SmarTech Analysis released a report, “Opportunities in Additive Manufacturing Software Markets 2020”, which indicates that AM software revenues will reach $3.7 billion in 2027 compared with about $460 million this year.

The software market has become better defined and with more impact on the additive manufacturing business as a whole. AM software has become more sophisticated and is increasingly an integral part of leading CAD/CAM and PLM software platforms. As a result of these trends AM software has increased dramatically in value from expectations in 2017.

This report focuses on the future of additive manufacturing software functions, which are centered around process simulation, intelligent design optimization, and the rapidly expanding world of additive manufacturing execution systems. It also provides an analysis of the current state of the market showing how AM software is growing well beyond the somewhat niche-like status it once occupied.

Some of the major vendors profiled in this report include: 3D Systems, Autodesk, AMFG, Dassault, Materialise, and Siemens.

In addition, the report includes a market sizing and ten-year market forecast with breakouts by (1) software tool type, (2) adopting end-user industry, and (3) opportunities for software by additive technology segment for both polymer and metals.

Highlights from the report
• Additive manufacturing software solutions will play a pivotal role in realizing and expanding the vision for AM. Over the past three years AM software has evolved to the point where it is actively improving manufacturing outcomes for many AM users through better connectivity and cohesion of solution in design, manufacturing and execution.
• This post COVID-19 period will see software deployed as never before to integrate AM technologies into manufacturing to restore order in manufacturing industries, to diversify supply chains and provide a backstop against uncertainty for companies who have grown reliant on Asia for manufacturing.
• Once the premiere software product and home to cutting-edge additive software functionalities, the traditional print preparation software tool is now moving down market as data preparation steps like slicing, STL fixing, support structure and orientation strategy, and other preparative steps are integrated into other areas of the AM software chain. This means that products such as Materialise Magics, Autodesk Netfabb, 3D Systems 3DXpert, and others, while still remaining popular, will begin to see increased pricing pressure and lower utilization rates as users are able to achieve many of the core preparatory functions from other more tightly integrated programs.

SmarTech Analysis
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