Speech by Senior Minister of State for Transport Dr Lam Pin Min at the 6th Global Additive Manufacturing Summit

Dr Ho Chaw Sing, Managing Director of the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Centre, NAMIC

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Introduction

1.     Good morning. I am pleased to join you today at the 6th Global Additive Manufacturing Summit.

2.     You come from various industries, including marine offshore, maritime, aerospace, land transport, biomedical, construction and precision engineering. This diverse representation speaks of the cross-cutting potential of additive manufacturing.

Additive Manufacturing is Transforming Industries

3.     Additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, transforms digital blueprints into physical objects in a unique way. If you can design an object digitally, you can print it out, layer by layer, instead of carving it out from a block of material.

4.     Additive manufacturing is disrupting existing business models, by challenging the traditional methods of mass assembly and distribution.

a.     First, additive manufacturing allows for on-site and on-demand production. This translates into shorter lead times to market, as companies do not have to rely on centralised factories and elaborate assembly lines. Production facilities can be brought closer to the buyer. This cuts waiting time for buyers, and allows sellers to respond more nimbly to market trends.

b.     Second, customised products in small batches can be manufactured at a lower cost. Additive manufacturing can produce highly complex objects with intricate details, often with a single 3D printer. There is no need for expensive moulds. Only a digital file is needed.

5.     Additive manufacturing is already making an impact on many sectors, including healthcare and maritime which I am more familiar with.

Healthcare Sector

6.     In healthcare, additive manufacturing is helping doctors make better diagnoses. Local start-up Supercraft3D prints 3D models from medical images such as X-rays and MRI scans. Instead of looking at a 2D image, doctors can examine a life-like model of an organ or body part. Not only does it help doctors analyse complex medical conditions more effectively, it also provides patients with a clearer understanding of their anatomy.

7.     Another example is the use of bio-printed skin tissue. By replacing the use of animals, synthetic skin offers a more ethical approach to drug and cosmetics testing. Skin tissue can even be printed based on a patient’s cells, enabling more targeted and effective medical treatments.

Maritime Sector

8.     Additive manufacturing is also making waves in the maritime sector. With additive manufacturing, customised ship parts such as propellers previously produced by original manufacturers at specific locations can now be printed whenever and wherever needed, at ports-of-call or even on-board ships. Replacement of parts could even just be a case of adding on layers to worn-out parts. This can prolong asset lifespans, reduce inventory and lower the cost of maintenance.

Growing Additive Manufacturing in Singapore

9.     The Government is committed to growing additive manufacturing in Singapore. Several MNCs such as Emerson, Yamazaki Mazak and DNV-GL have chosen to anchor their regional centres of excellence for additive manufacturing in Singapore. Major original equipment manufacturers such as EOS and DMG-Mori Seiki, as well as speciality material suppliers Böhler Pacific and Evonik have also established their additive manufacturing innovation centres here.

10.    Today, we reach another significant milestone. I am pleased to announce that NAMIC will be ASTM International’s strategic partner for their Global Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence in Asia. ASTM International and NAMIC will work together to advance the standards, research and commercialisation of additive manufacturing technologies across various strategic sectors. This is a boost to our position as a regional leader in additive manufacturing.

11.    We can do more. For example, we can strengthen public-private partnerships. There is much scope for the public and private sectors to work together, to bring together a matching of expertise and resources, to develop ideas and bring them to fruition. On this note, I am happy to witness the signing of the MOUs later, which will establish important public-private partnerships in various sectors:

a.     First, MPA, NAMIC, PSA Corporation and 3D Metalforge will sign an MOU to develop additive manufacturing applications for port-related uses. Under the MOU, PSA Corporation and 3D MetalForge will develop the world’s first on-site rapid production facility focused on port applications. The facility will give us a first-mover advantage in this nascent market.

b.     Second, MPA, NAMIC and the Singapore Shipping Association will sign an MOU to explore the use of additive manufacturing for marine parts through a joint industry programme.

c.     To kick-start the joint industry programme, NAMIC will partner Ivaldi Group, a US-based digital manufacturing company with a presence in Singapore, to develop techniques that will improve the efficiency of 3D printing for the maritime industry.

d.     Last but not least, to advance additive manufacturing in consumer applications, NAMIC will enter into a strategic partnership with Wiivv Wearables Incorporated. Wiivv is a US-based start-up that prints custom-fit footwear by taking measurements with a smartphone. The partnership will also leverage on sports science research in Singapore to develop customised insoles that can enhance sports performance.

Conclusion

12.    This Summit provides the opportunity for us to exchange notes and share experiences in additive manufacturing. I encourage you to do so freely over the next two days. Talk about the opportunities out there and the challenges you face. Hopefully, new partnerships will emerge from the conversations.

13.    On this note, I wish everyone a fruitful conference. Thank you.