The Joint Industry Innovation Programme (JIP) on Additive Manufacturing (AM) was officially launched in conjunction with the 15th Anniversary Gala Dinner of AAIS on 21 Sep 2018. The JIP was organised by the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC) and the Association of Aerospace Industries (Singapore), in partnership with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Workforce Singapore (WSG). The aim of the programme was to accelerate the development of AM competencies for the aerospace industry in Singapore.

Participants included ST Engineering Aerospace and Accuron Aerospace (Singapore Aerospace Manufacturing), as well as global companies, Siemens, EOS and Arkema. These companies were expected to benefit from the development of proprietary AM know-how and certification processes. Specialists would also be trained on AM process technology, and the design of parts for AM.

Mr Philip Quek, President of AAIS, explained the significance of AM for the aerospace industry: “Additive Manufacturing (more popularly known as 3D Printing) is an emerging technology that has the potential to enable the restructuring of supply chains and to change the economics of manufacturing. Of interest to aerospace, is its ability to produce aerospace components of lighter weight. In some cases, components can be produced in a single piece, instead of involving the assembly of a few components. This can reduce the cost of manufacturing. There is also the potential to use Additive Manufacturing to produce parts on demand, instead of having to keep a stock of spare parts. Additive Manufacturing is also enabling new ways of repairing used aerospace parts. For Singapore, investing in Additive Manufacturing capabilities has the potential to renew the competitiveness of industry and reposition it for the future.”

“The programme is very well-timed, strengthening the competency and readiness of the Additive Manufacturing ecosystem in Singapore, providing solutions involving the complete value chain. This will further strengthen Singapore’s position as the centre of Aviation MRO services in this part of the world for many years to come,” said Mr Lim Tau Fuie, Chief Technology Officer of ST Engineering Aerospace.

“We are excited with the launch of the AAIS-NAMIC Joint Industry Innovation Programme for the aerospace segment. We strongly believe this is a crucial step in the right direction, that will help accelerate the knowledge and experience base of advanced additive manufacturing in the local ecosystem, and continue Singapore’s status as a world class aerospace MRO Hub,” said Mr Benjamin Moey, VP Additive Manufacturing (Asia Pacific), Siemens.

“The industries of the future will require capabilities in enabling technologies. Additive Manufacturing is arguably the only technology that can elevate our workforce and industries to innovate better, differentiating themselves from the competition to offer on-demand, light-weighted products and solutions with generative designs using advanced materials, providing an opportunity to transform their business models and in the process contribute to decarbonisation efforts,” says Dr Ho Chaw Sing, NAMIC Managing Director.