Singapore launches new center for 3D printing

Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) S Iswaran on Tuesday launched Singapore Center for 3D Printing, a research body of Nanyang Technological University (NTU) which will conduct research and develop innovations for manufacturing technologies and precision engineering.

3D printing, or Additive Manufacturing (AM), is the way that three-dimensional objects are "printed" layer by layer by a machine. The cutting-edge manufacturing technology has emerged from the hobbyist arena, and is fast becoming a viable alternative to conventional manufacturing processes in a range of industries.

S Iswaran noted that the launch of the Singapore Center for 3D Printing strengthens the development of the country's public-sector AM capabilities, which will help to position Singapore's manufacturing sectors for the future.

"The center will consolidate NTU's efforts and strengths in training AM postgraduate talent, and enabling AM visualization and prototyping activities. This will help to further develop AM capabilities in collaboration with industry partners." said S Iswaran.

At the launch, NTU signed four new agreements with ST Engineering, Keppel Offshore and Marine Technology Center, Sembcorp Design and Construction, and Emerson Process Management. They will collaborate and undertake research in 3D printing.

The newly launched center is supported by Singapore's National Research Foundation under its Medium-Sized Center Grant at a funding of 42 million Singapore dollars (30.7 million U.S. dollars) over 10 years. It also attracted another 41 million Singapore dollars (29.9 million U.S. dollars) from various industry and government partners. Enditem