Defense sector encouraged to implement 3D printing for potential cost savings of £110 million
In the heart of Portsmouth, Craig Pyser, the chairman of Additive Manufacturing UK (AMUK) and the CEO of AMufacture, a leading additive manufacturing company, is spearheading a revolution in the industry. AMufacture, specializing in advanced 3D printing technologies, caters to key sectors such as aerospace, automotive, medical, and marine.
Recently, AMufacture has made significant investments in the HP Multi Jet Fusion printer technology and automation, a move that underscores their commitment to staying at the forefront of additive manufacturing.
The aerospace industry is also embracing this technology. Brookhouse Aerospace has invested over half a million pounds in additional machinery to extend its engineering capabilities. Meanwhile, a consortium led by Honeywell has received UK government funding for a project aimed at revolutionising aerospace manufacturing using AI and additive manufacturing.
However, there's a critical knowledge gap between the industry and procurement teams commissioning large-scale defence contracts, according to Craig Pyser. Bridging this gap could potentially unlock annual benefits of £35.5m, the expert warns.
The defence sector stands to gain significantly from additive manufacturing. If 15% of the defence inventory were additively manufactured, the net financial benefit to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) would be £110m over the next 15 years, as suggested by a Defence Innovation Unit report.
UAV and drone components represent a particularly compelling application for additive manufacturing, offering tactical advantages. The US military has already demonstrated 3D-printed drone systems built and deployed in under 24 hours.
The MoD is recognising the potential of additive manufacturing. Its new Advanced Manufacturing Strategy highlights the technology as critical for strengthening supply chain resilience. The UK defence sector, however, seems to be lagging behind, failing to capitalise on transformative manufacturing capabilities that could potentially save £110m over the next 15 years.
The sector's unfamiliarity with modern 3D printing applications is blocking access to production-ready capabilities, experts say. As the MoD shifts from 'just-in-time' to 'just-in-case' supply chain models, there's an urgent need for education about modern additive manufacturing capabilities.
Elsewhere, Boeing has launched a new Engineering Center within the Cici & Hyatt Brown Center for Aerospace Technology at Embry‐Riddle Aeronautical University's Research Park. Dassault Systémes has also announced that the NCC has adopted the 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud and extended its use to other innovation centres within the UK High Value Manufacturing Catapult network.
The future of manufacturing in the UK defence sector seems to be inextricably linked with additive manufacturing. As more companies invest in this technology and the sector becomes more educated about its potential, we could witness a significant shift in the way defence equipment is manufactured, potentially saving millions and improving the resilience of our supply chains.
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