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EIT RawMaterials supports Metalshub to revolutionize the 3D printing metal powders market
The 3D metals printing market is divided into two major categories, filaments and metal powders. In 2017 metal powders accounted for 92.6% and filaments for 5.5% of the market shares. In 2018 the metal powder volume was around 1,100 mt (USD 438 million) and is expected to grow fast with a CAGR 33.5% (CAGR 31.7%) reaching a market volume of 7,900 mt (USD 2,858 million) by 2025.
The filament volume was around 84.2 mt (USD 25.7 million) and similar to the metal powder is expected to grow very rapidly with a CAGR 27.8% (CAGR 33.9%) reaching a market volume 445 mt (USD 188.9 million) by 2025.
Currently, the market supply chain for raw materials for 3D metals printing is a quite fast-growing but also very opaque market, the latter is mainly due to its large fragmentation. Both buyers and sellers have limited access to the other market side and many intermediaries such as traders, agents, and local distributors are involved in the trading process. This increases costs, price volatility, limits transparency and reduces the efficiency of the industry and its growth.
EIT RawMaterials Innovation Community Project Partnership
Metalshub has received support for this Innovation project from EIT RawMaterials - Innovation Hub CLC West with the ultimate goal of providing a fully digital marketplace for buying and selling metallic raw materials for 3D metals printing.
The producers (sellers) of those materials will be able to access directly a large network of manufacturers of 3D printed parts without using third-party distributors and traders. This will reduce considerably the customer acquisition efforts and sales costs.
On the other hand, the consumers (buyers) will have direct access to a big and diversified supplier network and also the ability to buy directly from producers and not only intermediaries. This will help not only larger companies but especially SMEs to transparently source metals at competitive prices.
By providing a B2B digital marketplace for metal powders, Metalshub will create the basis for further innovation and industry growth, provide the crucial transparency and liquidity to the industry, as well as become a reliable source of key market insights to support planning processes and further investments.
In a nutshell, Metalshub will enable a transparent and liquid digital market for 3D printing metal powders as it is now successfully doing it for metals and ferroalloys.
Take a quick look at the current marketplace
About EIT RawMaterials
EIT RawMaterials, initiated and funded by the EIT (European Institute of Innovation and Technology), a body of the European Union, is the largest consortium in the raw materials sector worldwide. Its vision is to develop raw materials into a major strength for Europe. Its mission is to enable sustainable competitiveness of the European minerals, metals and materials sector along the value chain by driving innovation, education and entrepreneurship.
EIT RawMaterials unites more than 120 core and associate partners and over 180 project partners from leading industry, universities and research institutions from more than 20 EU countries. There are 6 regional Innovation Hubs in Europe, called Co-Location Centres (CLCs) that represent different regional ecosystems connecting industry, research, and education becoming a unique community that facilitates and supports matchmaking activities, development of innovative technologies and business creation.
For more information:
- EIT RawMaterials website
- EIT RawMaterials article about the project partnership with Metalshub
- European Institute of Innovation and Technology website