United States Material Testing Market By Type (Universal Testing Machines, Servohydraulic Testing Machines, Hardness Test Equipment, Others), By End-Use Industry (Automotive, Construction, Educational Institutions, Others), By Material (Metal, Plastics, Rubber And Elastomer, Ceramics And Composites, Others), By Region, Competition, Forecast and Opportunities, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 2.01 BIllion
CAGR (2026-2031)	3.21%
Fastest Growing Segment	Ceramics And Composites
Largest Market	Midwest
Market Size (2031)	USD 2.43 BIllion

Market Overview

The United States Material Testing Market will grow from USD 2.01 BIllion in 2025 to USD 2.43 BIllion by 2031 at a 3.21% CAGR. The United States Material Testing Market encompasses the equipment and services utilized to evaluate the mechanical, physical, and chemical properties of raw materials and components, ensuring compliance with rigorous safety and regulatory standards. The market is primarily supported by the expansion of the aerospace and automotive manufacturing sectors, which demand strict quality control, alongside a substantial increase in civil infrastructure projects requiring durability assessments. According to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, in 2024, the total value of overall transportation construction work was projected to reach $214 billion, indicating a robust pipeline of engineering activities that necessitate continuous material validation.

However, a significant challenge impeding market expansion is the acute shortage of skilled technical personnel capable of operating complex testing instrumentation and interpreting analytical data. As testing protocols become more intricate, the industry struggles to recruit and retain qualified technicians at a rate that matches the growing operational demand. This workforce gap restricts the capacity of testing laboratories to scale their services and risks delaying critical project timelines, thereby creating a bottleneck for sustained growth within the sector.

Key Market Drivers

The expansion of U.S. infrastructure and construction activities acts as a primary catalyst for the material testing market, necessitating rigorous evaluation of structural components like steel, concrete, and asphalt. As federal initiatives prioritize the rehabilitation of aging transportation networks, demand surges for testing services that verify material durability and load-bearing capacities against safety standards. This influx of civil engineering projects ensures a steady revenue stream for laboratories conducting geotechnical and construction materials testing. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, in October 2024, the administration announced $62 billion in Fiscal Year 2025 funding for formula programs to support road, bridge, and tunnel projects across the nation, directly fueling the need for extensive material validation.

Concurrently, the growth of electric vehicle (EV) and automotive lightweighting initiatives is reshaping market requirements, shifting focus towards advanced polymers, composites, and battery materials. Manufacturers are heavily investing in R&D to enhance range and safety, driving the need for specialized testing of high-performance lightweight materials and battery integrity under extreme conditions. According to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, in its 2024 report, automakers and battery producers have committed nearly $125 billion to build U.S.-based facilities since 2019, indicating a massive scale-up in production capacity that requires continuous quality assurance. To support such extensive industrial evolution, raw material verification remains critical across the broader manufacturing landscape; according to the American Chemistry Council, in December 2024, capital spending on U.S. chemical industry projects rose by 4.1% to reach $34 billion in 2024, underscoring the robust demand for material characterization services.

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Key Market Challenges

The shortage of skilled technical personnel poses a tangible risk to the operational efficiency and expansion of the United States Material Testing Market. As regulatory standards evolve and require higher levels of precision, laboratories rely heavily on qualified technicians to operate specialized equipment and interpret complex results. When these roles remain unfilled, testing facilities cannot operate at full capacity, leading to significant operational backlogs. This inability to scale operations effectively forces laboratories to extend lead times or limit their intake of new contracts, directly constraining revenue potential.

This workforce deficit creates a bottleneck that delays validation for critical infrastructure and manufacturing projects. The scope of this issue is reflected in broader industrial labor trends which directly impact testing service providers. According to the National Association of Manufacturers, in the first quarter of 2024, approximately 65 percent of manufacturing leaders cited the inability to attract and retain a quality workforce as their primary business challenge. Since the material testing sector recruits from the same limited pool of technical talent, this persistent shortage restricts the industry from meeting the rising demand for quality assurance services.

Key Market Trends

Specialized Validation for Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printed Materials has emerged as a critical requirement as the technology transitions from prototyping to full-scale production in the aerospace and defense sectors. Unlike traditional manufacturing, 3D printing introduces unique variables such as porosity and anisotropy that necessitate new, rigorous qualification protocols to ensure structural integrity under stress. The industry is currently mobilizing to meet aggressive federal targets for certifying these advanced components, creating a surge in demand for laboratories capable of executing high-precision mechanical and fatigue testing. According to TCT Magazine, December 2025, in the 'NDAA: DoD prohibited from using or procuring additive manufacturing systems' report, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 mandates the U.S. Department of Defense to aim to qualify and approve not fewer than 1,000,000 additively manufactured parts by 2027, underscoring the massive scale of testing required.

