Case study: Inside China's thriving 3D print farm movement

Primary market data provided by Panda3DP. Other sources cited where applicable.

The arrival of the holiday shopping season in the West has 3D print farmers in the Chinese city of Yiwu working around the clock. In these compact yet fully equipped manufacturing plants, teams of two or three employees manage over a hundred desktop 3D printers, continuously loading materials and sending design files to the machines. Once printed, toys in the shape of dinosaur eggs, octopuses, dragons and mermaids are immediately packed and prepared for shipping.

Yet, this success brings its own challenges, with many of these workshops being pushed to their operational limits. "I barely have time to catch my breath," one operator confessed. Even with all machines running at full capacity, farm owners frequently find themselves turning to outsourced services or seeking additional printers to meet deadlines.

Across China, 3D print farms have developed into a bustling industry attracting young entrepreneurs eager for their next venture. A single trending product, industry insiders say, can inspire hundreds of new farmers to enter the market. Each viral hit, from radish knives and telescopic swords to collectable figurines and this year’s breakout hit – dragon eggs – brings in a new wave of farmers. The low barrier to entry, requiring only a few consumer-grade printers to start, makes it an attractive path for newcomers to the field. 

Data from Panda3DP, one of China’s leading 3D printing media platforms, reveals the dramatic rise of the country’s print farm industry. Prior to 2023, the total printer count across these operations stood at just 9,000 nationwide. In just two years, the number of farms and equipment installations has skyrocketed, particularly in manufacturing centres like Yiwu and Shantou, cities with established toy production backgrounds. When a product succeeds, operators often multiply their printer capacity several times over. Today, there are more than 2,000 facilities operating throughout the country, with their combined equipment count exceeding 100,000 units.

Colourful 3D printed products on display at the first 3D Print Farm Conference and Farm Workshop Showcase

Held in August 2024, the first 3D Print Farm Conference and Farm Workshop Showcase in Shenzhen revealed the full scope of the industry’s expansion. Organised by Formnext Asia Shenzhen and Panda3DP with SUNLU as title sponsor, the event attracted thousands of farmers, both international and domestic. At the conference, industry experts presented a bold forecast: domestic farm equipment capacity is on track to scale into the millions of units.

Panellists address a crowded audience at the inaugural 3D Print Farm Conference and Farm Workshop Showcase

The rise of Chinese print farms has significant implications for both international farm owners and the wider additive manufacturing (AM) sector. Demand from these farms drives the development of new domestic printer technology and materials, resulting in more capable and cost-effective equipment that benefits farms worldwide. Their success also serves as a proof of concept: consumer-grade hardware can deliver on an industrial scale, making the print farm business model replicable anywhere conditions permit.

However, given its massive scale, China’s print farm industry now shapes global benchmarks for cost and efficiency, pressuring competitors worldwide to adapt their scale and pricing models. Adapting to these new developments will be key for print farms seeking long-term viability.

Even as global economic growth slows, China's 3D print farm industry remains strong, supported by the country’s established base of materials and equipment suppliers. The latest consumer-grade printers now operate 5 – 10 times faster than previous models, with marked improvements in output quality and consistency. Chinese manufacturers have steadily increased their share of the global equipment market by offering these advanced capabilities at highly competitive prices.

Official data paints a striking picture of China’s 3D printing sector. The National Bureau of Statistics reports that in the first half of 2024, domestic 3D printing equipment production output rose by 51.6% year-on-year, outpacing even high-growth sectors like new energy vehicles (34.3%) and integrated circuits (28.9%).The export market demonstrated similar strength, with AM exports reaching 7.89 billion RMB (1.08 billion USD) from January to October 2024, marking the second consecutive year of more than 50% growth in the sector.

A look at the top four suppliers of consumer-grade 3D printers in China – Bambu Lab, Creality, ELEGOO and Anycubic – provides further insight into why print farms have flourished throughout the country.

Among these, Bambu Lab stands as the clear leader, with the ease of use of its machines well known within the farming community. According to partial industry data compiled by Panda3DP, this brand accounts for 90% of printers used in domestic farms.

Creality, a regular participant at Formnext, the world's leading exhibition in additive manufacturing, is consistently recognised for its printers’ high-speed, multi-colour printing capabilities, large build volumes and structural stability. Accessible pricing and features like power outage recovery have helped several of their models become staples in farm setups.

