- Capability group
- Advanced Materials & Manufacturing
- Domain
- Critical Technology · Hard Power
- Identifier
- factbase.org/cap/EMBM2M9E1B
- Reference
- 3D printing Wikipedia
Papers
89.7k
2020–2024
Paper growth
+114%
2020–24 on 2015–19
Patent families
66.7k
2020–2024
Filed abroad
30%
families in more than one office
What it covers
What the capability covers and what it leaves to others, and the indicators it will be measured by.
Bounds
Covers the manufacturing technology; its industrial diffusion reads at the deploy layer, and the factories themselves belong to Strategic Infrastructure.
Lineage
Carried from v0.0 (formerly Additive manufacturing (including 3D printing)) with the same identifier, absorbing High-specification machining processes (retired): additive and subtractive precision are one making capacity, separated in v0.0 only by technique.
Indicators
- research publication share in additive manufacturingResearch
- industrial additive systems installedPending
- machine tool production and trade balancePending
Who publishes it
Papers classified to the capability, by year and by the nation of their authors' institutions, 2020–2024. Read from the v0.0 research topics Additive manufacturing (including 3D printing) and High-specification machining processes.
Papers by year
The five leading nations, papers by year
Share of papers, 2020–2024
Of papers with a known author nation; 27% have none and are left out.
- 1China17.8%14,249 papers
- 2United States13.6%10,885 papers
- 3India7.5%6,019 papers
- 4Germany6.2%4,953 papers
- 5United Kingdom4.4%3,510 papers
- 6Italy3.6%2,849 papers
- 7Russia2.5%2,019 papers
- 8Australia2.5%2,015 papers
- 9France2.3%1,866 papers
- 10South Korea2.3%1,865 papers
Leading institutions, 2020–2024
By fractional count: each paper divided among its authors' institutions.
- 1RWTH Aachen University415fractional papers
- 2Huazhong University of Science and Technology362fractional papers
- 3Northwestern Polytechnical University326fractional papers
- 4Harbin Institute of Technology306fractional papers
- 5Polytechnic University of Turin298fractional papers
- 6Shanghai Jiao Tong University285fractional papers
- 7Pennsylvania State University284fractional papers
- 8Nanyang Technological University277fractional papers
- 9Oak Ridge National Laboratory266fractional papers
- 10Xi'an Jiaotong University254fractional papers
Who patents it
Patent families by the nation of origin of their applicants and their earliest priority year, from the CPC and IPC classes the capability is read from. 2025 onwards is incomplete: families are published 18 months after priority.
Families by priority year
The five leading origins, families by year
20,380 applicants filed here in 2015–2024; the five largest held 11% of families (HHI 32 of 10,000: unconcentrated).
Share of families by origin, 2020–2024
- 1China55.4%36,995 families
- 2United States12.1%8,067 families
- 3Japan9.7%6,500 families
- 4Germany6.0%4,000 families
- 5South Korea6.0%3,979 families
- 6France1.8%1,199 families
- 7Taiwan1.1%746 families
- 8Switzerland1.0%643 families
- 9United Kingdom0.8%529 families
- 10Italy0.8%505 families
Applicants filing most internationally, 2015–2024
Families filed in more than one office, by applicant as the offices name them.
- 1FANUC CORP2,162international families
- 2HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT CO1,623international families
- 3FANUC LTD1,601international families
- 4GEN ELECTRIC964international families
- 5SIEMENS AG919international families
- 6MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP534international families
- 7SEIKO EPSON CORP528international families
- 8HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT CO LP370international families
- 9BOEING CO343international families
- 10RICOH CO LTD304international families
Classification read
- B33Y Additive manufacturing: processes, machines, materials, products · 664.6k documents
- B29C64/00 Additive manufacturing of plastics · 479.1k documents
- B22F10/00 Additive manufacturing from metal powder · 242.3k documents
- B22F12/00 Machines for metal additive manufacturing · 133.1k documents
- B28B1/001 Additive manufacturing of ceramics and concrete · 16.5k documents
- B23K26/342 Laser build-up welding and cladding · 19.1k documents
- B23K15/00 Electron-beam welding and cutting · 30.3k documents
- G05B19/18 Numerical control of machine tools · 226.8k documents
- B23H Electrical discharge and electrochemical machining · 109.9k documents
- B24B13/00 Grinding and polishing of optical surfaces · 22.3k documents
Shares inventions with
Capabilities whose classes the same families also fall in, by overlap (Jaccard).
- Advanced Robotics3,239 families · 0.039
- Structural & Composite Materials1,787 families · 0.027
- Semiconductor Equipment & Materials1,671 families · 0.012
Who makes it
The companies that research, design, make, supply and operate the technology, the global leaders and the leading firms of every region.
