Additive manufacturing is gaining significant traction among Russian industrial firms, demonstrating growth even in a challenging economic climate. Between January and October 2025, the domestic sector broadened its application of 3D printing – producing critical components for the aerospace industry, constructing social infrastructure, and fabricating urban hardscape elements. A particularly promising area is the creation of urban fixtures known as small architectural forms (SAFs), where technological advances are unlocking new possibilities for urban design while dramatically improving production efficiency, slashing both the time and cost required to create unique structures.
Market growth backed by government strategy
Russia’s additive manufacturing market continues to outpace global growth rates in 2025. According to forecasts from the Russian Association for the Development of Additive Technologies (AATD.ru), the domestic market could more than triple by 2027, reaching 46 billion rubles. Key growth drivers include import substitution initiatives, state support programs, and demand from major industrial holdings. Further impetus comes from the national additive technologies development strategy through 2030 and the Production and Automation Systems national project. These frameworks include support measures for industry and education, as well as targeted subsidies for high-priority sectors.
Ambitious plans are also underway in construction. The industry aims to 3D print approximately one million square meters of housing by 2030. The Ministry of Construction highlights that construction 3D printing can help address the sector’s current labor shortages and spur its overall development. Currently, about ten Russian manufacturers are active in producing construction-grade 3D printers.
Pioneering projects in construction
The first ten months of 2025 saw the completion of several landmark construction 3D printing projects across Russia. In the Republic of Tatarstan, the country’s first public cultural facility built with 3D printing has been completed and received positive feedback from state experts. Built for Tatneft in Malbagush, Aznakayevsky District, the Mella Community Center stands roughly 10 meters tall and spans over 1,600 square meters. It was constructed using equipment from Skolkovo-based companies. The site employed three specialized printers designed for erecting tall structures on prepared foundations, marking a new phase of large-scale 3D-printed construction in Russia.
The economic efficiency of the technology is becoming the key driver of its adoption. Experts estimate that the cost of “printed” housing could range from RUB 50,000 to 75,000 ($630 to $940) per square meter, and this is for a “turnkey shell.” However, the further advancement of this technology hinges on the need to increase the number of producers of specialized 3D printing mixes for construction.
Production of small architectural forms
From large-scale construction to urban design – this seems to be the logical evolution of 3D printing application in Russia. One promising direction is the production of small architectural forms (SAF), where the technology reveals its potential in creating complex, textured designs that are unattainable with traditional manufacturing methods. Items printed from 3D concrete are visually original and durable.
3D printing technologies enable various levels of intricate weaves and patterns, giving landscaped spaces a unique character. The material retains its presentable appearance for years thanks to its resistance to UV rays, moisture, and mechanical stress. It can be said that additive technologies allow creating unique urban design objects with high aesthetic and functional characteristics that are unachievable using traditional production methods.
The furniture industry confirms that this direction is quite promising. As noted in industry reviews, conventional furniture manufacturers are also integrating 3D printing into the production of kitchen units and furniture facades using thermoplastics.
Prospects for additive technologies
Despite notable progress, the development of 3D printing in Russia faces several challenges. Experts note a persistent dependence on imported software and some components, although domestic solutions are gradually emerging. Other problems include the low speed of mass-producing individual elements compared to traditional methods, the need for more stable and expensive materials, and limitations on the size of printed objects. The high entry threshold – associated with the need to reconfigure existing production chains, train personnel, and master new software — also slows the technology’s adoption.
Nevertheless, the industry’s prospects can be assessed as optimistic. The integration of artificial intelligence into additive manufacturing, the development of domestic 3D printing technologies, and increased investment in equipment are opening new opportunities for the market. The mass adoption of these technologies will be facilitated by the standardization of processes and a reduction in equipment costs through turnkey solutions. Given the plans for the large-scale implementation of 3D printing in construction and the growing interest from industrial holdings, it is safe to predict that additive technologies will gain increasing popularity in Russian manufacturing. They are set to change not only the industry but also our living environment – from large-scale construction projects to elegant small architectural forms that are creating a new aesthetic language for urban spaces.
By Arseny Kiselev, Commercial Director of the Novalur Small Architectural Forms Plant