This year, ELEGOO launched its Saturn 4 Ultra, incorporating features like Tilt Release Technology, a 10-inch 12k Mono LCD, and a COB + Fresnel Collimating Lens. The printer also features an Auto Leveling and Intelligent Mechanical Sensor and AI-based Monitoring with Power-Loss Resume Printing to enhance printing speed and improve system oversight.

Meanwhile, Anycubic has been working to expand its ecosystem through its ‘Makeronline’ platform, connecting 3D printing enthusiasts and farm operators to find new opportunities for collaboration. 

In the marketplace, a farm’s success often depends on its ability to work with a range of materials, particularly when it comes to colours, finishes, gradients and surface textures.

SUNLU, a leader in 3D printing consumables, has taken its material range to the next level. Their PLA Classic line, designed specifically for farmers, supports high-speed printing at 450mm/s. It offers matte frosted textures and excellent durability, along with a wide range of precise colours and customisation options, giving farmers more ways to stand out in the market. 

Meanwhile, Kexcelled, a specialist in high-quality 3D printing materials, powers many of today’s popular items with its PLA K3 and K5 series. The K5 series, in particular, excels in producing silky-textured dragon eggs and Chinese dragons, matte-finished festival ornaments, as well as fans and spinning tops with eye-catching starburst and gradient effects.

Market forecasts suggest that material prices will continue to decrease in the coming years as global production capacity expands, potentially widening profit margins for farm operators.

Despite the booming market, the print farm industry is particularly vulnerable to shifting consumer trends and seasonal fluctuations. When demand for a trending product spikes, operators are often quick to expand their equipment capacity. Yet, as the product's popularity fades, so too do the orders, forcing many farms to scale back their operations with machines sitting idle. This volatility, combined with the strains of seasonal downturns, leads some heavily invested operators to consider selling their equipment or even exiting the market altogether.

Meanwhile, the lack of product diversity and uniformity in production has triggered a price war among farmers. With most farms producing identical products, profit margins are beginning to shrink, leaving smaller farms struggling to stay afloat.

Speaking at the 3D Print Farm Conference, industry veteran Mr Zhang Ximing, General Manager/Farm Owner of Fujian Wanxiang 3D Technology Co Ltd - better known as "Dr Strange” in print farm circles – shared his outlook on the sector's future: “In such a quickly growing market, competition is unavoidable. While the environment today is relatively stable, we should brace for more intense competition ahead.” Industry observers see 3D print farms evolving along several different paths:

One approach focuses on aggressive expansion. These businesses, through various financing channels, will continue to expand in scale, transforming their farms into fully-fledged factories. Operating on a high-volume, low margin model, they aim to eventually compete with traditional injection moulding processes, becoming pioneers of this new model of manufacturing.

A second path involves maintaining a smaller scale, with independent farms clustering together to serve as subcontractors for larger producers. These businesses will concentrate on peak production and marketing seasons, staying competitive through a combination of low operation and maintenance costs.

A third direction emphasises product design leadership, adopting a “small but impactful” studio operation model. These farms develop unique products addressing specific market demands, targeting high-margin niche markets. However, this approach requires strong design, development and IP management capabilities from owners, who may face setbacks during the initial trial-and-error process.

Meanwhile, some farmers have instead chosen to relocate their operations to Southeast Asia, capitalising on the region’s favourable climate and lower land costs. By selling through international e-commerce platforms, these farms can directly reach global customers, allowing them to compete head-to-head with domestic producers. 

As for the best path forward? Ultimately, farm owners will need to evaluate their own situation and choose accordingly.

Formnext Asia Shenzhen, in collaboration with Panda3DP, will host the 2nd 3D Print Farm Conference and Farm Workshop Showcase from 26 – 28 August 2025. With registration now open, the 2025 conference promises an expanded agenda covering a wider range of topics. All farm owners and operators are invited to participate.

Scan to register for the 2nd Print Farm Conference and Farm Workshop Showcase, 26 – 28 August 2025

For more information, please visit www.formnext-shenzhen.com or email formnextasia@china.messefrankfurt.com.

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 1、“China Youth Daily: As the industry sees rapid growth, how can 3D printing break new ground?” China Youth Daily, 28 September 2024, https://news.cyol.com/gb/articles/2024-09/24/content_NVGGQgt8WV.html (Accessed 11 December 2024)

2、 “Ministry of Industry and Information Technology: China’s additive manufacturing industry revenue expected to exceed 50 billion yuan in 2024.” 3dzyk.com, 2 January 2025, https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/0Hus7unM2LjLeobnj9xq3w (Accessed 3 January 2025)