Singapore manufacturing bureau 3D Metalforge has opened the first end-to-end metal 3D printing facility in the country.
The Additive Manufacturing Centre (AMC) was opened by CEO Matthew Waterhouse, alongside Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr S. Iswaran.
The metal facility has been developed as a result of a SGD $2.5 million ($1.8 million USD) investment.
End-to-end facility
The facility will serve many different industries, including marine and offshore oil and gas, engineering and construction industries. 3D Metalforge intends to now expand the business into other locations in the next few years including Middle Eastern regions such as Dubai and Qatar.
Matthew Waterhouse CEO of 3D Metalforge said,
Singapore’s strategic location, pro-business environment, high-technology infrastructure and its intense focus on the additive manufacturing sector to support our economic transformation to Industry 4.0 makes it a logical choice for us to set up our AMC here,
Waterhouse believes the new facility displays “3D Metalforge’s commitment as a homegrown company to deliver end-to-end 3D metal printing solutions to our customers.” North American company Sintavia has similarly announced plans this month to develop a new end-to-end metal 3D printing facility in Florida.
![(L-R) Matthew Waterhouse, Dr John Yong, Director of Industry Development Office of SIMTech, Minister S Iswaran, Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Ho Chaw Sing, Managing Director of NAMIC and Dr Lim Keng Hui, Director of Digital Manufacturing and Design Centre (DManD), SUTD (Singapore University of Technology and Design)]. Photo via CEAsia.](https://3dprintingindustry.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/3D-metalforge.png)
Singapore’s additive initiatives
The new facility has been supported by the Singapore government’s $2.3 billion (USD) investment into advanced manufacturing through its Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2020 program.
The company also signed agreements with the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC) and Singapore University of Technology and Design’s (SUTD) Digital Manufacturing and Design Centre.
Laser Aided Additive Manufacturing (LAAM)
3D Metalforge is also partnered with Singapore research facility SIMTech to utilize Laser Aided Additive Manufacturing (LAAM) technology. The process enables large parts to be fabricated using a large print bed in combination with powdered feedstock. 3D Metalforge will further develop the LAAM process at its new AMC by applying it to commercial production. The bureau will similarly develop the Hybrid Wired Arc Additive Manufacturing (H-WAAM) developed by NAMIC and SUTD at the new facility.
Other recent research stemming from Singapore has explored the durability of 4D printed structures.
To receive the latest 3D printing news, subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on twitter and like us on Facebook.
Featured image shows CEO Matthew Waterhouse, (centre) and Mr S Iswaran Minister of Trade and Industry (right), at the opening. Photo via 3D Metalforge.
