Global Flexible Filament 3D Printing Material Market Size, Share, Opportunities, COVID-19 Impact, And Trends By Colour (Neutral, Black, White, Other), By Diameter (1.75mm, 2.85mm, 3mm), And By Geography - Forecasts From 2022 To 2027

The Global Flexible Filament 3D Printing Material market was valued at US$39.388 million in 2020 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 32.83% to reach US$287.302 million by 2027.

A flexible filament is made from Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE), a mixture of hard plastics and rubber. The material can flex and stretch easily, owing to its elastic nature. TPE comes in various types, with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) being the most popular. The filaments PETG and PLA cannot be used to print things such as RC airplane wheels and flexible phone cases. In the meantime, flexible filaments are the ideal choice as filaments for this application. Another option to expand the 3D printer's capabilities is to use flexible filaments. These filaments provide flexibility and great adhesion between layers, along with sometimes also elasticity, unlike most common materials (such as PLA or PET-G). It is possible to print flexible objects with extreme resistance to mechanical wear and tear. It is common to use flexible filaments for automotive components, household appliances, or medical devices. Due to their soft and elastic nature, filaments can withstand high loads. Several market leaders seized the opportunity and started using flexible filaments to grow their businesses. A prime example is Nike. For the production of the Flyprint upper, Nike used a Solid Deposition Modelling (SDM) procedure. This is similar to fused deposition modeling and is built using flexible TPU filament.

This material is well suited for adding value to various industries, including footwear, where it can be used to create elastic soles, or the automotive industry, where tires and shock absorbers can be made. Using TPU filament makes it easy to create functional prototypes, concept models, and custom components. Mobile phone covers are often made from this type of material, as it protects the device from shocks and fractures. To keep up with the market, companies conduct continuous research and development. Recreus, a manufacturer of 3D printing materials in Spain, has launched a new flexible TPU filament that is 100% recyclable in February 2021.

Rising applications in a number of end-user industries will aid the growth of Flexible Filament 3D Printing Material Market.

Unlike ABS, PLA, or nylon, TPU 3D printing can enable possibilities not otherwise possible. TPU combines the properties of rubber and plastic to create highly durable, elastic, bendable parts. TPU is most commonly used for consumer goods, such as accessories for phones and footwear components. Medical applications can also be made with TPU. It is also great for automotive applications like seals, gaskets, plugs, tubes, and protective applications. Since it has high chemical resistance to oils and greases, these materials are popular for creating orthopedic models. Manufacturers launch new innovative products to maintain their competitiveness. Acreus introduced Conductive Filaflex in July 2021 to the industry as an electrically conductive filament suitable for 3D printing. This new TPU filament is flexible, electrically conductive, and can be used to make wearable electronics and electrically conductive components. The printing technology can also be used in flexible electronics, for example, to manufacture electromagnetic signal isolators, pressure-sensitive buttons, and for the connection of computers, joysticks, Arduino, digital keyboards, trackpads, and even surface electrodes. iFactory3D's new machine, the iFactory One Plus, has been upgraded and modified since the launch of its debut conveyor belt 3D printer, the iFactory One, in April 2021. One Plus enables printing with flexible filament and at higher temperatures, as well as a modified belt tensioning system and a new cooling system designed for serial production. Touted as "the world's most durable TPE filament," NinjaTek®, a Fenner Precision Polymers brand, announced the global release of ChinchillaTM, a 75A durometer filament for 3D printers. NinjaTek's exclusive extrusion method and engineering grade resins combine to produce material that is unique for its softness as well as its ease of printing.

High maintenance will act as a restraint

There are some drawbacks to flexible filaments such as TPEs, however. They are soft, and flexible, and can often be challenging to handle by extruders in 3D printers. Likewise, these materials can buckle when extruded.  In addition, they can suffer from uneven printing surfaces due to rapid movement. These materials also absorb moisture due to their hydrophobic properties. Filaments can pop up and sizzle if not stored properly, causing the 3D prints to sizzle.  These factors may hinder the growth of the flexible filaments market during the forecast period.

Product Offering

• 3D4Makers.com offers FacilanTM PCL 100 Filament which is used by leading universities and research centers worldwide for the work in bioprinting and patient-specific medical research claims the company. FacilanTM PCL 100 is very flexible and has properties like 45 MPa tensile strength, shore D hardness, and a density of 1.1 g/cm2.
• EUMAKERS is the 3D branch of Rigenera Biocompound, offering PA Filament a high-quality 3D printing PA Filament nylon glass fiber. It has a density of 1.18 g/cm3 with an impact strength of 80 kj/m2.

COVID-19 Insight

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the global filament 3D printing material market. Several manufacturing units of the end-users have slowed production in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, affecting the supply chain of 3D printing filaments. Furthermore, the demand for flexible filaments was slightly impacted by the pandemic. Moreover, the locations where the 3D printing filaments headquarters and principal subsidiaries were located suffered a huge impact on coronaviruses, consequently impacting the overall supply chain of the flexible filament 3D printing market. As a result, the market growth of flexible filament 3D printing experienced a slowdown during this period. However, the market experienced a slight growth as the demand for medical equipment grew which further impacted the flexible filament 3d printing market positively as 3D printing is also used for medical purposes.  

Global Flexible Filament 3D Printing Material Market Scope:

Key Market Segments

• By Color
  • Neutral
  • Black
  • White
  • Other
• By Diameter
  • 1.75 mm
  • 2.85mm
  • 3mm
• By Geography
  • North America
    • USA
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Others
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • France
    • United Kingdom
    • Spain
    • Others
  • The Middle East and Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Israel
    • Others
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • Japan
    • India
    • South Korea
    • Others 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What are the growth prospects for the flexible filament 3D printing material market?
A1. The global flexible filament 3D printing material market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 32.83% during the forecast period.

Q2. What will be the flexible filament 3D printing material market size by 2027?
A2. The flexible filament 3D printing material market is expected to reach a market size of US$287.302 million by 2027.

Q3. What is the size of the global flexible filament 3D printing material market?
A3. Flexible Filament 3D Printing Material Market was valued at US$39.388 million in 2020. 

Q4. How is the flexible filament 3D printing material market segmented?
A4. The flexible filament 3D printing material market has been segmented by color, diameter, and geography.

Q5. Who are the major players in the flexible filament 3D printing material market?
A5. Prominent key market players in the flexible filament 3D printing material market include 3DXTech, 3D4Makers, Rigid.ink, Taulman3D, Treed Filaments, 3D PrintLife, EUMakers, among others.