thyssenkrupp to establish Additive Manufacturing TechCentre Hub in Singapore

• To serve as extension of facility in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
• Focus on additive manufacturing solutions in metal and plastic technologies

THYSSENKRUPP will establish an Additive Manufacturing TechCentre Hub in Singapore this year. The announcement – made at Hannover Messe 2019, the world’s leading trade fair for industrial technology – illustrates the company’s initiative to bring its engineering and innovation capabilities to customers in Asia Pacific.

The future Singapore Additive Manufacturing TechCentre Hub, supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), will serve as the regional hub for the company’s Mülheim TechCentre and aims to unlock the potential of additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, for customers in Singapore and across Asia Pacific.

thyssenkrupp first launched a dedicated TechCentre for additive manufacturing in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany in 2017, with capabilities to deliver the full spectrum of the additive manufacturing value chain.

“thyssenkrupp has always been at the forefront when it comes to innovation in engineering,” said Dr Donatus Kaufmann, member of the executive board of thyssenkrupp AG and responsible for Technology and Innovation.

“We have made great strides with our Additive Manufacturing TechCentre in Germany. Establishing a hub in Singapore now reflects our commitment to bring our transformative innovations closer to the Asia Pacific region to meet our customers’ needs.”

Dr Kaufmann also added that the Singapore Hub not only strengthens thyssenkrupp’s presence and operations in Singapore and Asia Pacific, but also “gives us the opportunity to benefit from Singapore’s innovation ecosystem and to serve new customers in the Asia Pacific region.”

Additive manufacturing in Asia Pacific is expected to grow to more than US$5.5 billion by 2025 and Singapore is fertile ground for the innovation to grow. The Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2020 or RIE2020 Plan of Singapore, which is the country’s roadmap for research and development, includes additive manufacturing as one of the key enablers that will support the country’s push for leadership in advanced manufacturing and engineering.

“thyssenkrupp’s Additive Manufacturing TechCentre Hub is an exciting addition to Singapore’s growing ecosystem of additive manufacturing technology providers.

“We are delighted that thyssenkrupp has chosen to anchor the Centre in Singapore. Thyssenkrupp will be well-positioned to leverage our diverse manufacturing base and strengths in Industry 4.0 to serve the needs of customers in Asia Pacific”, said Lim Kok Kiang, assistant managing director, Singapore Economic Development Board.

“The investment is further testament to Singapore’s growing reputation as a hub for additive manufacturing research and deployment in the region and beyond.”

thyssenkrupp's TechCentre Hub in Singapore, together with the existing TechCentre in Germany, will focus on innovations around additive manufacturing solutions in metal and plastic technologies for customers in automotive, capital goods, chemical, mining and other heavy industries. It will provide a complete range of additive manufacturing services from part identification diagnostics, project delivery to training and capability building.

The TechCenter Hub will also host additive manufacturing engineers who will work together with their colleagues in Germany to develop various products and solutions leveraging on this innovation.

The announcement comes on the heels of another company milestone, with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and thyssenkrupp Marine Systems in February 2019.

The MoU entails the partnership of DSTA and thyssenkrupp in working on new technologies such as additive manufacturing for naval applications.