3D Scanning for Measurement On The Rise, Report Says

Following the trend of additive manufacturing methods, such as 3D printing, the utilization of 3D scanning for measurement is on the rise.

According to a new report by MarketsandMarkets, the market for 3D scanners is expected to grow to nearly six billion dollars by 2020, a significant increase from 2015’s $3.41 billion. A compound annual growth rate of 9.6 percent is also projected.

The public summary of the report suggests that the growth is driven by new developments in 3D scanner technology, the capacity for quality control with the devices, and the time saved by stronger quality control.

Laser-based 3D scanners are expected to take up the majority of the market share. This figure includes devices that use laser triangulation, phase shifting, time of flight, or a combination of all three as “laser 3D scanners.”

3D Scanning Laser Measurement
The Leica Absolute Scanner LAS-20-8. (Image courtesy of Hexagon MI.)

The report also reveals that the market is significantly concentrated in the Americas, followed closely by Asia and other Pacific regions, due to rising applications in fields such as automotive, healthcare, and construction industries.

The full report can be found through MarketsandMarkets here.