/EINPresswire.com/ -- CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA--(Marketwired - August 15, 2016) - SmarTech Publishing, the leading supplier of industry analysis and forecasts for the 3D printing/additive manufacturing sector, has just published "3D-Printed Polymers: A Patent Landscape Analysis - 2016."

This report is targeted at IP professionals in materials firms as well as those at 3D printing equipment and service companies. It is also aimed at patent attorneys, engineers, investment banks and others who need a comprehensive overview of 3D-printed polymer patents.

SmarTech Publishing believes that understanding the patent landscape will build competitive advantage for purchasers of this report. Further, the report will enable firms to secure IP in 3D-printed polymers areas that are less populated, and also avoid patent disputes in the future.

For more details on this report see: https://www.smartechpublishing.com/patent-reports/3d-printed-polymers-a-patent-landscape-analysis-2016. Note: SmarTech has also published a similar report on patents in 3D-printed metals https://www.smartechpublishing.com/patent-reports/3d-printed-metals-a-patent-landscape-analysis-2016.

About the report:

SmarTech Publishing has already published widely on the growing market opportunities available in 3D printing with polymers. This patent report has two components (1) An extensive patent database covering all aspects of additive manufacturing with polymers and (2) A 50-page granular analysis, commentary and guide on the 3D printed patent environment compiled by SmarTech Publishing's in-house IP attorney.

This report is based on an extensive search of relevant patents and patent applications published after December 1, 1995 from the US and WO patent databases to identify a broad, yet relevant patent landscape related to polymer materials used for 3D printing. This report -- which is the only one of its kind -- covers both process and materials patents and answers such vital questions as:

• What patents have been granted and what patent applications have been filed?
• What are the top cited patents?
• How many patents are being filed each year?
• Who are the most significant inventors, researchers and companies active in the field?
• Which companies are making the earliest patent grants?
• What patent families are already claimed and where are the gaps in the IP landscape where new IP rights may be available?
• What is the geographic distribution and technological class distribution of these patents?

3DP patent database: The extensive patent database of 3D-printed polymers included with this report is based on searches across patents and published patent applications from the US and WO patent databases published after December 1, 1995. It provides a summary of all relevant patents with details of each patent including:

• Patent/publication number
• Assignee
• Title
• Abstract
• Publication date
• Status of patent
• PTO
• Priority country
• Priority years
• Inventor.

Also included is a technical categorization of filed patent applications and granted patents and an identification of patent/patent application families. This database is provided in an Excel spreadsheet so that the purchasers of this report can perform his or her own analytics with the data.

Commentary and guidance: This 50-page section of the report contains SmarTech's insider perspective on the patent scene for 3D-printed polymers and where it is headed. Coverage includes:

• The main filing trends for patents in the 3D-printed polymer sector.
• Our thoughts on where patent filings are moving
• The key areas of opportunity for new patent applications in this space
• Areas of patent saturation
• Areas that are key for licensing
• Patent-related implications for new and emerging directions in the 3D-printed polymer space.

From the report:

• Thus far, the year with the greatest number of patent application filings is 2014, with 165 patent references, which represents a 14.5% share of patent references relevant to the Subject Field. Analysis shows a gradual increase in the number of patent application filings from the year 1999 to the year 2014, followed by a slight decline in the year 2015.
• Ink-jet printing is the most heavily cited method of fabrication, with 187 patent references. Inkjet printing is followed by Stereolithography (SLA) and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) with 176 and 166 citations, respectively.
• Acrylate polymer is the most heavily cited polymer material in 3D patents, with 208 patent references. Acrylate polymer is followed by Polyamide and Polyethylene, with 199 and 192 citations, respectively.
• Granular analysis reveals that IPC classification A61F, related to medical equipment, has a high level of patent protection by the identified Key Assignees. In the aerospace sector where additive manufacturing is of growing importance, Boeing owns 11 patents in the Subject Field.

If interested in receiving a quote or purchasing this report, please contact missy@smartechpublishing.com.

About SmarTech Publishing
SmarTech Markets Publishing is the leading provider of industry analysis for the 3D printing/additive manufacturing sector. Our coverage provides insight for those companies offering 3D printing equipment, materials, services, and software, as well as companies who operate in industries where 3D printing will begin to play a role in the near future.

See more: www.smartechpublishing.com

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Contact:
Lawrence Gasman
lawrence@smartechpublishing.com
434-872-0450

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