Defense Boom & Big Buyouts Signal Additive Manufacturing’s New Phase, Wohlers’ Q3 Report
If you haven't kept up with AM industry news and analysis for the past few months, Wohlers Associates' report breaks down what you need to know.
The 3D printing world isn’t chasing hype anymore, it’s building staying power. According to Wohlers Associates’ new Q3 2025 Global State of the Industry report (which you can now download for free), the additive manufacturing (AM) sector has entered a new phase: refinement.
Wohlers — long considered the go-to trend tracker for the professional 3D printing world — says the industry is moving past its startup sprawl and into something more deliberate. Think consolidation, specialization, and serious adoption by defense, aerospace, and even consumer tech giants.
Restructuring Gets Real
It’s been a shake-up quarter. Nano Dimension cut ties with Desktop Metal, which soon filed for bankruptcy and sold off key assets to Anzu Partners, SprintRay, and Arc Impact. Stratasys picked up Nexa3D, and industrial powerhouse Trumpf bowed out of 3D printing entirely. Even Arburg plans to end production of its 3D printers by the end of next year.
That might sound grim, but Wohlers argues it’s actually a healthy reset. The sector is trimming fat and focusing on profitability, IP, and specialized know-how.
The comeback story of the quarter? Velo3D. After a rocky 2024, it doubled down on defense, landed a $6 million Navy contract, uplisted to NASDAQ, and saw its market cap soar from $15 million to $87.5 million. Wohlers highlights this as part of a bigger shift: 3D printing companies are evolving from selling machines to selling qualified, high-performance parts—especially for regulated sectors that demand reliability and traceability.
Local is the New Global
Geopolitics and competition are also redrawing the map. China’s exports of low-cost desktop printers climbed 25% year-over-year to 3 million units, led by Bambu Lab and Creality. Meanwhile, Japan’s new DXR Manufacturing Consortium is uniting 34 companies to push AM adoption, and Europe is building momentum around its NextGen Manufacturing Congress.
Wohlers calls it “regional agility”—and in today’s supply chain climate, it’s a competitive advantage.
Powder Becomes Power
Materials are turning into one of the most strategic parts of the business. Evonik teamed up with 3DChimera to bring PA12 powders closer to U.S. customers, while Amaero is ramping up titanium powder production for aerospace. Wohlers says metal powder is no longer just raw material—it’s a national asset. Governments and big manufacturers are treating it like critical infrastructure.
Defense Leads the Charge
If one sector defines AM’s new reality, it’s defense. In Q3 alone, 3D Systems won a $7.65 million Air Force contract for a large-format metal printer, Velo3D teamed up with Vaya Space for propulsion parts, and Divergent Technologies raised a stunning $290 million to scale its production of missile airframes in Oklahoma.
The defense world isn’t just using AM—it’s shaping how the rest of the industry will qualify, certify, and scale.
Additive is also creeping into everyday operations. Nestlé is now using 3D printing for spare parts across its global production lines, cutting downtime and keeping factories humming. In Japan, JGC Group built a 9-meter soundproof wall using additive construction—showing that 3D printing is ready for projects that are big, visible, and useful.
The Takeaway
Wohlers’ Q3 2025 report makes it clear: The industry is consolidating, specializing, and embedding itself in the world’s most demanding supply chains. The flashy startups may be fading, but the tech itself is finally proving its worth where it matters—on factory floors, in defense contracts, and in the devices we use every day.
You can read the full Wohlers Q3 2025 Additive Manufacturing briefing for free for all the data, company stories, and insights behind this next evolution of 3D printing.
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