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3D printed antennas are highly customizable radio frequency devices that can be engineered in various shapes and sizes using 3D printing technology. The ability to 3D print arbitrarily complex geometries allows for the development of compact antenna designs that are better suited for various applications compared to traditional antenna manufacturing methods. Need for miniaturized and lightweight antennas across consumer electronics, internet of things, military, aerospace and defense sectors is expected to drive the demand for 3D printed antenna solutions.
The Global 3D Printed Antenna Market is estimated to be valued at US$ 1.7 Bn in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 16% over the forecast period 2023 to 2030.
Key Takeaways
Key players operating in the 3D Printed Antenna are Optisys LLC, Optomec Inc., Stratasys Ltd., Nano Dimension Ltd., Voxel8, CRP Technology, The ExOne Company, Materialise NV, EOS GmbH, SABIC, HP Inc., GE Additive, and Markforged. With continuous technology advancements, these players are investing heavily in the development of high performing 3D printed antenna materials and processes to gain a competitive edge in the market.
The growing demand for connected devices and miniaturization of electronic components is expected to drive the adoption of 3D printed antennas. 5G deployment and increasing internet penetration globally are also propelling the need for compact and high performance antenna systems.
Major antenna manufacturers are focusing on expanding their geographical footprint to capitalize on opportunities across emerging markets such as Asia Pacific and Latin America. Partnerships with telecom operators and OEMs catering to different verticals will play a vital role in the global expansion of 3D printed antenna technology.
Market key trends
One of the major trends in the 3D printed antenna market is the development of cost efficient and high throughput additive manufacturing processes. Continuous development of new multi-jet fusion, binder jetting, and stereolithography technologies by major 3D printer OEMs is helping to reduce the unit costs and cycle times for producing complex antenna arrays. Adoption of such scalable 3D printing methods can help address the high volume demands from consumer electronics and automotive sectors.
Another trend witnessed in the market is the focus on utilizing advanced materials like liquid crystal polymers and high dielectric ceramics for 3D printing radiofrequency circuits. New material formulations tailored for AM enable design and fabrication of compact antenna elements with improved gain, bandwidth and efficiency over a wide frequency range. Ongoing material science innovations are expected to further augment the applications of 3D printed antennas in the coming years.
Porter’s Analysis
Threat of new entrants: the high costs associated with R&D, manufacturing, and marketing pose significant barriers to the entry of new players in this market.
Bargaining power of buyers: the availability of substitutes like antenna made from conventional materials limits the bargaining power of buyers in this market.
Bargaining power of suppliers: the availability of raw materials like thermoplastics, photopolymers, and metals from multiple suppliers reduces their bargaining power over players in this market.
Threat of new substitutes: the ongoing R&D for developing better substitutes poses potential threats to existing 3D printed technologies utilized for antenna making.
Competitive rivalry: the presence of numerous global and regional players with strong technical expertise in 3D printing technology intensifies the competition in this market.
The North American region dominated the 3D printed antenna market in 2023, accounting for around 35% of the global market share, in terms of value. This is attributed to the presence of several antenna manufacturers and industrial 3D printing system providers in the US and Canada. Major aerospace & defense companies based out of the US such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Boeing drive significant demand for 3D printed antennas in this region.
The Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest growth in the 3D printed antenna market during the forecast period. This is mainly owing to increasing investments by China and India in 5G infrastructure development as well as space programs. The market is gaining significant traction in Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan as well due to growing applications of 3D printed antennas in consumer electronics and telecommunication base stations.
The European region currently captures around 25% share of the global market value. Continuous technological advancements in Germany, UK, France, and Italy for developing small, compact, and lightweight antennas using 3D printing techniques will support the regional market expansion through 2030.
*Note:
- Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
- We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