50 companies in this capability, from 24 nations across 8 regions. Sorted by how experts see each company's global relevance in the field, from very high to very low.
- Very high8 companies
- 1Very highEquipment & machineryRehovotIsrael1989–SSYS
Largest polymer additive manufacturing system maker by revenue, with FDM and PolyJet printers, materials and software (dual HQ Rehovot and Eden Prairie, Minnesota).
Very high relevance · Equipment & machinery · Israel, Rehovot · founded 1989
- 2Very highEquipment & machineryKraillingGermany1989–Private
World leader in industrial laser powder-bed fusion systems for metals and polymers, with a large installed base in aerospace, medical and tooling.
Very high relevance · Equipment & machinery · Germany, Krailling · founded 1989
- 3Very highEquipment & machineryOshino, YamanashiJapan1972–6954
World's largest maker of CNC controls and a major maker of robots and Robodrill/Robocut machine tools, and the top international patent filer in this capability.
Very high relevance · Equipment & machinery · Japan, Oshino, Yamanashi · founded 1972
- 4Very highEquipment & machineryTokyoJapan1948–6141
One of the world's largest machine tool builders (with German arm DMG MORI AG), making 5-axis and mill-turn machines and LASERTEC hybrid additive systems.
Very high relevance · Equipment & machinery · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1948
- 5Very highEquipment & machineryDitzingenGermany192319kPrivate
Leading maker of industrial lasers and sheet-metal machine tools, and supplier of TruPrint laser powder-bed metal 3D printers.
Very high relevance · Equipment & machinery · Germany, Ditzingen · founded 1923 · 19k staff
- 6Very highEquipment & machineryMunichGermany1847312kSIE
Sinumerik CNC controls, NX/Xcelerator CAM and AM software, and in-house AM for gas turbines (Materials Solutions) make it a top precision-manufacturing patent holder.
Very high relevance · Equipment & machinery · Germany, Munich · founded 1847 · 312k staff
- 7Very highEquipment & machineryOguchi, AichiJapan1919–Private
One of the largest machine tool makers worldwide (multi-tasking Integrex, 5-axis), and also sells INTEGREX AM hybrid machines.
Very high relevance · Equipment & machinery · Japan, Oguchi, Aichi · founded 1919
- 8Very highEquipment & machineryOberkochenGermany184643kPrivate
Foundation-owned leader in coordinate measuring machines and industrial CT inspection that underpin precision and AM part qualification.
Very high relevance · Equipment & machinery · Germany, Oberkochen · founded 1846 · 43k staff
- High16 companies
- 9HighEquipment & machineryRock HillUnited States1986–DDD
Inventor of stereolithography; sells SLA, SLS and DMP metal printers plus materials and healthcare AM services.
High relevance · Equipment & machinery · United States, Rock Hill · founded 1986
- 10HighHardware & devicesPalo AltoUnited States193958kHPQ
Multi Jet Fusion polymer and Metal Jet binder-jet platforms make HP a top production-AM vendor and the second-largest international patent filer in this field.
High relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Palo Alto · founded 1939 · 58k staff
- 11HighComponents & subsystemsEvendaleUnited States189253kGE
Largest serial user of metal AM in aero engines (LEAP fuel nozzles) and owner of Colibrium Additive (ex-Concept Laser, Arcam EBM and AP&C powders).
High relevance · Components & subsystems · United States, Evendale · founded 1892 · 53k staff
- 12HighHardware & devicesTokyoJapan1917–7731
Acquired SLM Solutions (Lübeck) in 2023, gaining large-format multi-laser metal powder-bed systems such as the NXG 600, alongside its own Lasermeister DED line.
High relevance · Hardware & devices · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1917
- 13HighEquipment & machineryXi'anChina2011–688333
Bright Laser Technologies (BLT)China's largest metal AM firm, supplying large multi-laser powder-bed systems and printed parts to Chinese aerospace and defence.
High relevance · Equipment & machinery · China, Xi'an · founded 2011
- 14HighEquipment & machineryChangshaChina2009–688433
Open-platform metal and polymer powder-bed fusion system maker with a fast-growing installed base in China and abroad.
High relevance · Equipment & machinery · China, Changsha · founded 2009
- 15HighEquipment & machineryWotton-under-EdgeUnited Kingdom19735,000RSW
Global leader in machine-tool probing, encoders and metrology, and maker of RenAM multi-laser metal AM systems.
High relevance · Equipment & machinery · United Kingdom, Wotton-under-Edge · founded 1973 · 5,000 staff
- 16HighEquipment & machineryStockholmSweden1975–HEXA B
Leading metrology (CMMs, laser trackers) and manufacturing software group (ESPRIT/Edgecam CAM, simulation for AM).
