3D Scanning: Technologies and Global Markets

Report Highlights

The global market for three-dimensional (3-D) scanning totaled $5.1 billion in 2014 and nearly $5.9 billion in 2015. This market should total nearly $13.3 billion in 2020, rising at a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.7% from 2015 to 2020.

Report Includes

• An overview of the global markets and technologies for three-dimensional scanning
• Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2014, 2015, and projections of CAGRs through 2020
• Specific information on various 3-D technologies such as structured light modulation, laser triangulation, and conoscopic holography
• A detailed patent analysis, especially pertaining to picoprojector developments
• Details pertaining to the market's dynamics, specifically growth drivers and inhibitors
• Analysis of the opportunities for both current industry participants and new entrants
• Profiles of major players in the industry

Report Scope

This BCC Research study was conducted with a global focus 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 values in the tables are in 2015 U.S. dollars.

To fully understand the market opportunity for 3-D scanning technologies in the various market applications, the report is first segmented based on the following technologies:

• Laser triangulation.
• Structured light.
• Conoscopic holography.

Additionally, each technology and market application segment is geographically segmented into the following regions:

• North America.
• Europe.
• Asia-Pacific.

For each respective geographical region, the report analyzes key market traits, market drivers and industry-specific attributes to effectively understand the market opportunity for 3-D scanning technologies used in targeted application segments, including:

• QC and automated inspection (by region).
• Reverse engineering (by region).
• Asset generation (by region).
• Body scanning (by region).

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

The report includes the following major elements:

• Executive summary.
• 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, structured light, conoscopic holography and other 3-D scanning technologies.
• Current and potential applications for 3-D scanning devices and services.
• Key patent and patent application analyses.
• Global market sizing, trends and projections in the market for 3-D scanning technologies by technology, application segment and geographical region, from 2014 through 2020.
• Technology vendor and industry player profiles, including both device manufacturers and related service providers in the 3-D scanning market.
• Analysis of the opportunities for both current industry participants and new market entrants.

Overall, 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

Erik Vickstrom is a senior management consultant with a U.S.-based boutique management consulting firm. He has experience working with both small engineering firms and Fortune 200 companies on the commercial verification of emerging technologies; on business model development and commercialization plans with technologies in the energy, materials, electronics, manufacturing and environmental markets; and assisting private equity firms with acquisitions in the industrials space. Prior to his current role, Erik worked with small- to large-size companies, focusing on new enterprise development and business strategy in various stages. Erik received his degrees (MBA, M.A., and B.S.) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ill., where he also conducted his postgraduate work and studies.