American engineering giant Emerson Process Management officially opened a new facility for additive manufacturing yesterday.

The plant in Clementi will use a process that involves making objects from digital models, a practice known as 3D printing.

Besides reducing waste and producing items for the market more quickly, it can also create complex parts that are challenging to manufacture with conventional methods.

The firm did not disclose the cost of the facility or how many people it will employ. It will produce customised parts for power plants, refineries and sectors such as precision engineering and aerospace.

Emerson targets Asia-Pacific customers which account for S$4.9 billion - around 22 per cent - of Emerson sales in 2015.

The firm, which has a similar facility in the United States, said in a statement that it has invested "more than US$80 million (S$112 million) in Singapore over the past five years, including the new plant".

It said the country is valued for its global links, strong logistics capabilities and high technology content, prompting it to select Singapore as its strategic and central hub for additive manufacturing technology and research.

Emerson's Asia-Pacific operations, which consist of 50 manufacturing facilities across the region, employ more than 35,000 people.

The firm has collaborated with Nanyang Technological University to set up a joint laboratory to co-develop technology and train people with the skills necessary to take advantage of the new job opportunities created by the facility.