Falling prices and greater choice — proven forces that lay the groundwork for significant market growth — are now playing a hand in helping metal additive manufacturing systems gain traction. Falling prices and greater choice — proven forces that lay the groundwork for significant market growth — are now playing a hand in helping metal additive manufacturing systems gain traction. According to a the Wohlers Report 2018, released recently by the 3D printing market research consultancy Wohlers Associates, an estimated 1,768 metal AM printers were sold in 2017 compared to 983 systems in 2016 — a significant leap of nearly 80%.