The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has revealed development plans for the Eastern region of the UK’s capital city. The plans include the largest 3D printing center in the UK. With this development, Khan hopes to create tens of thousands of jobs and homes by 2050.
The plans will expand the capital of England’s creative prowess along the 40 mile stretch of the Thames Estuary. London’s creative and cultural industries already generate an estimated $40 billion to the economy each year according to Sadiq Khan.
The new 3D printing center will be located in Silvertown, a district in West Ham. The area is currently home to the Millennium Mills building. This derelict former flour mill will be renovated as part of the development project.
British 3D printed initiatives
With this announcement, the United Kingdom continues to encourage the use of additive manufacturing. The British Government’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, are the primary motivators of such adoption and have supported many projects recently with funding.
These include the PostPro3D technology developed in Sheffield. British additive manufacturing company, AMT, are developing an automated post-processing method and are being supported by Government funding of $782,000.
Innovate UK have also funded research into metal additive manufacturing recently. The University of Nottingham have been studying the use of 3D printed functional lattices for automotive components. While elsewhere in the North of England, the British Government are advancing the adoption of Industry 4.0 with over half a billion in funding.
East London development plans
Other proposals as part of Khan’s plans include a theater studio in Bexley, art center in Woolwich, a gaming hub at the University of Essex and an industrial research laboratory in Kent. The 3D printing center is listed as part of a state-of-the-art facility for manufacturing large artworks and sculptures.
Mayor Khan says,
London leads the way across the whole of the creative economy – from fashion to film, design to gaming, performing arts to the visual arts. It’s only right that we build on this success and transform the Thames Estuary into a world-class center for creative production – leading global innovation, developing the talent of the future and cultivating world-changing ideas.
Don’t forget to make your nominations for the 1st Annual 3D Printing Industry Awards. Nominations are closing soon.
Featured image shows the Silvertown development project. Image via Silvertown Partnership.
