German machinery manufacturer KraussMaffei is positioning itself to capitalize on the industrial 3D printing market as competitor Arburg exits the sector. CEO Jörg Stech stated that 3D printing for industrial production is one of the few markets proving “not everything is down,” presenting opportunities as Arburg withdraws its Freeformer 3D printing machine by year-end.
The additive manufacturing industry faces headwinds, with growth slowing to 9.1 percent in 2024 according to the Wohlers Report 2025 – the slowest rate since the COVID-19 pandemic. Lower-cost desktop 3D printers under $10,000 are increasingly capturing market share from industrial machines. Arburg cited the market’s failure to meet economic expectations as the reason for its September announcement to exit the business.
KraussMaffei differentiates itself by focusing on large-scale manufacturing, producing parts up to 2.0 x 2.5 x 2.5 meters. “There is a lot of competition in some part of the additive manufacturing market,” Stech said. “I think this is one of the major reasons why other companies step out of this business. But this is not the case for large-scale manufacturing.”
The company targets industries like automotive, agriculture, and construction where small-batch production of large components makes traditional injection molding economically unfeasible. KraussMaffei’s technology handles high-temperature materials like PEEK while reducing material waste compared to conventional manufacturing processes.
Source: sustainableplastics.com
