Materials Science

Siemens to invest £27 million in 3D printing

Siemens  plans to make a £27 million investment in a new manufacturing facility for Worcester, UK-based Materials Solutions Ltd, its additive manufacturing specialist. The new building, set to open in September 2018, will enable it to increase the number of its 3D printing machines from 15 to 50 over the next five years and is also expected to support the creation of around 55 new jobs. The new facility will also be a focal point for collaboration between Materials Solutions and the UK Siemens Digital Factory division.

Siemens acquired a majority stake in Materials Solutions Ltd in 2016. The company uses selective laser melting technology to make metal parts and has grown its business considerably over the past 2 years.

“This significant investment underlines our belief that there is huge potential for innovation and growth within the additive manufacturing sector,” said Juergen Maier, Siemens UK CEO. “It is also the next step towards achieving our ambition of pioneering the industrialization of 3D printing and demonstrates how we are leading the way for the fourth industrial revolution.”

The new facility will provide the company with the space and scope needed to continue to innovate for specialist and demanding industries, and to achieve a shift in the perception of 3D printing from being a technology associated with prototyping to a viable option for the serial production of additively manufactured parts.

Phil Hatherley, General Manager of Materials Solutions, commented “We were incredibly proud to have achieved a world first last year – the production of a successfully tested 3D printed gas turbine blade.”