High relevance · Equipment & machinery · Sweden, Stockholm · founded 1975
- 17HighEquipment & machineryOguchi, AichiJapan1898–6103
Major high-precision lathe and machining-centre builder with its own OSP CNC and LASER EX hybrid additive/subtractive machines.
High relevance · Equipment & machinery · Japan, Oguchi, Aichi · founded 1898
- 18HighEquipment & machineryTokyoJapan1937–6135
Premier maker of high-precision machining centres and EDM machines for die/mould and aerospace work.
High relevance · Equipment & machinery · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1937
- 19HighEquipment & machinerySomerville, MassachusettsUnited States2011–Private
Best-selling professional SLA and SLS printer maker by unit volume, widely used in dental and engineering.
High relevance · Equipment & machinery · United States, Somerville, Massachusetts · founded 2011
- 20HighDesign & engineering softwareLeuvenBelgium1990–MTLS
Dominant AM build-preparation software (Magics, CO-AM) vendor and one of the largest AM service bureaus, including medical.
High relevance · Design & engineering software · Belgium, Leuven · founded 1990
- 21HighEquipment & machineryChangwonSouth Korea1976–Private
Formerly Doosan Machine Tools, now among the world's top machine tool makers by revenue (CNC lathes, machining centres).
High relevance · Equipment & machinery · South Korea, Changwon · founded 1976
- 22HighEquipment & machineryStockholmSweden186241kSAND
World-leading cutting-tool maker (Coromant) and producer of Osprey metal AM powders, plus CAM software (Cimatron, GibbsCAM).
High relevance · Equipment & machinery · Sweden, Stockholm · founded 1862 · 41k staff
- 23HighEquipment & machineryShenzhenChina1996–002008
China's largest industrial laser equipment maker (cutting, welding, PCB and precision processing), with a metal and polymer 3D printing line.
High relevance · Equipment & machinery · China, Shenzhen · founded 1996
- 24HighComponents & subsystemsTaichungTaiwan1989–2049
One of the world's largest makers of precision ball screws, linear guides and motion components used in machine tools.
High relevance · Components & subsystems · Taiwan, Taichung · founded 1989
- Moderate13 companies
- 25ModerateEquipment & machineryWaltham, MassachusettsUnited States2012–NNDM
Nano Dimension (incl. Markforged)Israeli-founded AM consolidator that acquired Markforged in 2025 (composite and metal FFF printers) and makes AME electronics printers; Desktop Metal was deconsolidated after its 2025 Chapter 11.
Moderate relevance · Equipment & machinery · United States, Waltham, Massachusetts · founded 2012
- 26ModerateEquipment & machineryRedwood City, CaliforniaUnited States2013––
Developer of Digital Light Synthesis resin printing used for production parts such as Adidas 4D midsoles and dental products.
Moderate relevance · Equipment & machinery · United States, Redwood City, California · founded 2013
- 27ModerateEquipment & machineryShanghaiChina2000–Private
China's leading industrial stereolithography (SLA) system maker, with a large installed base in China.
Moderate relevance · Equipment & machinery · China, Shanghai · founded 2000
- 28ModerateEquipment & machineryHangzhouChina2014–Private
Maker of large-format multi-laser metal powder-bed fusion systems (EP-M series) sold in China and abroad.
Moderate relevance · Equipment & machinery · China, Hangzhou · founded 2014
- 29ModerateProfessional & data servicesPfaffikonSwitzerland1906–OERL
Surface solutions group that supplies AM metal powders and precision coatings and runs AM production for aerospace and defence.
Moderate relevance · Professional & data services · Switzerland, Pfaffikon · founded 1906
- 30ModerateAdvanced materialsPhiladelphiaUnited States18894,500CRS
Specialty alloy producer that makes gas-atomised AM powders (Carpenter Additive) for aerospace and medical parts.
Moderate relevance · Advanced materials · United States, Philadelphia · founded 1889 · 4,500 staff
- 31ModerateEquipment & machineryFremont, CaliforniaUnited States2014–VELO
Sapphire metal powder-bed systems used by SpaceX and defence primes; the company was relisted on Nasdaq in August 2025.
Moderate relevance · Equipment & machinery · United States, Fremont, California · founded 2014
- 32ModerateEquipment & machineryEindhovenNetherlands2012–Private
Maker of the MetalFAB modular, automated industrial metal powder-bed fusion systems.
Moderate relevance · Equipment & machinery · Netherlands, Eindhoven · founded 2012
- 33ModerateEquipment & machineryCébazatFrance2016–Private
Michelin–Fives joint venture building FormUp powder-bed and BeAM DED metal AM machines.
