Largest 3D printing factory in SEA opens in Singapore

SINGAPORE — The largest commercial 3D printing facility in South-east Asia opened in Singapore today (Sept 28), capitalising on the rising demand for such services.

Launched by NASDAQ-listed ­Ultra Clean Asia Pacific (UCT), which develops and supplies systems for the semiconductor industry, the UCT Additive Manufacturing Centre will target business sectors such as the aerospace, dental and medical industries. It will also offer consumer services.

The centre, which cost more than S$5 million to establish, has 15 sets of 3D printers. There are ­12 ­employees at the facility at present, with plans for that number to double by next year, UCT said.

“The establishment of UCT’s ­additive manufacturing facility ­reflects Singapore’s progression ­towards advanced manufacturing and engineering,” said Mr Lim Kok Kiang, Assistant Managing Director of the Singapore Economic Development Board, which supports the facility.

“Companies can tap on Singapore’s base of skilled engineering talent, ­industry-focused public research and development ecosystem … to ­develop better products and services to serve their growing Asian customer base.”

The Singapore Government in 2013 announced plans to set aside S$500 million over five years to support a “future of manufacturing” programme, which includes 3D printing. 

Such 3D printing functions much like conventional 2D printing. But instead of printing a flat image, a 3D printer extrudes material through a nozzle, layer by layer, to create a physical ­object. 

Although it has been around since the late 1980s, technological improvements have made the service more affordable, driving up demand. 

In Singapore, ­retail shops have reported ­increased requests from consumers seeking to print products, from figurines to jewellery.

Mr Lavi Lev, senior vice-president of the Asia Division at UCT, added that 3D printing allows individuals and companies to manufacture parts with no capital equipment investment. 

“It allows large corporations to ­increase their R&D pace through rapid prototyping. In particular, the medical and aerospace sectors are ­using 3D printing extensively,” he said.

For instance, he explained, if someone breaks a bone, they can take an X-ray or CT scan of it, and 3D print a bone implant.