America’s Small Factories are Still Waiting for Work

Join 3D Printing Industry’s online AMA Software event on 22 October 2026 to explore how AI and software are changing manufacturing, with speakers from NVIDIA, Autodesk and Materialise.

American manufacturers are accumulating orders while many smaller factories struggle to find enough work. In Xometry’s 2027 Manufacturing Outlook, 77% of manufacturers report larger production backlogs than a year ago. Yet 44% of businesses with annual revenue below $50m are operating at less than 70% capacity. Among those turning over more than $100m, the proportion is 16%.

For suppliers considering another machine purchase, those figures deserve attention. Much of the smaller companies’ existing equipment has room to run. Buyers with growing order books may have reasons for leaving it idle.

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