Potentials and challenges of metal powder production

Additive manufacturing is considered one of the most important technological innovations of our time. It offers enormous potential for a sustainable circular economy by enabling resource-saving production processes and individualized, needs-based solutions. However, in order to fully exploit this potential, new approaches to materials and production processes are needed. One key to this lies in the development of high-quality and sustainable metal powders as a starting material for 3D printing.

The market for metal powder in additive manufacturing is growing rapidly. According to a forecast by Fortune Business Insights, the global market volume is set to rise from USD 6.75 billion in 2021 to USD 10.79 billion in 2029. This development is being driven by the increasing prevalence of additive manufacturing processes in various industries as well as the rising demands on material properties and sustainability. In order to put this growth on an ecologically and economically sustainable footing in the long term, material manufacturers and users need to rethink their approach. What is needed are innovations that harmonize resource efficiency, the circular economy and technological performance.