FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — May 4, 2020 — International Data Corporation ( IDC) today published an IDC Innovators report profiling four companies in the 3D metal printing market. IDC Innovators are companies that have introduced innovative new technologies or groundbreaking business models. The four companies are Desktop Metal, ExOne, Rapidia, and Velo3D.

Key trends, such as manufacturers seeking manufacturing flexibility, supply chain efficiency, light-weighting, and part consolidation are making the 3D Metal printer market one of the fastest-growing segments of the 3D printing business. From the supply side, new 3D metal printing technologies are reducing costs while providing significantly greater quality and production speeds than have been available in the past.

"The 3D metal printing market is seeing dynamic growth, and a key part of that growth is the development of new technologies and materials. These new products are creating new capabilities that enable a wider set of manufacturers to adopt 3D metal printing," said Tim Greene, research director, 3D Printing. "But it's not just adoption, the lower costs, better quality, and faster production are also allowing wider utilization within the companies that use 3D metal printers, up to and including the production of end-use parts."

The report, IDC Innovators: 3D Metal Printers 2020 (IDC #US46160820), profiles four companies that are expected to have an impact on the 3D metal printing market due to their innovative new technologies and groundbreaking business models.

• Desktop Metal was recognized for its Shop System, a new binder-jetting based 3D printer that is more productive and less expensive than powder-bed fusion 3D printers, that should enable digital transformation in job shops.
• ExOne was recognized was recognized for the combined launch of the X1 160 metal binder jetting system, its patented Triple ACT technology, and a new clean-burning metal binder that will enable future binder jet 3D printing of premium metals such as Inconel 718, titanium and aluminum.
• Rapidia was recognized for its "office friendly" water-based 3D metal printing technology. Its two-step process accelerates turnaround times while its water-based metal and ceramic pastes help to reduce costs.
• Velo3D has developed a unique process that enables the production of "impossible" geometries. Velo3D is best known for its ability to build low-angle geometries without support structures, which reduces materials and labor cost and accelerates production cycles.

About IDC Innovators
IDC Innovators reports present a set of vendors – under $100 million in revenue at time of selection – chosen by an IDC analyst within a specific market that offer an innovative new technology, a groundbreaking approach to an existing issue, and/or an interesting new business model. It is not an exhaustive evaluation of all companies in a segment or a comparative ranking of the companies. Vendors in the process of being acquired by a larger company may be included in the report provided the acquisition is not finalized at the time of publication of the report. Vendors funded by venture capital firms may also be included in the report even if the venture capital firm has a financial stake in the vendor's company. IDC INNOVATOR and IDC INNOVATORS are trademarks of International Data Group, Inc.

For more information about IDC Innovators research, please contact Karen Moser at kmoser@idc.com.

About IDC
International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,100 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of International Data Group ( IDG), the world's leading tech media, data and marketing services company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the IDC Blog for industry news and insights: http://bit.ly/IDCBlog_Subscribe.

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Michael Shirer
press@idc.com
508-935-4200