrance of HP Inc (as well as Canon and Ricoh) to help reinvigorate the space. The market was characterised by great hype in 2013 and 2014 and began to settle down from lofty expectations in the second half of 2015. Industry leader Stratasys retained its top market share position in Q4 2015, shipping 48% of all 3D Printers in the Industrial/Professional segment in the period but sold 29% fewer printers in Q4 2015 than a year ago.
