How many FFF 3D Printers are Installed in the UK as of 2023?

Whilst estimates vary, market researchers and industry experts alike agree that the 3D printing market, as a whole, will continue to experience healthy growth in the coming years. 

In a recent article exploring how much 3D printing waste is generated in the UK, one of the key variables of this equation is the estimated number of 3D printers in use. 

Whilst the sources used to deduce an estimated number of 3D printers were cited in the aforementioned piece, this article explores further data and inferences to provide a more reliable ‘best guess’ on how many FFF 3D printers are installed in the UK.

Please note: this article will only focus on Fused Filament Fabrication - or FFF - the type of 3D printing in which a filament is fused together to fabricate a solid part. 

Is there already a reputed estimate of 3D printers installed?

3D printer manufacturer, UltiMaker, publishes their 3D Printing Sentiment Index - a free, comprehensive dataset “to help the global 3D printing community monitor and identify growth opportunities”.

As per Ultimaker, the UK has some 168,000 3D printers installed as of 2019.

Whilst the source for this is not cited, one can assume this is based on internal / primary research; as a reputable player in the 3D printing space, there is no reason to doubt this.

Reliability aside, there are two issues in the context of this research:

1. It is four years ‘outdated’, at the time of writing this
2. The type of 3D printing (e.g. FFF) is not specified

What proportion of 3D printers are FFF-based?

Whilst Ultimakers’ 3D Printing Sentiment Index provided a tangible starting point, other data sources must be evaluated to identify what proportion of 3D printers are indeed FFF technology.

In their report, Creating a Closed Loop Supply Chain for 3D Printing Filaments, Sustainable Manufacturing Consultancy, HSSMI, states that 66% of printers on the market are FFF.

Aggregating this with the Ultimaker metric, it can be inferred that – in 2019 – there were just over 110,000 filament-based 3D printers in the UK.

Has the number of FFF 3D printers increased or decreased in recent years?

Online manufacturing platform, Hubs, estimates that the 3D printing market grew 21% in 2020 and a further 20% in 2021.

Of course, this is an estimate of total market growth rate, so it could be an overgeneralisation to assume that FFF 3D printer sales is automatically allied.

As reported by Fabbaloo, shipments were estimated to drop 4% in 2020. Applying this to the 110,000 value (2019), the estimated 3D printers in use  could have fallen to 105,600 in 2020. 

When looking at 2021, Personal and Kit & Hobby (<$2,500) 3D printer shipments are +33% up on 2019, which indicates that there were 146,300 FFF 3D printers installed in the UK in 2021.

When analysing the period Q3 2021 to Q3 2022, CONTEXT reports that FDM/FFF 3D printer shipments are down -8%, indicating that there could have been 134,596 FFF 3D printers installed in the UK in 2022.

How many FFF 3D printers will be installed in the UK in 2023?

"Forecasts for 2023 have turned cautious as fears of regional recessions loom large and the worries that the loosening of China’s zero-Covid policy may reduce domestic demand and lead to further supply-chain disruption."

Contextworld.com (2023)

The same report suggests that unit volume growth expectation is +9%; applying this to FFF 3D printer shipments, it is therefore possible that by the end of 2023, there could be in excess of 146,000 FFF 3D printers installed in the UK.

Why is it important to be aware of all this?

Market research statistics are vital when understanding an industry. Businesses in the 3D printing market need to plan and implement accordingly; governmental organisations may need to revise policies and regulations based on increased usage of a certain technology and / or the emergence of new ones, and when it comes to the 3D printing waste problem, the sustainability sector needs to be aware of potential environmental impacts. 

Filamentive - the UK-leading FFF Materials Brand

Filamentive materials are used by thousands of Makers, Engineers and Educators worldwide, helping to reduce the environmental impact of FFF 3D printing.

For those interested in sustainable FFF 3D printing materials without compromising quality, please see Filamentive.com to learn more.