Home-grown company 3D Metalforge Pte Ltd unveiled its first end-to-end metal additive manufacturing centre (AMC) on 17 May 2017. Two project collaboration agreements were signed at the launch by Trade and Industry Minister (Industry) S Iswaran.
One is with NAMIC and SUTD’s digital manufacturing and design centre, to develop and commercialise hybrid wired-arc additive manufacturing technology. This technology uses cutting-edge robotics, plasma and machine technology to deliver a faster and more cost-effective 3D metal printing solution, offering 10 times faster printing speeds, as well as feed material of up to 5 times cheaper. The other collaboration is with SIMTECH to commercially develop Singapore’s first large-format laser aided additive manufacturing (LAAM) technology for 3D printing for industrial applications.
Mr Iswaran, who witnessed the signings, said: “To capitalise on the opportunities arising from additive manufacturing, it is important that our companies continue to upgrade their innovation capabilities and forge collaborative partnerships with other stakeholders in the ecosystem.”
As part of the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2020 plan, the government is committing S$3.2 billion between 2016 and 2020 to develop technological capabilities in the advanced manufacturing and engineering domain.
Source: The Business Times