The Indian 3D scanning market is anticipated to reach $381 million in 2025. There are several types of 3D scanners available in the Indian market such as structured light scanner, laser scanners, and optical scanners. These 3D scanners are used in various application in industries, including architecture and engineering, healthcare, aerospace and defense, industrial and manufacturing, automotive, tunnel and mining, others such as power and energy.
In architecture and engineering, 3D scanning enables creating detailed digital models accurately and efficiently. Architectures and engineers can collect permanent records of structures using 3D scanners, which can be used immediately or kept for later use. This is extremely useful in cases when old structures need restoration, since it allows architects and engineers to have a complete grasp of the structure and design of the building. Additionally, in the healthcare sector, dental 3D scanning, also known as intraoral scanners, enables dentists to create an accurate three-dimensional image of the mouth and teeth, simplifying diagnosis and treatment planning. Owing to such use cases, 3D scanners is in huge demand in India.
Key Drivers of the Indian 3D Scanning Market
Technological Innovations and Advancement
Several new innovative solutions and advancements are being integrated in the market in 3D scanners. For instance, there has been a shift toward cloud-based 3D scan processing. This allows for quicker and more effective processing of huge datasets, as well as remote collaboration on scans. One example of such innovation in 3D scanner by a company called SHINING 3D. In September 2022, SHINING 3D, a global leader in 3D technologies ranging from 3D scanning to 3D printing, launched the EINSTAR 3D scanner, a low-cost portable 3D scanner designed to make high-quality 3D data capture accessible to anyone. Using three infrared VCSEL projectors, two stereo depth cameras, and one RGB color camera, EINSTAR can instantly record steady and clear details while producing high-quality data with color texture. It is the ideal tool for getting started with 3D scanning or modeling fast and effectively. It quickly and easily captures high density point cloud data with point distances as small as 0.1mm. The product is available in India at INR 1.3 lakh.
Growing End-User Industries
3D scanners are used in almost every significant industry, including automotive, manufacturing, and others. Hence, these industries’ growth also positively affects 3D scanners market. For instance, according to India Brand Equity Foundation, the total number of passenger vehicles, two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and quadricycles produced was 1,557,238. Several investments are also initiated by governments to promote the growth of the industry. For instance, in September 2021, the Indian government announced a PLI scheme for automobiles and auto components totaling INR 25,938 crore ($3.5 billion). Additionally, to promote Make in India, the Defence Ministry announced a tender of INR 50,000 crore ($6.7 billion) in July 2021 for the construction of six conventional submarines under Project-75 India.
Expansions and Innovations by Major Market Players
The Indian 3D scanning market has significant contributors such as Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd., Shakti Pumps Ltd., Grundfos Pumps Corp., Bright Solar Ltd., C.R.I. Pumps Private Ltd. and SunEdison, Inc., among others. These players assist in the market’s growth with the launch of new and innovative 3D scanners and through collaborations and investments. Some of the recent developments in the market include-
• In January 2023, Abdul Latif Jameel Health announced a new distribution partnership with iSono Health, a medical technology firm based in San Francisco, California, to transform breast care through iSono Health’s ATUSA that uses automated imaging and AI. The patented and FDA-approved ATUSA device is a small ultrasound scanner that obtains 3D images of the whole breast in approximately two minutes using automated scanning. Abdul Latif Jameel Health will distribute the ATUSA scanner throughout the Middle East and North Africa, Africa (South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria), South Asia, (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal), and Southeast Asian territories (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, and Brunei).
• In December 2022, India's Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) announced plans to enforce the installation of 3D computer tomography (CT) scanners at airports across the country, removing the need for travellers to remove electronic gadgets from their hand luggage. The CT scanners, which would provide a three-dimensional image of the things in hand luggage, will speed up airport security check-in.