SINGAPORE - Local companies that use 3D printing for manufacturing now account for 40 per cent of the Asean market, which is expected to grow to US$100 billion (S$136 billion) by 2025.

Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan said on Friday that this specialist segment, also known as the additive manufacturing sector, has expanded to around 200 companies, growing by more than 30 per cent from two years ago.

Additive manufacturing can unlock the doors to sustainability, supply chain resilience and innovation, said Mr Tan, adding that there are even more opportunities to develop solutions, as well as attract new companies that will create an impact across other sectors.

To foster the rapid growth of this new technique, there are plans to launch the Digital Design Innovation Centre (DDIC) next year, as well as an academy to train professionals and technicians.

Members of the public can apply to join the academy spearheaded by the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (Namic), which is one of 14 national industry platforms under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research.

Namic chief executive Ho Chaw Sing told The Straits Times that the motivation for establishing DDIC was to “onboard small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have no capacity or digital savviness on their own, helping them to take that first step towards digital transformation”.

Although start-ups and large enterprises can also make use of the design centre, it is there to support SMEs because they employ the bulk of the Singapore workforce.

Helping SMEs build up both their knowledge and capabilities in additive manufacturing will significantly boost the value added to their products.

The academy would not only focus on the 3D-printing skills but also help to develop the entire value chain, providing job accreditation and certification across the entire spectrum of qualifications needed to meet the industry’s demand for skilled manpower, said Dr Ho.

Looking ahead, there is tremendous growth potential for the sector, Dr Ho said, given that additive manufacturing made up less than 0.1 per cent of global mass production of about US$16.3 trillion in 2022.

“Even if 3D-printed manufacturing grows to just 1 per cent of total world output, the opportunity is massive.”

This is the key reason Namic is encouraging the ecosystem to take root in Singapore, with the organisation having supported more than 150 local and foreign start-ups since 2015.

Of these, more than 40 additive manufacturing start-ups are home-grown, with Mr Tan saying “we will continue supporting these companies to innovate and expand”.

One example is Pelagus 3D, a newly formed joint venture matchmade by Namic between German industrial engineering conglomerate ThyssenKrupp AG and Norwegian global maritime group Wilhelmsen.

The company is helmed by chief executive Kenlip Ong, an alumnus of Namic, who believes that the maritime market for 3D-printed parts is a multimillion-dollar one, even if just up to 15 per cent of all existing parts are suitable for this production technique.

He said that there are three key advantages that additive manufacturing provides – faster lead times, better and more efficient performance, and a means to overcoming obsolescence, given the long lifespan of a ship.

The company’s on-demand manufacturing platform is able to produce a part within one or two weeks, while the traditional mass-manufactured part could take up to five months.

At the same time, the 3D-printed part would weigh less, offer greater strength and durability while using less energy to operate.

Mr Ong added that the company will be working with original equipment manufacturers to create a digital warehouse, which will overcome issues such as supply-chain bottlenecks and when parts are no longer available.

The digital platform will also mean that these parts can be printed at the push of a button anywhere the company’s partners are located, whether in Singapore, Japan, Europe or in the United States.

Separately, Namic also inked several memorandums of understanding with companies making an initial foray into 3D-printed manufacturing, including agreements with SIA Engineering Company, the Land Transport Authority and Alstom.