3D Metrology Market

Updated on : March 20, 2024

The global 3D metrology market size is valued at USD 11.2 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 16.4 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 8.0% during the forecast period.

Increased research and development (R&D) investments in 3D metrology, rising demand for big data analytics, and growing use of 3D data for modeling and analysis in various industries are expected to fuel the growth of the 3D metrology industry .

3D Metrology Market Forecast to 2028

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Impact of Recession on 3D Metrology Market Size and Forecast

Global economies are expected to experience a slowdown in 2023, mainly due to the Russia-Ukraine war and higher inflation. Global real GDP growth in percentage terms was 6% for 2021, which is expected to decline to 3.2% in 2022 and 2.7% in 2023. The decline in GDP growth is significant for the US and Europe. In contrast, growth is increasing, i.e., 4.4% (2022) and 4.9% (2023), for emerging and developing countries, which typically include India, China, and other countries. Also, for the Middle East and Central Asia, there is a decline in GDP growth, i.e., 5.0% (2022) and 3.6% (2023), but it is not so significant when compared with the GDP growth decline of the US and Europe. Inflation is further expected to add to the problem; as per the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), inflation is not going to be normalized until 2024 in the US.

The market for 3D metrology might experience a slowdown due to the coming recession in 2023 and 2024. Companies operating in the 3D metrology market have a strong base in North America and Europe. As the recession is expected to have a major impact on these regions, the overall market for 3D metrology is estimated to witness a low growth rate during 2023 and 2024. Automotive, aerospace & defense, heavy machinery, semiconductors & electronics, and energy & power are some of the major industries in the 3D metrology market to be affected by the coming recession.

3D Metrology Market Dynamics

Driver : Growing use of 3D data for modeling and analysis in various industries

3D modeling is used in various industries, such as aerospace & defense, automotive, heavy machinery, medical, electronics, and energy & power. A 3D model created from a 3D object is a collection of data points by scanners or coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) with intelligent data models and tools. 3D metrology data plays a vital role in the manufacturing sector as it is directly related to product quality and performance assessment. This data is shared with production scheduling, designing, purchasing, and other business units of a manufacturing company to ensure the accuracy of manufactured products. 3D metrology is also used for measurement modeling, which involves the visualization of measurements considered during a production process. A large amount of 3D data is required to define a product effectively for precision inspection. CMM, owing to advancements in data-collection sensor technology and upgrades in measurement and inspection software, is considered a viable and cost-effective method for this purpose. Currently, 3D scanners are also used in combination with CMMs.

3D laser scanners, white-light scanners, and laser trackers are widely used as dimensional metrology solutions for fast and high-precision results. These technologies have made data capturing easy and fast, resulting in a highly accurate inspection. Small-sized laser trackers with large-volume measurement capabilities are primarily used in the automotive, aerospace, and heavy machinery industries to achieve highly accurate measurements.

Restraint: High cost associated with setting up 3D metrology facilities

Setting up a 3D metrology facility includes installation cost, measuring equipment cost, and maintenance cost, which is a major investment for SMEs. Manufacturers usually prefer to set up their 3D metrology facilities or collaborate with third parties to help incorporate metrology into their product development and production processes. Companies find it hard to achieve the targeted return on investment that is needed to set up a complete 3D metrology department. Also, it is a complicated and time-consuming process. Additionally, maintaining, upgrading, and standardizing metrology tools and software, hiring meteorologists and providing regular training also incur significant costs.

Opportunity : Growing demand for 3D metrology services

There has been an increase in the demand for 3D metrology services due to the high cost of setting up a 3D metrology facility and the limited presence of 3D metrology experts. Metrology service providers have higher expertise in metrology tooling and measurement processes than in-house technicians. Outsourcing 3D metrology services to an expert ensure data collected is highly accurate, consistent, and unbiased. 3D metrology equipment providers train their engineers on the latest software and tools for measuring, maintaining, and calibrating the equipment regularly, resulting in the highest level of data quality and repeatability. Depending on the measurements based on the product and industry, a 3D metrology service provider can deploy portable CMMs at the manufacturing facility. As 3D metrology equipment providers have started providing on-site services, manufacturers can save the time and costs required for outsourcing parts for measurement.

Technological advancements are among the major factors driving the demand for 3D metrology in various industries. With increasing innovations, emerging application areas, and technological advancements, manufacturers are focusing on offering devices with enhanced capabilities and modular architecture. These enhancements together increase the price of 3D metrology hardware and software. To reduce operational costs, industries such as aerospace & defense, communications, automotive, and industrial electronics often opt for rental and leasing measurement equipment services. These services are suitable for customers with short-term requirements or low budgets. Also, renting or leasing the test equipment eliminates associated costs, such as calibration and repair expenses, and provides flexibility for renting service providers in terminating a service contract when needed.

Challenge: Lack of expertise to efficiently manage 3D metrology systems

Inspection and metrology serve as quality control functions. The efficient handling of metrological systems requires knowledge of geometrical and dimensional measurements, quality control analysis, production processes, equipment maintenance and repair, and technical testing, depending on the industry and type of products and components being analyzed or inspected. An inappropriate task performance may lead to undesirable consequences, as quality performance decisions are based on measurements and inspection. Besides, incorrect measurements and improper data evaluation can also lead to undesirable results. The 3D metrology equipment requires a high level of technical expertise depending upon the industry and type of products and components being measured for analysis or inspection. A limited number of 3D metrology experts are available due to the lack of training centers or industry-specific certification courses. The employees working in manufacturing companies and handling conventional CMMs have limited technical knowledge regarding the technology.

