Context reports metal AM machine shipments up 10% YoY
Context, a provider of market intelligence and analytics for the global technology industry, has released a report detailing the current state of the Additive Manufacturing market, which it states, saw strong growth in Q1 2026. This was said to be attributed to increased demand for both entry-level and high-end industrial machines.
According to the latest analysis by Context, the industry reported a 32% year-on-year (YoY) gain in total hardware machine revenues. Most of the growth was reported to have come from accelerated entry-level shipments, with a 39% unit growth translating into a 54% surge in revenues. Industrially, revenues were up 23% from a year ago on the back of an 18% increase in unit shipments.
“The current market presents a disparate demand outlook,” said Chris Connery, VP of Global Analysis at Context. “While some vendors report exceptionally strong demand, especially related to global conflicts and defence initiatives, others report challenges associated with the many unknowns, including ongoing global conflicts, fears of rising inflation, higher interest rates impacting capital investments, and a sluggish European economic environment. However, the strong performance of the industrial sector, marking its third consecutive quarter of growth after two years of declines, is a clear indicator of the technology’s continued integration into volume production.”
Industrial class (>$100,000)
Global shipments of industrial-class machines were reportedly up 18% in Q1, with metal-based machines rising 10% YoY. In both metal and polymer markets, nine out of the top ten global vendors shipped more units in this quarter than a year ago, and industrial shipments were up across all major regions:
- China +29% (most of this demand was filled domestically)
- North America +9%
- Western Europe +11%
Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) remains the dominant technology, accounting for 81% of the total industrial metals market, with metal PBF unit shipments up 24% YoY. In the West, EOS had a strong quarter, seeing its metal shipments more than double from a year ago, and separately announced the biggest contract in its history with a defence drone maker. According to Context, some reports have indicated that demand for PBF AM machines is outstripping supply in the West, suggesting 2026 may be supply-limited as machine OEMs catch up on production.
In China, HBD, Farsoon and BLT all saw strong YoY shipment growth, with the latter two citing incredibly strong demand in the 3C sector (computer, communication, and consumer electronics). This demand, strong in Q4 2025 and carrying over into Q1 2026, was reportedly mostly for the production of titanium mobile phone components, specifically hinges for foldable phones and titanium smartphone frames.
While such demand in China shifted the overall market back toward lower-priced metal PBF machines, other vendors reported continued success with more sales of advanced machines. Context noted that Nikon SLM Solutions shipped more of its advanced, large build-volume, multi-laser NXG Laser Beam PBF (PBF-LB) Additive Manufacturing machines than ever before, a 42% YoY increase in unit shipments that put the company at the top of the category’s revenue leaders.
