3D Printing Industry in Spain
The Spanish edition of The 3D Printing World Guide was published on 2025-02-04. It featured nine companies representing four segments of Spain 3D printing market.
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Spanish 3D printing industry
Spain is the fourth-largest economy in the European Union, and it clearly plays a significant role in the European economic landscape. The country is characterized by a diverse economic structure, with a strong services sector, tourism, and a growing high-tech industry.
The 3D printing sector is still relatively young and doesn’t yet play a major role in Spain’s overall economy, but it holds a solid position and recognition in the global AM industry. Several large companies originate from Spain, but the most significant impact came from the R&D division of American company HP!
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Similar to most European countries, the 3D printing industry in Spain began to take shape on a larger scale after 2010. One of the most recognizable companies worldwide is BCN3D, a Catalan company based in Barcelona, which manufactures FFF 3D printers. BCN3D developed the IDEX system, which uses two independent print heads. Importantly, the company released the designs of its early models (the Sigma line) under an open-source license, which helped spread this innovation globally.
Another key player on the Spanish 3D printing scene is Recreus, known for developing flexible 3D printing filaments, such as the globally recognized FilaFlex. Sicnova, founded in 2007 and based in Jaén, specializes in providing advanced 3D printing solutions for the medical and industrial sectors. It’s also worth mentioning Print&Go, which combines 3D printing with modern IT technologies. Print&Go offers a cloud-based platform for managing 3D printing projects, allowing users to remotely monitor and control printing processes.
However, the real revolution in the 3D printing sector came with the development of MJF (Multi Jet Fusion) technology, created by HP at its R&D center in Barcelona. MJF technology was a breakthrough in 3D printing, offering the first real alternative to the SLS method. HP chose Barcelona as the headquarters for its R&D division due to the strong presence of innovative companies and research institutions in the region. Thus, Barcelona has become not only a key hub for Spain’s 3D printing sector but also a global center of innovation in this field.
INDART3D: sponsor of the Spanish Edition of The 3D Printing World Guide
As for the state of the Spanish economy in 2022-2024, the situation is complex. In 2022, Spain recorded GDP growth of about 5.5%, driven by recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and support from EU funds. However, in subsequent years, the growth rate slowed to around 2.4% in 2023 and an estimated 1.9% in 2024, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The main challenges remain high inflation, which averaged 4.1% in 2023, and rising energy costs, impacting business conditions and consumer purchasing power. Despite this, Spain maintains stable economic foundations, and the tourism sector, a cornerstone of the economy, is returning to pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, investments in green energy and digitalization, financed partly by the EU Recovery Fund, represent an opportunity for long-term growth.
In summary, the 3D printing sector in Spain is developing dynamically, aligning with global trends in innovation. Spanish companies are playing an increasingly significant role on the international stage, and national research centers, like the one in Barcelona, are contributing to technological progress. Despite economic challenges like slowing GDP growth or inflation, Spain remains an important player in the European economy, and the 3D printing sector is gaining a more prominent position on the global AM map.