North American 3D Printing Boom: Lessons for Aussie Builders?

A new report from Market Research Future projects substantial growth in the North American 3D printing construction market, forecasting a jump from USD 1.54 billion in 2024 to a whopping USD 70.59 billion by 2034. This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 46.6% between 2025 and 2034. The projected boom is attributed to factors familiar to the Australian construction landscape: reducing waste, improved safety, design flexibility, a growing emphasis on environmentally friendly projects, and a persistent labour shortage.

3D Printing Construction Market Trends: Key Drivers

The report highlights several key trends driving the adoption of 3D printing in North America. These are relevant considerations for the Australian property and construction sectors as well.

Government Investment: Increased government spending on construction projects is a significant driver. Similar to the infrastructure boom currently underway in Australia, driven by both state and federal initiatives.
Cost and Time Savings: 3D printing offers potential cost savings and faster construction times compared to traditional methods, incentivising adoption particularly in the commercial sector.
Building Information Modelling (BIM) Integration: The growing use of BIM enabling collaborative planning and design, creating the foundation for digital construction methods such as 3D printing. The Australian government has been progressively mandating BIM on government projects, further promoting the use of such technologies.
Waste Reduction: The precision of 3D printing minimises material waste compared to conventional building methods and opens the door to using recyclable materials. This aligns with the growing focus on sustainable construction practices in Australia.

Segmentation Insights: Technologies and Materials

The North American 3D printing construction market is segmented by method, material, and end-use. Here’s a breakdown:

Construction Method

Extrusion is the dominant method, favoured for on-site structural modelling and prototyping. Extrusion employs materials like concrete and geopolymers and minimises waste, making this method very effective.

Material Type

Concrete currently generates the most revenue, due to its cost-effectiveness and potential for reducing labour and time overheads. However, metal 3D printing is predicted to experience significant growth, offering possibilities for complex geometries and internal structures.

End-Use Sector

The building sector (commercial, industrial, and residential) is the primary application area. The trend of construction businesses partnering with 3D printer vendors to build homes is a key area attracting attention.

Regional Growth Factors

The North American market’s expansion is linked to increasing urbanisation and rising demand for both residential and commercial buildings. This mirrors the growth patterns seen in major Australian cities, creating opportunities for innovative construction techniques.

Consider these 2022 statistics from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, demonstrating real estate and construction strength and demands:

5 million multifamily residential and 5 million single-family homes.
40.1 million individual housing units.
More than 5 million commercial buildings.

The report also suggests that the expansion of infrastructure projects will fuel 3D printing adoption for designing and building infrastructure from gas pipelines to sewage systems.

Implications for the Australian Construction Industry

The North American trends offer vital insights for the Australian property and construction sectors. While Australia may not yet be experiencing the same level of 3D printing adoption, the underlying drivers are similar. Government infrastructure spending, the need for faster and more cost-effective building solutions, and a growing focus on sustainability are all creating a favourable environment for construction technology. A couple questions that stakeholders in Australia must consider:

*What investment in resources will be required so that Australia can meet the same market needs?*
*What changes to policy will assist in 3D printing development and use?*

Challenges and Opportunities for Australian Stakeholders

While the potential benefits of 3D printing are clear, several challenges exist for Australian companies:

Regulatory hurdles: Australian building codes and standards may need to be updated to accommodate 3D-printed structures.
Skills gap: A skilled workforce is needed to operate and maintain 3D printing equipment in the construction sector. Investment in training will be necessary.
Material costs and availability: The availability and cost of suitable printing materials (particularly concrete and metal) need to be addressed.
Public perception: Overcoming potential concerns about the safety and durability of 3D-printed buildings will require education and demonstration projects.

To capitalise on the opportunities, Australian businesses could:

Invest in research and development to adapt 3D printing technologies to local conditions and materials.
Collaborate with universities and vocational training providers to develop relevant training programs.
Engage with government and standards bodies to ensure regulations facilitate innovation.
Showcase successful 3D printing projects to build confidence in the technology.

Key Market Players

The report lists several key companies in the 3D printing construction market, noting that these firms invest significantly in research and development aiming to expand product offerings, driving growth:

Skanska AB
Mighty Buildings
Apis Cor
Aeditive
Branch technology
Aectual
Sika AG
Peri group
ICON Technology Inc.
Constructions-3D
Winsun
XtreeE
WASP Designs
COBOD international
MX3D
CyBe Construction
Contour Crafting

The report also notes that market participants are seeking strategic moves to expand including new products, contract agreements, higher investments and mergers.

The projected growth of the North American 3D printing construction market highlights the potential of this technology to transform the building industry. By addressing the challenges and embracing the opportunities, Australia can position itself to benefit from this innovation and create a more efficient, sustainable and resilient construction sector.

Source: Market Research Future, https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/north-america-3d-printing-construction-market-12540

This article is based on a report from www.marketresearchfuture.com titled “North America 3D Printing Construction Market Size & Share Report 2032”. You can find the original article here: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/north-america-3d-printing-construction-market-12540

North American 3D Printing Boom: Lessons for Aussie Builders?