3D metrology market for hardware offerings is expected to hold the largest share of the market during the forecast period

The 3D metrology market for hardware has witnessed significant growth in the past few years owing to the increased demand for coordinate measuring machines for quality and inspection purposes. However, 3D metrology services have been attracting both metrology equipment providers and industry players. Companies offering hardware in the 3D metrology market are continuously working on updating their product portfolio. Companies in the 3D metrology market have been launching new products to cater to different industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, and energy and power.

3D metrology hardware equipment is also being extensively used in the aerospace industry for inspection and quality control processes. Hexagon AB provides metrology solutions to the Airbus factory in Broughton, North Wales, US. German Aerospace LLC uses Keyence XM Series Handheld CMM for easy 3D and GD&T measurement of parts for commercial airliners, helicopters, or military aircraft. Creaform (Canada) provides HandySCAN 3D metrology-grade 3D laser scanners for recording physical attributes of aircraft dents and blends on all models of Boeing commercial airplanes. The high demand for 3D metrology equipment in the aerospace & defense, and automotive industries for quality control and inspection applications is one of the major drivers for the growth of the 3D metrology market for hardware.

Aerospace & defense segment to account for the second-largest market share during the forecast period

The aerospace & defense sector accounts for the second-largest market share of the 3D metrology market after the automotive sector. The manufacturing and assembling of an aircraft require a high level of accuracy, which can be obtained through 3D metrology. In the aerospace industry, 3D metrology processes are used in the manufacture of precision parts such as frames, wings, subassemblies, simulators, testbeds, and engines. Laser trackers and portable arm coordinate measuring machines are used to ensure that the calibration of the equipment meets the quality standards and regulations for critical aerospace and aeronautic components.

3D Metrology market in Asia Pacific expected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period

The 3D metrology market in the Asia Pacific is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period from 2023 to 2028. The Asia Pacific accounted for 34.1% of the global 3D metrology market in 2022. The key countries contributing to the growth of the 3D metrology market in the Asia Pacific are Japan, China, India, and South Korea. The growth of the 3D metrology market in the Asia Pacific is attributed to the rapid infrastructural development in the region. Several infrastructural development projects in this region are underway or are scheduled for commencement during the forecast period. The high growth of the 3D metrology market in the Asia Pacific can also be attributed to the major infrastructural advancements and automation in manufacturing industries in countries such as India and China. Countries in the Asia Pacific are involved in the manufacturing of defense aircraft, which is expected to increase the scope of 3D metrology inspection applications in the aerospace & defense industry. The growing population and economies (developed as well as developing) and the increasing number of government initiatives to promote industrial growth have made the Asia Pacific an ideal destination for the production units of various industries, including semiconductors, electronics, and automotive. The demand for automobiles in the Asia Pacific is likely to grow in the coming years, which would result in an increased production of vehicles.

3D Metrology Market Statistics by Region

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In the process of determining and verifying the market size for several segments and subsegments gathered through secondary research, extensive primary interviews have been conducted with key industry experts in the 3D metrology space. The break-up of primary participants for the report has been shown below:

• By Company Type: Tier 1 – 40%, Tier 2 – 40%, and Tier 3 – 20%
• By Designation: C-level Executives – 40%, Directors –40%, and Others – 20%
• By Region: North America –40%, Asia Pacific– 30%, Europe – 20%, and RoW – 10%

Top 3D Metrology Companies - Key Market Players:

The 3D metrology companies such as include Hexagon AB (Sweden), FARO Technologies, Inc. (US), Keyence Corporation (Japan), Jenoptik AG (Germany), Nikon Corporation (Japan), Mitutoyo Corporation (Japan), ZEISS Group (Germany), KLA Corporation (US), Perceptron, Inc. (US), Renishaw plc (UK), Creaform (Canada), Baker Hughes Company (US), CyberOptics Corporation (US), Trimble, Inc. (US), 3D Systems, Inc. (US), Automated Precision, Inc. (US), and Metrologic Group (France), among others.

3D Metrology Market Report Scope :

3D Metrology Market Highlights

This research report categorizes the 3D metrology market based on product type, offerings, application, end-user, and region.

Recent Developments in 3D Metrology Industry : 

• In October 2021, Hexagon's Manufacturing Intelligence division announced the release of a new updated version of its dedicated software plug-in for the powerful third-party inspection software platform PolyWorks.
• In August 2021, Renishaw demonstrated the latest developments of its MODUS metrology software at EMO Milano 2021 (hall 5, stand C14). The software continues to lead the way in high-performance industrial inspection, providing an optimal platform for the performance of Renishaw's REVO 5-axis multi-sensor measurement system for CMMs. The flagship REVO system offers 6 interchangeable sensors, all on a single CMM and all with the speed, accuracy, and flexibility of a 5-axis system.
• In June 2021, FARO Technologies, Inc. announced the acquisition of HoloBuilder, Inc. (US). HoloBuilder brought its leading photogrammetry-based 3D platform to FARO, which delivers hardware-agnostic image capture, registration, and viewing to the fast-growing digital twin market.

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