3D Scanning: Technologies and Global Markets

Report Highlights

Global revenue for the three-dimensional (3-D) scanning market totaled about $3.8 billion in 2012 and nearly $4.5 billion in 2013. This market is expected to be valued at nearly $8.9 billion in 2018, rising at a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.7% from 2013 to 2018.

Report Includes

• An overview of the global market for three-dimensional scanning.
• Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2012, estimates for 2013, and projections of CAGRs through 2018.
• Specific information on various 3-D technologies such as structured light modulation and conoscopic holography.
• Detailed patent analysis, especially pertaining to picoprojector developments.
• Comprehensive profiles of leading generics companies, and updates on mergers and acquisitions.

Report Scope

This BCC Research study has been conducted with a global perspective on 3-D scanning devices, services, and applications. The market analyses herein thus also form a global perspective on the present and future state of the 3-D scanning market. All monetary table values are in 2013 U.S. dollars.

The report is intended to provide business planners and managers with an improved understanding of the various directions in which this market and technology are developing. Through this lens we examine the opportunities that will be created, from both technological development and expanded awareness and realization of 3-D scanning’s capabilities for a variety of verticals.

The report contains:

• In-depth analyses of the key 3-D scanning technologies as well as an overview of the relevant aspects of important competing and complementary technologies.
• Information about recent technical developments and patents for laser triangulation, conoscopic holography, structured light, and other 3-D scanning technologies.
• Current and potential applications for 3-D scanning devices and services.
• Market sizing and projections through 2018 by application, technology, and region.
• Profiles of industry players in both the device and services sectors of the 3-D scanning market.
• Analysis of the opportunities for both current industry participants and new entrants.

The report focuses on the near-field scanning market, excluding systems designed for the scanning of objects more than a few meters in extent or distance from the scanner. This distinction is based on the deeply interconnected relations in technology and applications that bind the near-field technologies together to form a cohesive and well-defined market. From this follows the relatively light attention given to time-of-flight scanning as a technology. Certain applications of time-of-flight scanning infringe on the edges of the 3-D art sector, but for a very limited set of applications that are very distinct and governed by different market forces than those examined in detail in this report. BCC Research feels that the qualitative and quantitative judgments contained in this report represent a valuable contribution to understanding the 3-D scanning market.

Analyst Credentials

This report was prepared by Paul Bragulla, a partner in Prokalkeo LLC, an emerging-technology consulting firm based near Washington, D.C. Mr. Bragulla has done extensive work in laser and optical systems research as well as in the applications of lasers to industrial applications. He is the author of the BCC Research report, SMC090A Picoprojectors: Technologies and Global Markets.