Moderate relevance · Equipment & machinery · France, Cébazat · founded 2016
- 34ModerateEquipment & machineryKaohsiungTaiwan1969–4526
Taiwan's leading machine tool group, which also builds AMP-series metal powder-bed and hybrid additive machines.
Moderate relevance · Equipment & machinery · Taiwan, Kaohsiung · founded 1969
- 35ModerateEquipment & machineryViennaAustria2011–Private
Market leader in lithography-based ceramic AM (LCM) systems for technical and medical ceramics.
Moderate relevance · Equipment & machinery · Austria, Vienna · founded 2011
- 36ModerateAdvanced materialsSherbrooke, QuebecCanada1990–TEKNA
Plasma-spheroidisation specialist producing high-purity spherical titanium and other powders for metal AM.
Moderate relevance · Advanced materials · Canada, Sherbrooke, Quebec · founded 1990
- 37ModerateEquipment & machineryPragueCzechia2012–Private
One of the world's largest FFF 3D printer makers by unit volume, building open-source printers in Prague.
Moderate relevance · Equipment & machinery · Czechia, Prague · founded 2012
- Low10 companies
- 38LowEquipment & machineryRehovotIsrael2005––
Developer of NanoParticle Jetting for high-precision ceramic and metal AM parts.
Low relevance · Equipment & machinery · Israel, Rehovot · founded 2005
- 39LowEquipment & machineryDaejeonSouth Korea2001–Private
Korea's main metal AM machine maker, specialising in directed energy deposition (DMT) for repair and cladding.
Low relevance · Equipment & machinery · South Korea, Daejeon · founded 2001
- 40LowContract manufacturingRiyadhSaudi Arabia2022–State-owned
National Additive Manufacturing & Innovation Co. (NAMI)Saudi joint venture of 3D Systems and Dussur (PIF/Aramco/SABIC), with a 30% Saudi Electricity stake since 2025, running metal and polymer AM production for energy and defence under a military manufacturing licence.
Low relevance · Contract manufacturing · Saudi Arabia, Riyadh · founded 2022
- 41LowEquipment & machineryBengaluruIndia1961–Private
One of India's largest CNC machine tool makers (machining centres, turning centres) for automotive and aerospace.
Low relevance · Equipment & machinery · India, Bengaluru · founded 1961
- 42LowEquipment & machineryBengaluruIndia1979–Private
India's largest machine tool group by volume, making CNC lathes, machining centres and grinders.
Low relevance · Equipment & machinery · India, Bengaluru · founded 1979
- 43LowContract manufacturingBengaluruIndia1945–Private
Wipro Infrastructure Engineering's AM business, offering metal AM engineering and production for Indian aerospace and space programmes, plus indigenous DED machines.
Low relevance · Contract manufacturing · India, Bengaluru · founded 1945
- 44LowEquipment & machinerySanta Bárbara d'OesteBrazil1930–ROMI3
Latin America's leading machine tool and plastic-injection machine builder, making CNC lathes and machining centres.
Low relevance · Equipment & machinery · Brazil, Santa Bárbara d'Oeste · founded 1930
- 45LowEquipment & machineryMelbourneAustralia2015––
Maker of cold-spray metal AM systems deployed by the Australian, US and Ukrainian militaries for field-expedient parts.
Low relevance · Equipment & machinery · Australia, Melbourne · founded 2015
- 46LowEquipment & machineryAdelaideAustralia2014–AL3
Wire-arc AM (ARCEMY) system maker supplying large printed metal parts to the US Navy submarine industrial base.
Low relevance · Equipment & machinery · Australia, Adelaide · founded 2014
- 47LowEquipment & machineryKrakówPoland2014––
Maker of compact selective laser sintering (SLS) printers, one of Eastern Europe's main AM hardware firms.
Low relevance · Equipment & machinery · Poland, Kraków · founded 2014
- Very low3 companies
- 48Very lowEquipment & machineryBursaTürkiye1965–Private
Turkish sheet-metal and fibre-laser machinery maker that developed the Enavision metal powder-bed 3D printers.
Very low relevance · Equipment & machinery · Türkiye, Bursa · founded 1965
- 49Very lowContract manufacturingDubaiUnited Arab Emirates2017––
Leading Gulf AM and digital-inventory provider for oil and gas, holder of Saudi Arabia's first 3D printing licence.
Very low relevance · Contract manufacturing · United Arab Emirates, Dubai · founded 2017
- 50Very lowComponents & subsystemsCenturionSouth Africa1991–Private
South African aerostructures maker that co-developed the Aeroswift large-format titanium laser powder-bed system with the CSIR, in partnership with Airbus.
Very low relevance · Components & subsystems · South Africa, Centurion · founded 1991
