In April 2017, a new research center for 3D printing of highly complex metal components launched operations in Singapore, as part of an expansion project that will include two more production plants in Taiwan and Canada in August and the fall. At the same time, voestalpine, a global technology and capital goods group, is expanding metal powder production for additive manufacturing at its subsidiaries Böhler Edelstahl GmbH & Co KG, Austria, and Uddeholms AB, Sweden. These operations follow the successful start of the voestalpine Additive Manufacturing Center in Düsseldorf, Germany, in 2016.
In metal additive manufacturing—also known as 3D printing—digital design data is used to add material layer by layer in order to create highly complex parts with completely new forms and functionalities without any material loss. The base material is different types of processed metal powder. Metal-based additive manufacturing is expanding in sectors such as the aerospace, automotive, tool making, and medical industries that require very sophisticated custom products.
