The additive fabrication industry, once known as rapidprototyping, grew in North America at a tepid3.7 percent pace last year, according to industry consultant Terry Wohlers.

The report was released at Rapid 2009 in Schaumburg, IL,where a price fight broke out as machine builders tried to boost sales.

One-time industry leader 3D Systems Corp. launched itsV-Flash Desktop Modeler, which it described as the first commercially available3D modeler priced under $10,000.

The Dimension 3D Printing Group, a business unit ofStratasys, Inc.  showed the uPrintPersonal 3D Printer priced at $14,900. Designed for the desktop, uPrintrequires only a 25 x 26 inch footprint and features an 8 x 6 x 6 inch buildenvelope. uPrint builds models with Stratasys ABSplus – a material on average40 percent stronger than the company's standard ABS material.
Dimension also recently reduced the base price of its Elite and 1200es 3Dprinters. The Elite, previously priced at $32,900 is now available for $29,900.The SST 1200es (with Soluble Support Technology) is now priced at $32,900, downfrom $34,900, and the BST 1200es (with Breakaway Support Technology) is now $18,900,reduced from $26,900.

"With the introduction of the uPrint Personal 3DPrinter this past January and the price reductions on the Elite and 1200esSeries, we now have a complete product offering ranging from $14,900 to$32,900. We have a variety of price and feature sets to meet the needs of ourdesign and engineering customers," says Jon Cobb, Stratasys vice presidentof sales and marketing for the Americas.

According to the Wohlers report, Stratasys shipped over 43percent of all systems worldwide in 2008, and it has the highest globalinstalled base of additive systems: more than double that of its nearestcompetitor. The report also indicated that within the 3D printer segment of theadditive fabrication industry, Stratasys shipped over 50 percent of all unitsin 2008.

The report indicated that digital manufacturing (DDM) – themanufacture of end-use parts – was one of the fastest-growing industryapplications in 2008, representing approximately 16 percent of applications last year.

"We're committed to developing the market for directdigital manufacturing applications," says CEO Scott Crump. "Theseapplications are providing incremental sales opportunities for our Fortus 3DProduction Systems. We are optimistic about this emerging market's potential."

One surprising result of the Wohlers report was a crash inthe Japanese additive fabrication industry. "Japan declined by a surprising 56.8percent," Wohlers commented in a keynote address. He offered no explanations.But one hint came in the 10-K annual financial report field this year by 3DSystems.

"On Feb. 25, 2009, we received notice that our largestcustomer in Japanfiled for protection under the Civil Rehabilitation Act, which we understand tobe similar to a Chapter 11 filing under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code," the company says in the filing. The total receivable due to was $1.3 million. The name ofthe customer was not revealed.

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