Türkiye’s 3D printing market is growing fast, driven by domestic manufacturers like Zaxe and ABG Filament. Discover how Türkiye’s additive manufacturing revolution is shaping a new industrial era.
M. FERHAT YÜKSEL
DEMOCRATIZED MANUFACTURING REVOLUTION
3D printing technologies, also known as additive manufacturing, have become increasingly recognized in recent years. Used across a wide range of sectors from defense to medical, from automotive to education, this technology is now the focus not only of global players but also of domestic manufacturers. The rapid growth of the sector has attracted the attention of the Presidential Strategy and Budget Office. The institution’s 2019 report titled “Paradigm Shift in Manufacturing: Three-Dimensional Printers” outlines the roadmap for this transformation and foresees, as one of its most critical findings, that “production will be democratized.” Today, both the current state of the market and the experiences of domestic manufacturers show that this vision is becoming increasingly concrete.
HOMES TURNING INTO FACTORIES
Türkiye’s 3D printing market has recorded steady growth in recent years. Valued at 22.5 million dollars in 2017, the market rose to approximately 49 million dollars in 2023. As of 2024, the 3D printing market size, calculated at 51.7 million dollars, is expected to reach 209 million dollars within the next eight years. This increase shows that the sector grows at an average annual rate of 25 percent. 3D printing technology has a wide range of applications—from industry to healthcare, from construction to defense. However, this technology also transforms home users into producers, paving the way for the emergence of small-scale “home factories.”
PRODUCTION IS BEING DEMOCRATIZED
According to the Presidential Strategy and Budget Office, three-dimensional printers will enable consumers to produce their own products, thus democratizing production. However, this transformation is expected to occur over a longer period compared to other technological developments. The report also emphasizes that 3D printing is a strategic field that will enhance Türkiye’s competitiveness in manufacturing. The technology is projected to accelerate production processes across sectors—from medical to automotive, aviation to machinery—transform workforce quality, and contribute to sustainable production. It is also expected to reshape supply chains by decentralizing production locations.
WEAK UNIVERSITY–INDUSTRY COOPERATION
According to the report, while the most common application area of 3D printing in Türkiye remains prototype manufacturing, global examples show a shift toward direct product production. One of the main factors slowing this transformation is weak cooperation between universities and industry. The report further notes that only nine percent of companies collaborate with universities, limiting innovation capacity. Highlighting communication and coordination gaps among stakeholders, it suggests strengthening network structures and skilled human resources to build a stronger 3D printing ecosystem. It also stresses the importance of encouraging domestic material production and reinforcing university–industry relations. These insights are expected to form the foundation for a forthcoming National Additive Manufacturing Strategy.
TÜRKİYE COULD BECOME A REGIONAL HUB
Founded in 2015, Zaxe, Türkiye’s first domestic 3D printer manufacturer, has become a symbol of this transformation. Its founder and CEO, Baki Gezgen, stated, “In the next five years, Türkiye has the potential to become a regional center in terms of both a strong domestic market and exports.” Gezgen explained that they entered the sector believing they could improve existing 3D printer technologies, adding, “For the past ten years, I have been focusing on 3D printing. Together with our team, we are working to make this technology more accessible and intelligent.” Emphasizing rapid domestic growth, especially in education and industry, Gezgen noted that Zaxe reached a new milestone with the launch of its next-generation X4 model.
Similarly, Kemal Güner, founder of ABG Filament, Türkiye’s first corporate filament producer, said the country’s proximity to Europe and strong engineering base could make it a regional production hub: “With sufficient local capacity and quality raw materials, Türkiye can become not only a consumer but also an exporter.”
EXCHANGE RATE AND RAW MATERIAL DEPENDENCY
Both entrepreneurs highlighted currency fluctuations and import dependency as their biggest challenges. Güner said, “Everything from additives to spools is imported. Sudden exchange rate changes disrupt the market. When materials wait at customs, production planning becomes impossible.” He added, “Our biopolymer plastics are entirely sourced from the United States and the Netherlands, with purity rates above 99 percent. We maintain strict quality; even a minor defect prevents a product from reaching the market.” Gezgen emphasized that without scaling and R&D support, it’s difficult to compete with Chinese products: “Local manufacturers need R&D and scale support; otherwise, we fall behind globally.”
STATE INCENTIVES AND COMPETITION IMBALANCE
Both producers underlined the advantage Chinese firms gain from state subsidies. Güner said, “The Chinese government supports its producers with VAT rebates and tax incentives, while we pay taxes. We haven’t even requested anti-dumping measures. If the state grants corporate tax exemptions for exporters, our prices could drop and our export power would grow.” Gezgen added, “We benefited from trade fair support and some technopark incentives, but deep-tech ventures still struggle to attract scalable investment. The government should adopt a more structured and long-term approach.”
IMPORT COST PRESSURE
Gezgen explained, “Most of our electronic and mechanical components are custom-made in China. Our six-layer electronic boards, motors, fans, and motherboards are all manufactured with our specific parameters. However, we source aluminum, sheet metal, and plastic parts from local suppliers.” Güner said imported components create cost pressure: “Global supply chain disruptions raise prices. We want to expand domestic production, but dependence on imported raw materials limits us.”
COMPETING WITH CHINA
Gezgen said, “Chinese products have cost advantages through mass production and state support. However, they lack strong technical service and spare parts access. As a local manufacturer, Zaxe holds a major advantage here. Our first X1 model, sold ten years ago, is still operating efficiently. This puts us ahead of many foreign brands.” He added that Zaxe’s software ecosystem—from XDesktop to Zaxe Cloud—is entirely developed by Turkish engineers. “We differentiate ourselves through our domestic firmware and software libraries. Although we use some open-source tools, we adapt them to our architecture.” Güner emphasized that competing with Chinese manufacturers is becoming more challenging: “China ships in seven days; we deliver in forty-five. That difference affects both cost and speed. Yet our R&D continues, and our reliability remains our edge.” He also noted, “We’ve adopted digital production systems for better traceability. Each filament is monitored by sensors, ensuring consistent quality standards.”
EXPORT, MARKET SHARE, AND FUTURE EXPECTATIONS
Zaxe currently exports 3D printers to more than twenty countries. Gezgen said, “Compared with Europe and America, we grow at about one-fourth their pace, yet Türkiye remains one of the most dynamic markets.” ABG Filament plans to establish a production facility in Germany to serve the European market directly, followed by a U.S. plant. Güner said, “We’re implementing on-site production to overcome logistical disadvantages in European exports.” Gezgen noted that Türkiye’s engineering strength, Customs Union benefits, and proximity to Europe make it a natural regional hub: “The digitalization of production, local spare-part manufacturing, and customization demand will accelerate 3D printing’s expansion. Türkiye can become not just a follower but a leader.”
TÜRKİYE CAN LEAD THE SECTOR
Türkiye’s proximity to Europe, strong engineering infrastructure, and growing R&D ecosystem position it as a future hub for 3D printer and filament production. However, achieving this vision requires scaling up local manufacturers, reducing raw material dependency, and strengthening state support for R&D. Sharing his vision for the future, Gezgen said, “In the next five years, we expect the fastest growth in education and industrial applications. Digitalized production, increased local spare-part manufacturing, and multi-material printing will drive progress. Türkiye has the potential to become not just a participant but a pioneer in 3D printing.” Local manufacturers such as Zaxe and ABG are proving that Türkiye is determined to become not only a user but a production hub shaping the future of this transformative technology.
