EU initiative to help small manufacturers realize full potential of 3D printing technologies

PHOTO CREDIT: ©MarinaGrigorivna, Shutterstock

Although it’s a relatively new technology, additive manufacturing (AM) has seen rapid progress in recent years.

Thanks to advancements in this field, 3D-printed parts have already started moving from the R&D phase to production with applications in the aerospace, transport, medical, and energy sectors. While larger manufacturers are increasingly benefiting from AM, small manufacturing enterprises (SMEs) are being left behind.

Addressing this challenge, the EU-funded AMable (AdditiveManufacturABLE) project is helping SMEs across all stages to develop ideas toward a final product. It’s also creating a digital framework to provide access to European AM knowledge.

According to the Community Research and Development Information Service (CORDIS), the ongoing project was launched to speed up the adoption of AM technologies by overcoming obstacles related to lack of skilled human resources, access to know-how, equipment, infrastructure, and markets. The AM support services are provided through an open source and application programming interface-based digital marketplace.

AMable has recently opened a new call for proposals to generate innovative ideas for functional products that use AM technologies. Its first open call was launched in 2018. In addition to financial support, the project will offer SMEs opportunities for collaboration, training, and experimentation.

According to a guide for applicants on the project website, AMable will finance businesses that use 3D printing in experimentation, including short-term feasibility studies and best-practice experiments.

As noted in the same guide, the project also offers AM-related services through its “services arena” to support experimentation teams in designing their products for additive manufacturing.