3D printer sales set to double by end of 2014

Sales within the global 3D printer market are expected to double by the end of 2014, according to analyst CCS Insight.

The new forecast, which looks at projections of the global 3D printer market, expects sales to reach 158,000 devices by the end of 2014, up 93 per cent from 2013.

The global market is also expected to grow from $1.15 billion in 2013 to $4.8 billion in 2018.

Arnaud Gagneux, vice president of technology transformation at CCS Insight, said: "Consumers will only buy 3D printers if they can see a clear use for them.

“To drive mass sales, manufacturers need to change the perception that 3D printers are simply a bit of fun and create sustainable demand beyond just an occasional need."

CCS Insight’s forecast also stated that industrial 3D printers will see a steady growth of 30 per cent in 2014 compared to 2013.

The forecast revealed North America as the largest market for 3D printers at present and will remain so for the next four years, while European and Asian markets progress will be slower.