The Growth of Outsourced Third-Party Material Testing Services is simultaneously reshaping the market landscape, driven by the consolidation of independent laboratories and the increasing capital cost of advanced instrumentation. Manufacturers are progressively moving away from maintaining in-house testing facilities to rely on external partners who offer broader regulatory expertise and scalability. This shift has triggered a wave of strategic acquisitions by major Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) firms seeking to secure specialized U.S. capabilities and expand their service portfolios. According to SGS, July 2025, in the 'SGS Has Signed an Agreement to Acquire ATS' press release, the company agreed to purchase U.S.-based Applied Technical Services for an enterprise value of $1.325 billion, a strategic move projected to add approximately $460 million in annual sales and significantly reinforce its testing infrastructure across North America.

Segmental Insights

The ceramics and composites segment represents the fastest-growing area within the United States material testing market due to rising adoption in the aerospace and automotive sectors. Manufacturers increasingly utilize these advanced materials to enhance fuel efficiency and structural durability while meeting rigorous safety standards. Consequently, the demand for specialized testing services has surged to ensure compliance with strict regulations enforced by the Federal Aviation Administration. This trend reflects the critical need for validating material integrity under extreme conditions, driving substantial expansion in this specific market segment.

Regional Insights

The Midwest United States maintains a dominant position in the material testing market due to the high concentration of automotive and heavy industrial manufacturing sectors. This region, encompassing key production hubs like Michigan, drives consistent demand for the evaluation of metals and composites to ensure structural integrity. The market strength is further supported by the presence of numerous testing laboratories that assist manufacturers in complying with rigorous standards from organizations such as ASTM International. Consequently, the reliance of original equipment manufacturers on local testing services to verify material properties sustains the regional leadership.

Recent Developments

• In November 2025, Intertek Group completed the acquisition of Professional Testing Laboratory, LLC, a specialized provider of testing services for the flooring industry based in Dalton, Georgia. This strategic addition enhanced the company's Total Quality Assurance value proposition in North America by incorporating a facility with extensive capabilities in chemical analysis, flammability testing, and physical performance evaluation. The acquisition aligned with the organization's goal to support manufacturers in meeting evolving regulatory requirements and consumer quality expectations. By integrating this United States-based laboratory, the company strengthened its ability to deliver comprehensive material testing solutions to the growing construction and interior products market.
• In September 2025, Instron launched a new 100 kN table model for its 6800 and 3400 Series universal testing systems, directly addressing the industry need for high-force capacity in space-constrained laboratories. The newly released equipment enabled facilities to perform rigorous mechanical testing on high-strength materials, such as metals and composites, without requiring the larger footprint typical of floor-standing models. This innovation provided enhanced flexibility for quality assurance and research and development teams, allowing them to meet stringent industry standards like ASTM and ISO within a compact form factor. The system was designed to operate using standard electrical outlets, simplifying installation into existing test environments.
• In October 2024, Element Materials Technology expanded its footprint in the United States by acquiring ISS Inspection Services, a prominent provider of non-destructive testing (NDT) and inspection solutions. The acquisition integrated the target company's expertise in the aerospace, defense, and energy sectors into the acquirer's existing portfolio, enhancing its service offerings for safety-critical applications. This strategic move allowed the company to offer a broader range of testing and certification services, particularly for clients requiring specialized inspection of advanced materials and components. The transaction strengthened the firm's position in the North American market by adding multiple accredited laboratories and a skilled technical workforce to its network.
• In May 2024, Shimadzu Scientific Instruments introduced the LCMS-TQ RX series, a new line of high-performance liquid chromatograph mass spectrometers designed to enhance stability and sensitivity in laboratory testing. The United States subsidiary of the analytical instrumentation manufacturer developed these systems to support robust chemical analysis across various sectors, including material characterization and environmental safety. The launch featured integrated hardware and software technologies aimed at reducing operating costs and ensuring reliable results in challenging environments. This development underscored the company's commitment to advancing analytical capabilities for quality control and research applications within the broader materials testing landscape, providing laboratories with improved data reliability.

Key Market Players

• Mistras Group, Inc.
• Mitutoyo Corporation
• Tüv Süd America, Inc.
• Ametek Inc.
• Admet Inc.
• Mts Systems Corporation
• Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Applied Test Systems Llc

By Type	By End-Use Industry	By Material	By Region
Universal Testing Machines Servohydraulic Testing Machines Hardness Test Equipment Others	Automotive Construction Educational Institutions Others	Metal Plastics Rubber And Elastomer Ceramics And Composites Others	Northeast Midwest South West

Report Scope:

In this report, the United States Material Testing Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• United States Material Testing Market, By Type:

• Universal Testing Machines
• Servohydraulic Testing Machines
• Hardness Test Equipment
• Others

• United States Material Testing Market, By End-Use Industry:

• Automotive
• Construction
• Educational Institutions
• Others

• United States Material Testing Market, By Material:

• Metal
• Plastics
• Rubber And Elastomer
• Ceramics And Composites
• Others

• United States Material Testing Market, By Region:

• Northeast
• Midwest
• South
• West