Wohlers Associates

Wohlers Associates is an independent consulting firm and research organization focused on additive manufacturing, 3D printing, rapid prototyping, and related advanced manufacturing technologies. Founded in 1987 by Terry Wohlers, the firm is based in Fort Collins, Colorado, and is known for producing the annual Wohlers Report, conducting market analyses, and advising corporations, governments, and research institutions. The organization engages with a wide range of stakeholders across manufacturing sectors, technology providers, and standards bodies.

History

Wohlers Associates was established in 1987 by Terry Wohlers following his work with companies such as 3D Systems, Stratasys, and collaborations with academic institutions including Colorado State University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Early activities intersected with milestones such as the commercialization of stereolithography by SLA pioneers and the expansion of fused deposition modeling by companies like Stratasys. Throughout the 1990s the firm tracked developments linked to events such as the launch of the FabLab movement, the growth of the Open-source hardware community exemplified by projects like RepRap, and policy debates connected to initiatives by organizations such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the U.S. Department of Defense. In the 2000s Wohlers Associates expanded its international research network, collaborating with entities including Fraunhofer Society, TÜV, and trade associations such as the Additive Manufacturing Users Group and ASTM International committees that later formed standards like ASTM F42. The firm’s timeline parallels key industry events such as the rise of metal additive manufacturing from companies like EOS GmbH and GE Additive and the consumer-oriented surge around companies including MakerBot and Ultimaker.

Services and Consulting

Wohlers Associates provides advisory services to corporations including multinational manufacturers such as General Electric, Siemens, and Boeing, as well as startups, venture capital firms like Sequoia Capital and Accel Partners, and government agencies such as NASA and the U.S. Air Force. Consulting engagements span technology roadmapping, market-entry strategy, cost modeling, and supply chain assessments for firms such as Ford Motor Company, BMW, and Rolls-Royce. The firm advises research organizations and universities including Stanford University, University of Michigan, and ETH Zurich on curriculum development and technology transfer. Wohlers Associates offers due diligence for mergers and acquisitions involving companies like Stratasys, 3D Systems, and Arcam AB, and provides expert testimony in legal contexts alongside law firms and intellectual property entities such as the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The company engages with standards and certification efforts through connections to ISO technical committees and industry groups like The Association for Manufacturing Technology.

Publications and Reports

The flagship publication is the annual Wohlers Report, a comprehensive market, technology, and trend analysis cited alongside reports from organizations such as Gartner, IDC, and McKinsey & Company. The firm produces white papers, technical briefings, and custom industry reports used by stakeholders including Boston Consulting Group, PwC, and Deloitte. Its analyses reference data from trade shows and conferences such as Formnext, Rapid + TCT, and TCT Show, and often contextualize findings with corporate announcements from entities like HP Inc., Canon, and NVIDIA. The reports examine application domains including aerospace programs at Airbus and Lockheed Martin, medical device initiatives at Medtronic and Stryker, and consumer product launches by companies like Adidas and Nike that employ additive techniques.

Industry Impact and Recognition

Wohlers Associates has been recognized by industry media outlets and academic journals including Additive Manufacturing (journal), Nature, and Science for its market intelligence and historical analyses. The firm’s work informed policy discussions at forums such as the World Economic Forum and has been cited in governmental reports from bodies like the European Commission and national ministries of industry in countries including Germany and Japan. The firm’s commentary has been featured in mainstream media outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes. Individual recognition for founder Terry Wohlers includes honors from industry groups and invitations to speak at major events like TEDx, South by Southwest, and plenary sessions at IEEE conferences.

Notable Projects and Clients

Wohlers Associates has supported high-profile projects across sectors: additive manufacturing adoption roadmaps for aerospace suppliers including GE Aviation and Pratt & Whitney; metal powder process benchmarking for firms such as Sandvik and Carpenter Technology; and medical device prototyping strategies for companies including Johnson & Johnson and Zimmer Biomet. The firm has advised national additive initiatives in countries such as China, South Korea, and India, collaborating with organizations like China National Machinery Industry Corporation and national research labs. Other engagements include product launch support for industrial OEMs such as ABB and Caterpillar, manufacturing transformation programs at Siemens Healthineers, and investment advisory services to private equity firms and corporate venture arms including Intel Capital and Samsung NEXT.

Category:Additive manufacturing